Stepped bi-level or “deck and a half” buses were once very popular – Paul previously wrote a great overview of perhaps the most famous example, the GM PD 4501 Scenicruiser. But as we’ll see below, in North America, the Scenicrusier was hardly the first to use this design. In Europe, bi-level touring buses didn’t seem to catch on, but there were a few exceptions – like the model above, the Krupp SWO 480 – produced by one of Europe’s most storied industrial conglomerates – Friedrich Krupp AG.
Deck and a half buses go back to the twenties; you may remember the Pickwick Parlor coach from a recent post.
In the mid-1930’s, Kenworth built an innovative, semi-monocoque, streamlined bi-level that was used on West Coast routes. It had a midships mounted underfloor Hall Scott gas 6 cylinder engine.
As Gene Herman commented in our ACF Brill post, that company made one prototype of a deck and a half based on its IC-41 coach in 1949.
Beck 9600
Beck 1040
And Beck made several models; one essentially a panel-for-panel copy of the Scenicruiser in the 1950’s.
The SWO 480 is actually not a deck and a half – as you can see from the picture above, the bus has both an upper and a lower seating area in the rear – a deck and a double?
Krupp updated the front in 1953…eliminating the distinctive coffin nose.
And later slightly modified the design for use in an urban transit role.
Friedrich Krupp AG is a company with a fascinating history – there are several links below for those interested.
Krupp SWO 480 – I’m drawn to the original “coffin nose” version. Keep all the windows, limo tint and curtain them – I’d love it as a camper conversion.
It’s like a “split-level” house where half of it is on the main floor and the other half is either 6 steps up or 6 steps down.
I think it’d be weird sitting in the back lower portion. Back behind the rear axle with no view forward.
So is it front-engined? It seems like there isn’t enough room for one even laid down under the back lower deck.
Haha, my exact thought. Or “tri-level” as they are known in the midwest. Popular from the mid 50s into the 70s, there are quite a few of them in my neighborhood. I never cared for them though after having several childhood friends who lived in them. It seemed that you were never on the right floor for where you wanted to be next.
I agree, that lower seating area at the rear must have been a really odd sensation. Did buses have steerage sections like the old ocean liners did?
It has to have a front engine, next to the driver. Not that there’s no entry door there on the curb side.
If you’re sitting that far back, there’s really no view out the front anyway. Possibly it was used as some sort of lounge. Or maybe all the kids sat in the “basement”.
Yes, tri-levels were very popular, here too up in the hilly area that was developed in the 60s.
I will join in – I presume that this was a front engine design? I am not sure where else the engine would have fit in this configuration.
It has to be. Next to the driver. The coffin nose and radiator really give it away.The later version just pushes the driver further forward, in front of the front wheels instead of on top of them.
What surprises me is that these were used for urban transit use. Actually, I’m quite certain that it’s not true urban transit, but regional public transit, which was/is a big thing in that part of the world. They’re too long for inner city use in Europe, with its narrow streets and tight corners.
The Post buses in Austria used large buses for its regional services, to every hamlet. But I’ve never seen one of these; in fact I was unaware of their existence until now.
I’m sure you’re right about the regional use Paul – that makes more sense. Here is a side view showing the three doors.
Now that you’ve shown me that, I’m not nearly as sure of my assumption. Regional/Post buses were essentially like budget coaches, and normally only had one door at or near the front, and had all front-facing seating, benches back in the day, seats later.
With three big transit-style doors, this looks like a genuine transit bus. Probably put in service on routes where its size could be put to good use and was not an impediment. Big cities, with big streets.
My apologies – I should have included info on the engine – yes it was front engined, as almost all of Krupp’s designs were. It used a Krupp 6 cylinder diesel that put out 145 hp – couldn’t find the size.
Also, as I’m sure Paul can translate, these deck and a halfs were referred to as “Anderthalbdecker” or “Einhalbdendecker”.in German, Jim.
Anderthalbdecker That means one and a half decker.
WOW, that is a real beauty. That one would be a good candidate for a pancake motor mounted in the middle.
There was also this 1932 Lancia Omicron, which was a triple-decker. It had the highest capacity rating of any bus at the time, and was used for long-distance travels, including in Northern Africa, among other places. Quite the monster, especially for 1932!
That is a wonderful, bizarre, amazing machine. I’m wondering about the balance on it, though; on any sort of incline it seems likely to tip backwards and drag the tail. The Lancia engineers probably compensated for that, but careful loading must’ve been required.
It’s not going to tip with that long body in front as well as the front engine. It would take an insane angle to tip it, much steeper than it could ever hope to climb. Keep in mind that’s all pretty light mass back there, even though it looks large.
So beautiful .
-Nate
Thanks Jim, you just keep pulling them out of your hat. That KW is lovely.
There is just something about the name ‘Krupp’ . It sounds sinister.
The name Krupp means “coffee maker” in non proper English…
Actually that’s Krups, totally different outfit 🙂
And so one has ever heard of the Citroën U55 Cityrama?
Me neither!
Yes we have: https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/1958-citroen-u55-citirama-bus-see-paris-in-style/
Oh wow, I still have a lot of catching up to do at this place..
Great expose on multilevel buses. Thank you all! I love looking at these.
I’m with the others here who say that the Krupp bus looks better with the coffin nose. Here’s a somewhat less radical 1951 bus from Krupp.
Boy howdy that’s beautiful .
-Nate
Good work Jim, as always. Krupp trucks and buses are quite legendary. So far I’ve seen only one “in the metal”, it was a mid-size truck at a truck show last year.
Thanks Johannes – I had heard of Krupp based on some of the vehicles they made during the war, but didn’t know about their buses until a few months ago when I came across the top picture.