Albion Viking EVK55

Photographs are sorted into the following sub-entries:
Kowloon Motor Bus Union Auto bodied Viking EVK55s (1 page)
Singapore Bus Services Soon Chow bodied Viking EVK55s (1 page)

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Among more than 2500 Albion Vikings sold between 1969 and 1979, VK55 was proved to be the most popular type. Nai'lert Bus Company in Thailand bought 316, Singapore Bus Services purchased 252. Australian independents accounted for 238. Hong Kong ordered a total of 132, while Kowloon Motor Bus Company took 100 coaches and 30 buses. The buses received bodywork from Union Auto Body Builders, a local company. The rest of them received Duple Dominant coachwork (C42F/C46F/C38F). Some of them took part in the first air-conditioned airport bus services in the territory and the others served air-conditioned bus services in other parts of Kowloon in 1975. The air-conditioned buses withdrew from airport service soon after the introduction of Dennis Falcons, and the last coaches were withdrawn by 1990. The non-airconditioned ones were withdrawn in 1992. Some of them were converted to trucks.

The remaining two EVK55CY's for China Motor Bus Company had a wheelbase of only 3.785m. They received 7.62m long and 2.286m wide Duple Dominant coachwork (C26F). It was intended to provide executive commuter services on hilly routes.

There had been a number of accidents involving Albion EVK55s. The most serious accident ever happened in its history occurred on 25 February 1977, Route 51 bus L286 (BK8210, 51749K) lost control when it was running downhill on Route Twisk. It hit a bicycle on Lam Kam Road, knocked down a masonry perimeter wall, pulled down a portion of the single-storey Shek Kong Supermarket, and burst into flames. Fortunately, the Shell gas station beside the burning bus did not explode. There was a total of six deaths and twenty-two injuries.

Another serious accident happened on 2 June 1986, L282 (BK4972, 51749F) collided head-on with a coach on Kam Tin Road, Kam Tin, resulted 1 death and 48 injuries. It was reported that the brakes of the 51 bus, failed when it was traveling downhill on Route Twisk towards Kam Tin. The bus was then written off on 11 August, 1986.

Specification:

Chassis

EVK55CL

EVK55CL

EVK55CY

Length (m)

9.588

9.650

7.6

Width (m)

2.440

2.500

2.3

Height (m)

3.120

3.200

3.1

Weight unladen (kg)

6401

6985

-

Gross vehicle weight (kg)

10699

10674

-

Wheelbase (m)

4.902

4.902

3.785

Body make

Union Auto

Duple

Duple

Body type

 

Dominant II

Dominant II

Window type

sliding

sliding

sliding

Brakes

Dual air

Dual air

Dual air

Interior lighting

Bulbs

Fluorescent

Fluorescent

Engine type

Leyland O.401

Leyland O.401

Leyland O.401

Engine position

Front vertical

Front vertical

Front vertical

Engine power (kW) at (RPM)

98.47/2600

98.47/2600

98.47/2600

Engine type

Leyland O.401

Leyland O.401

Leyland O.401

Gearbox type

Leyland GB277 5 speed constant mesh

Leyland GB277 or GB281, 5 speed constant mesh

Constant mesh

Passenger capacity

B43D+27

C46F/C42F/C38F

C26F

Bodywork

Union-Auto

Duple Dominant

Duple Dominant

Photographs

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Page created: 7 February 1999

Last updated: 22 November 2009