Wright Crusader

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Wright Crusader
Stagecoach Merseyside Dart Crusader 1.jpg
Stagecoach Merseyside Wright Crusader bodied Dennis Dart SLF in Liverpool in September 2007
Overview
Manufacturer Wrightbus
Production1995-2002
Assembly Ballymena, Northern Ireland
Designer Trevor Erskine
Body and chassis
Doors1 or 2
Floor type Low floor
Chassis
Related Wright Pathfinder
Powertrain
Engine Cummins B Series (Dennis Dart SLF)
Volvo (Volvo B6LE/Volvo B6BLE)
Capacity51-63 passengers
Dimensions
Length9.4–10.8 metres (31–35 ft)
Width2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in) [1]
Height2.95 metres (9 ft 8 in) [2]
Chronology
Predecessor Wright Handybus
Successor Wright Cadet

The Wright Crusader was a single-deck midibus body built on Dennis Dart SLF, Volvo B6LE and Volvo B6BLE chassis by Wrightbus between 1995 and 2002.

Contents

First generation (1995–2000)

Avon Buses Wright Crusader bodied Volvo B6LE built with bonded windows Avon Buses Volvo B6 10.JPG
Avon Buses Wright Crusader bodied Volvo B6LE built with bonded windows

The Wright Crusader was first introduced on the 10.6 metres (35 ft) Volvo B6LE chassis in 1995, intended to replace the step-entrance Volvo B6 and Dennis Dart-based Wright Handybus. The first generation Crusader shared design characteristics from other Wright products of the time, being built with a Alusuisse bolted aluminium frame and bonded window glazing, and the interior could be configured to carry 54 passengers, including wheelchair users. The 325 millimetres (12.8 in) low entrance step was capable of being lowered to 235 millimetres (9.3 in) at the kerbside via the 'kneeling' function of the chassis, and a shallow ramp from the entrance door to the passenger compartment was present on Crusader bodied B6LEs to accommodate for the front axle while remaining compliant with the recommendations of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DiPTAC) on improving wheelchair and pushchair access. [2]

The Crusader body was also launched on the Dennis Dart SLF chassis in June 1996, available in lengths of 9.4 metres (31 ft), 10.2 metres (33 ft) and 10.8 metres (35 ft) to compete with other midibuses entering the low-floor market. Compared to the Volvo B6LE-based Crusader, this variant could carry a total of 51 to 63 passengers depending on length, and was built with a flat floor and 'kneeling' suspension as standard; the only steps in the interior were two that led to raised seats situated on raised rear wheel arches. Notably, the Crusader bodied Dart SLF was the first low-floor Wright body to feature rubber gasket windows, made possible due to the improved rigidity of the Dart SLF chassis. [1]

Following the construction of one prototype and a demonstrator, the first ten production Crusaders, built on Volvo B6LE chassis, were delivered to Mainline Buses during 1996. [3] Eight Dennis Dart SLF Crusaders were also delivered to London United in September 1996. [4]

Of the 425 first generation Crusaders produced, 154 were on Dennis Dart SLF chassis and 272 on Volvo B6LE chassis. Travel West Midlands purchased 149 B6LEs, 23 of which went to subsidiary Travel Merry Hill, [5] [6] and GM Buses North purchased 46 Crusaders on the B6LE chassis. The only London bus operator to take delivery of Crusaders throughout its production run was London United, who took eight Crusaders on Dart SLF chassis in 1996 for a bus service in Hounslow, [7] while the only export order for the first-generation Crusader was to ACTION of Canberra, Australia, who purchased 25 Crusaders on Dart SLF chassis in 1997. [8] [9]

Second generation (1999–2002)

The second generation Crusader, known as the Crusader 2, was introduced in 1999 and built exclusively on the Volvo B6BLE chassis, the successor to the B6LE. In contrast to early first generation Crusaders, all Crusader 2s have shallower windows with a deeper panel above, bringing them in line with other Wrightbus designs like the Endurance and Pathfinder; some of the later built first generation Crusaders shared this characteristic however, making the two designs indistinguishable except for the different chassis.

The first Crusaders 2s were delivered to Mainline in April 1999; the delivery included one rebodied B6LE with prototype Crusader 2 bodywork, as well as nine newly built Crusader 2s. Of the 267 Crusader 2s produced, FirstGroup purchased 86, Arriva 61 and Dublin Bus 52. [10]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dennis Lance</span> Step-entrance and low-floor single-deck bus chassis

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Lancs Spryte</span> Low floor bus body on Dennis Dart SLF and Volvo chassis

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volvo B10L</span> Motor vehicle

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plaxton Premiere</span> Step-entrance coach bodywork

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wright Liberator</span> Low-floor bus body on Volvo B10L chassis

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wright Renown</span> Low-floor bus body on Volvo B10BLE chassis

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Counties Paladin</span> Single-decker bus body

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marshall Capital</span> Single decker bus bodywork

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Counties Palatine</span> Step-entrance double-decker bus body

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plaxton Pointer</span> Single-deck midibus body on Dennis and Volvo chassis

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Dash</span> Step-entrance midibus body on Dennis Dart and Volvo B6 chassis

The Alexander Dash is a step-entrance midibus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders of Scotland from 1991 to 1997. Unveiled by Alexander at the 1991 Coach and Bus exhibition in Birmingham, it was one of the variants of Alexander's AM-type body, also using components from the Alexander PS type, and was usually combined with the Dennis Dart and Volvo B6 step-entrance single-decker bus chassis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volvo B6BLE</span> Motor vehicle

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Ultra</span> Low-floor bus body on Volvo B10L chassis

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References

  1. 1 2 Morgan, Mike (29 June 1996). "A Wright Crusader". Coach & Bus Week . No. 224. Peterborough: Emap. p. 8. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  2. 1 2 Jones, Stuart (14 April 1995). "Wright Crusader Volvo B6LE: The passenger accessible bus becomes more operator accessible". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 302. Spalding. pp. 39–41. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  3. ↑ "Sheffield's lowfloors in service". Coach & Bus Week. No. 194. Peterborough: Emap. 18 November 1996. p. 10. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  4. ↑ "Fleet Additions". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 404. Spalding: Glen-Holland Ltd. 11 April 1997. p. 48.
  5. ↑ Williams, Mark (16 October 1997). "TWM: orders for over 200 lowfloors". Coach & Bus Week. No. 291. Peterborough: Emap. p. 14. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  6. ↑ Jarosz, Andrew (8 January 1998). "TWM orders over 100 more lowfloors". Coach & Bus Week. No. 302. Peterborough: Emap. pp. 4–5. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  7. ↑ Morgan, Mike (27 July 1996). "In the Wright direction". Coach & Bus Week. No. 228. Peterborough: Emap. p. 6. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  8. ↑ "Crusaders for Australia". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 402. Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited. 28 March 1997.
  9. ↑ "Wright Buses for Canberra". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 403. Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited. 4 April 1997. p. 2. Further to last week's story about the order from Action Bus of Canberra, Australia for Wright Crusader low floor midibuses on Dennis Dart SLF chassis, Wright's has informed us that the current order is for 25 buses worth £1.5 million.
  10. ↑ Wright Crusader 2 Bus Lists on the Web

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