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 would later be 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, on B6LE chassis, were delivered to Mainline Buses in October 1995, with two of the ten being delivered in early 1996 for Humberside County Council contracted services in Goole. [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 export order for the first-generation Crusader was to ACTION of Canberra, Australia, who purchased 25 Crusaders on the Dart SLF chassis in 1997. [7] [8]

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. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dennis Dart</span> British rear-engined single-decker midibus

The Dennis Dart is a rear-engined single-decker midibus chassis that was introduced by Dennis of Guildford, England in 1989, replacing the Dennis Domino. Initially built as a high-floor design, in 1996 the low-floor second generation Dennis Dart SLF was launched. In 2001, production of the Dart SLF passed to TransBus International, during which time it was sold as the TransBus Dart SLF; Alexander Dennis took over production in 2004, renaming the product as the Alexander Dennis Dart SLF.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander ALX200</span> Single-decker bus body

The Alexander ALX200 was a single-decker bus body built by Alexander of the United Kingdom. It was created for low-floor bus chassis produced from the late 1990s and was launched in spring 1996 as a low-floor replacement of the Alexander Dash. It was marketed in Alexander's 'ALX' series to fill in the gap between the ALX100 minibus and the ALX300 full-size single-decker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volvo B7TL</span> Low-floor longitudinal double-decker bus chassis

The Volvo B7TL is a low-floor double-decker bus chassis which was launched in 1999 and replaced the 2-axle version of the Volvo Olympian. It was built as the British bus operators seemed hesitant to purchase the B7L double decker with a long rear overhang.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VDL DB250</span> Twin-axle double-decker bus chassis

The VDL DB250 was a twin-axle double-decker bus chassis manufactured by VDL Bus & Coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Midibus</span> Single decker buses (length 8-11 metres)

A midibus is a classification of single-decker minibuses which are generally larger than a traditional minibus but smaller than a full-size single decker and can be anywhere between 8 metres and 11 metres long. While used in many parts of the world, the midibus is perhaps most common in the United Kingdom, where operators have found them more economical, and to have a sufficient number of seats compared to full size single-decker buses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wright Eclipse Gemini</span> Low-floor double-decker bus body

The Wright Eclipse Gemini is a low-floor double-decker bus body that was built by Wrightbus since 2001, based on the single-decker Wright Eclipse design. The second-generation Eclipse Gemini 2 was launched in 2009, followed by the third-generation Gemini 3 in 2013. Additionally, the body was available on Volvo Super Olympian chassis in Hong Kong between 2003 and 2005, marketed as the Wright Explorer.

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

The Dennis Lance was a single-decker bus chassis manufactured by Dennis between 1991 and 2000, replacing the Dennis Falcon. Its low floor variant, the Dennis Lance SLF was built between 1993 and 1996. Between 1995 and 1998, Dennis also built its double-deck variant, the Dennis Arrow, as the replacement of the Dennis Dominator.

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

The Volvo B10L was a rear-engined, low-floor single-decker public bus chassis built by Volvo between c. 1993 and c. 2005. An articulated version of the B10L, known as the B10LA, was also produced.

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

The Wright Liberator was a low-floor single-deck bus body built on Volvo B10L chassis by Wrightbus between 1996 and 1999.

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

The Wright Renown was a low floor single-decker bus body built on Volvo B10BLE chassis by Wrightbus in Ballymena, Northern Ireland.

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

The Northern Counties Paladin, also badged as the Plaxton Paladin towards the end of production, is a step-entrance single-decker bus body built by Northern Counties of Wigan, UK, between 1991 and 1998. The replacements for the Paladin are the Prestige and the Pointer as low-floor models for the Paladin LF.

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

The Marshall Capital was a single-decker bus body built originally by Marshall Bus between 1996 and 2002, and later by MCV Bus & Coach between 2002 and 2003. Initially launched on the step-entrance MAN 11.220 and then Iveco Eurorider chassis, the Capital found greater success after being launched on the low-floor Dennis Dart SLF chassis from 1997. Marshall also produced a related, integral midibus, known as the Marshall Minibus, between 1996 and 1998.

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

The Northern Counties Palatine was a step-entrance 2-axle and 3-axle double-decker bus body built by Northern Counties from 1988 to 1999 in Wigan, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wright Eclipse</span> Single-deck bus body built by Wrightbus

The Wright Eclipse is a low-floor single-deck bus body that was built by Wrightbus between 1999 and 2019. The second-generation Eclipse 2 was launched in 2008, followed by the third-generation Eclipse 3 in 2015. The Eclipse, and its sister design the Solar, were named for a solar eclipse which was visible in the UK in 1999, the year of its introduction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wright Endurance</span> Step-entrance bus body on Scania N113 and Volvo B10B chassis

The Wright Endurance was a step-entrance single-decker bus body on Scania N113 and on Volvo B10B chassis by Wrightbus between 1992 and 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wright Handybus</span> Motor vehicle

The Wright Handybus was a single-deck bus body built primarily on Dennis Dart chassis by Wrightbus between 1990 and 1995. It was also built on a small number of the higher-floor Leyland Swift chassis. It has a bolted aluminium structure with two windscreen styles.

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

The Plaxton Pointer is a single-deck midibus body that was manufactured between 1991 and 2006, predominantly on the Dennis Dart chassis, by Reeve Burgess, Plaxton and latterly Alexander Dennis.

<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

The Volvo B6BLE was a 5.5-litre engined low-entry midibus chassis manufactured by Volvo between 1999 and 2001, with three unfinished or unsold chassis being bodied in 2004 and 2005.

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

The Alexander Ultra was a low floor single-deck bus body built on the Volvo B10L chassis by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders from 1995 to 1998. It was the right-hand drive equivalent of the Volvo 5000 and was built on license from Volvo Buses.

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. ↑ "Easiaccess Crusaders". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 342. Spalding. 26 January 1996. p. 23.
  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. ↑ "Crusaders for Australia". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 402. Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited. 28 March 1997.
  8. ↑ "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.
  9. ↑ Wright Crusader 2 Bus Lists on the Web

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