Wigan Album

I bet the bus drivers felt as though they were sitting in a oven on a hot summers day in those cabs over the engine, would be okay on a frosty winters day though.

Yes and without power-steering and noise from the engine, bus drivers of yesterday earned their pay.

Unfortunately, the poor drivers of these buses didn't get that much benefit in the winter from the warmth of the engine they were sat beside. The driving position was largely above the level of the engine - and a cold draught blew up from the holes around the pedals, even though leather gussets were fitted to reduce this. This particular cab also has a hinged door, rather than the sliding one fitted on many bodies - so the driver couldn't drive with the door open for cooling in the summer. Some front screens tilted open to provide some cooling, which helped. Pity the poor guards inside, however. Most town buses had no saloon heating, and the only source of heat was from the cowling over the back of the gearbox, which usually protruded just a few inches from the front bulkhead. There he (or she) would stand, huddled up in a greatcoat, whenever the opportunity arose.