Japan's Bizarre Twin-Steer Railway Bus: Designed by Ultraman?

[@derekantill3721]

This was a major restoration that was done very well. Excellent that this bus was saved.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Yes, it certainly was a great restoration project! Thanks very much for watching!

Only took a year. The Japanese move quickly!

[@towgod7985]

Another great video Jeffrey. Thanks for explaining the benefits of the twin steer application, it might be helpful for those that don't understand the reasoning for it. I don't know if this helps, I have seen pictures of a twin steer highway coach/es built in Mexico. They look like licence built MCI's, unfortunately thats all I have on them. I am really enjoying your videos. Cheers.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! I'm very glad you found the video interesting with useful information about twin steers! I think the bus you are describing is a Sultana. Maybe I'll do a video on it sometime. Thank you very much for watching!!

[@daviestewart2510]

Thanks for another great video Jeffrey, I'm loving all your bus content and always look forward to the next one! Best wishes from Scotland

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! I'm so happy you really like my videos! And thank you very much for watching from Scotland!!

[@NickRatnieks]

That's what you call a "Muscle Bus". It probably needed a real Muscle Man to drive it- a job for Charles Atlas or his Japanese counterpart!

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Oh yes, I'm sure driving a big twin-steer isn't easy. But it sounds like it was real powerful! Thank you very much for watching!!

[@trevorhorton8472]

Beautiful. Its the first time I've seen it. Really nice. Thank you.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! I'm very glad you found this bus interesting! Thank you very much for watching!!

[@glenjones6980]

Another well presented insight into some rare machinery. Nice to see the subscriber numbers going up too, 3.97k at time of writing this so the 4,000 milestone must be imminent and well deserved too.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Glad you found the video interesting!! Yes, great that you mentioned I'm almost at 4,000 subs. Not easy, but hopefully it will go even higher. Thank you very much for watching!!

[@anthonyg638]

Only a year to restore, awesome effort that!

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Oh yes, in most other placed it would take at least five times as long, LOL! Thank you very much for watching!!

[@lawrencemonaghan926]

Another brilliant informative video, I did my diesel coach fitting when I was sixteen,I was driving forty five seaters and fifty two seaters,so you can see why I like your videos, sixteen in 1980 era busses

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! I'm really very happy you find my videos informative! Yes, I can see why you like my videos!!! Thank you for watching!!

[@esslemonty4588]

Great informative video. Most enjoyable. From another Scottish viewer 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! I'm really happy you enjoyed the video! Thank you for watching from Scotland!

[@chaam4736]

Very interesting Jeffrey, many thanks for sharing your experience and research.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! I'm very glad you found the video interesting and informative! Thank you very much for watching!!

[@ManxAndy]

Thank you Jeffrey, another awesome video, your channel is one of the best finds this year on KZbin, great variety of content , and very informative …. 👍👌🇮🇲

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! I'm really happy you find my channel very interesting and thank you for the compliment!!! Thank you very much for watching!!

[@ManxAndy]

@@JeffreyOrnstein you’re welcome Jeffrey..👍🇮🇲

[@geebs76]

I really enjoyed this video of a unique bus.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Really glad you found the video interesting! Thanks very much for watching!

[@mkms685]

Both Kureha and Fuji really build good buses.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Yes, they do build good buses! Thank you for watching!!

[@paulnolan1352]

Cheers Jeffrey, very interesting video. It looks a Beast of a Bus. See you on the next one 🤙

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello Paul! I'm really glad you found the video very interesting!! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@Mr_Spliffy]

Much love. Really enjoy watching you and your content, really interesting. Love from New Zealand

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! I'm so happy you really enjoy my videos!!! Thank you so much for watching from New Zealand!!

[@peterwainwright576]

A brilliant bus video as always. Many thanks from the UK

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Thank you so much for your very positive comment and thank you so much for watching from the UK!

[@EmilePoelman]

A beaty AND a beast! Thanks Jeffrey. Keep em comin'!

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello Emile! Glad you liked the video! Thank you for watching!!

[@jadeboswell-rz2ly]

Thank you Jeffrey, Very interesting video. That DB34 engine is something else. The Leyland 680 engine was 11.1 litres and was originally rated at 150 hp. So that's 2.6 litres less and 65hp more.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! I'm really happy you found the video interesting! Oh yes, this must have been a real powerful bus, and looks it, too! Thank you very much for watching!!

[@jeffclark2725]

Thumbs up, great video, Fuji Industries made a lot of machines, Agreed that is a monster, and to have a 100 person capacity

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Yes, it was an awesome bus!! Thank you very much for watching!!

[@JTA1961]

Standing room only...

[@jeffclark2725]

@@JTA1961 That was my thought

[@kennethcorley9333]

That's an interesting design, and I appreciate your presentation of it's history

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! I'm very glad you found the video interesting!! Thanks for watching!!

[@bustersw1760]

Another interesting video. That vehicle doesn`t look "right", as the wheels look too big, but that`s probably because we`re used to the look of the VAL and its 16 inch wheels. Good to see one of these Fuso vehicles has survived, and boy, that was some restoration. With a rear engine and a manual box, I bet all those gearchange linkages made for some interesting changes when they got worn. A Bedford or Leyland centre underfloor engine was bad enough when they got sloppy.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Oh yes, aesthetically, it looks very odd! Good points about the mechanical aspects of the bus! Thanks very much for watching!

[@davidbarnsley8486]

What a beautiful bus It’s great they saved it

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Yes, it's a very unique vehicle and it's great that it was saved! Thank you for watching!

[@1208bug]

Good job Jeffery 👍

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! I'm really glad you liked the video! Thank you for watching!!

[@jamesfrench7299]

Mitubishi Fuso made coaches with a V8 engine later on. They have a cult following. Some made it to Australia imported second hand.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Thanks for the additional info on the Mitsubishi buses! Thank you very much for watching again!!

[@Drifuta]

Great video, thoughly enjoyed learning about this interesting bus. thank you

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! I'm glad you found the video interesting!!! Thanks for watching!

[@timbounds7190]

Interesting! Curious that one of the advantages was supposed to be good in snow - very useful in Hokkaido, but I note that some were bought by a company in Nagoya, on the Southern coast!

[@JTA1961]

& sand...?

[@timbounds7190]

No. . Nagoya is Japan's 3rd largest city - maybe the extra capacity for commuters was the attraction.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Glad you found the video interesting! Oh yes... good point! Maybe Nagoya needed the bus for capacity reasons. Thanks very much for watching!

[@johnmontgomery9149]

Your research is amazing 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Thank you for the very positive comment - very appreciated! Thanks very much for watching!

[@cliffwoodbury5319]

this may be the bus I like the most out of all of them I have seen.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Very glad you found this bus so interesting!!! Thanks very much for watching!

[@JTA1961]

This is where I grew up, except at the most Northern tip. 27 miles away from Russia. Side note...all large vehicles have those lights up top. 20 kilometers first one is lit...40=2 60=3 if all 3 are lit you're already "bus"ted cuz they're only allowed to do 50... mysteriously those 3rd light bulbs seem to break often 😅

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Very interesting about those lights on top! Wow, that must have been interesting to have lived at the northern tip of Japan! Thanks very much for watching!

[@DunderMifflinTbaum]

Great video, Jeffrey! Are you by any chance going to the MTA Bus Festival this weekend?

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! I might go to the Bus Festival! Thank you very much for watching!!

[@Apoplexy1000]

I enjoyed the video and am a first time viewer of your channel. I must admit that based upon the title I was hoping for a more direct connection to Ultraman, though. Great story. Thanks.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! I'm very glad you found the video interesting. And thanks for the feedback - maybe I should have made more of a connection to Ultraman somehow... Thanks for watching!

[@mandywithell]

My main interest is in lorries. "Chinese Six" lorries, as twin steers are known in Britain, were more popular from the 1940s to 1960s as a method of alleviating possible overloading on front axles. Even today my six wheel Mercedes lorry (conventional layout) can easily be overloaded on the front axle if Pallets of heavy goods are placed on the head board rather than over the back axles. This is particularly a problem on Multi-drop where the loads are progressively removed from the rear causing the weight to pivot forward of the drive axle. This was a reason Chinese Sixes were popular with some Breweries. Joshua Tetley of Leeds had them until as late as the early 1990s, and interestingly some drivers said they preferred them when delivering in the Yorkshire Dales and Peak districts, because they deemed them safer on the twisty roads. If you have a blow out on a front axle you still retain control! For the same reason Italian and Spanish Companies bought twin steer Fiats and Pegasos for tackling precipitous mountain passes. Fiat went one step further marketing lorries with steering wheels on the "Wrong Side" for continental roads so that drivers could easily gauge where the edge of the road was on the tight narrow mountain roads that are common in Italy! Lastly, and rather coincidentally given their nickname in Britain, Chinese Sixes are still made in China and seem quite popular there and in other South East Asian countries!

[@glenjones6980]

I still have to watch the front axle when I'm moving four wheel drive stuff but it's mostly mid lift for us now as the hydraulics and pipework would be a nightmare to mount with a twin steer set up and we are 22 tonnes when empty to start with.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Thank you for all of the additional information on the twin-steer setup! Very interesting!! And thanks very much for watching!!

[@mandywithell]

@@glenjones6980 Am intrigued. What vehicle are you driving (configuration) and what materials?

[@glenjones6980]

@@mandywithell 44 tonne drawbar car transporter.

[@mandywithell]

@@glenjones6980 Now they ARE specialised pieces of kit!

[@rickson5265]

Why are busses awesome ❤

[@crabbymilton390]

At first glance, this bus looks scary if not just plain ugly. But it seems to grow on me the more I look at it, it looks pretty good. I know I’m a life long bus nut but any vehicle with stick shift is a put off. However, it’s still an interesting and informative video. Thanks again Jeffery.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Glad you found the video interesting and informative!! Yes, it does look quite imposing! Thank you for watching!!

[@46spanner]

I was going to mention the China 6’s, you beat me to it. I agree it’s down the axle loading, best solution is probably the artic in terms of load carrying capacity and manoeuvrability. However they are expensive which leads to the cheaper rigids. With twin axles at the rear you can get a decent load carrying capacity but if the rear axles are separated enough to balance loads you get substantial rear tyre scrub on tight corners which hampers manoeuvrability. A twin steer is an elegant solution which balances axle loads without the penalties of scrub/poor manoeuvrability, provided of course the Ackermann is correct…

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Thanks for the additional information about the axles, very interesting! Thanks for watching!

[@BarklyMitford]

Great videos my guy, really enjoy the historical and technical info and your presentation. I have to ask, were you yourself a bus driver in New York City?

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! I'm really happy you enjoyed the video! Actually, no, I was never a bus driver in New York, or anywhere! Thank you for watching!!

[@DavoDentetsu]

Fuji's other interesting bus would be the Volvo B10M artics they made for Tsukuba Expo. The history of those is pretty wild.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! I will look up that bus, thanks for the suggestion! Thank you very much for watching!!

[@mohabatkhanmalak1161]

Nice looking bus, like the US style slanted windows and riveted construction, which would have come from aircraft industries. The Japanese bus (and trucks as well) designs over the decades are interesting and they came up with very good and sturdy vehicles. In countries of southeast Asia, Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia and Malaysia etc several of these vehicles built in the 1950's, 60's..still perform sterling service.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Yes, the Japanese can come up with very interesting designs - it's like they combine several buses into one! Thanks for watching!

[@SquishyZoran]

The styling reminds me a lot of Crown Super Coaches

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Yes, especially the front!! Thanks for watching!!

[@ROCKINGMAN]

This Japanese design does seem to take it's influences from Badford VAL and US buses. Somehow looks untidy due to different window shapes, recessed doors and off set windows. Still it's silver/aluminium finish looks smart. Interesting video. Over the last few years became interested in foreign buses, including french ones and the Saviem SC10 and Berliet PCMR and others. Real delightful designs.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Yes, I agree that there are little details in the design that could have been done better, but overall, it's still a great bus! Thank you very much for watching!!

[@rickvandusen9271]

The British normally added a second steering axle as the fourth axle, after adding a third axle at the rear. So a three-axle twin-steer was strange to start with.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Wow, that's interesting....to have four axles. Must be fun to drive! Thank you for watching!!

[@MostlyInteresting]

They also existed in the states. In an limited way.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Wish they still existed here! Thanks very much for watching!

[@jonjessen]

In Denmark we had busses that steer on all wheels. The DAB-11 for instance. Perhabs something for a future video.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Thanks for the info about the DAB-11! Yes, it looks quite interesting, and perhaps a future subject!! Thank you very much for watching!!

[@300guy]

Aren't there 8 wheels with the rear duals? I do very much enjoy your mini-docs on all of these fascinating coaches, you don't think about these bespoke coach makers when seeing the average bus.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Maybe you're right! Thank you for watching!!

[@b101uk9]

there are 8 tyres, but technically 6 "wheels", most of the world dose not use the silly American notions, the bus is a 6x2, this is because duals in such close proximity to each other on the same side are considered close coupled and as such are treated in law as a single wheel for the purpose of weight distribution, as they act as "one" in respect of law, you can also get close coupled axles, which are two axles that are significantly close to one another between centres they are treated as a single axle, again for the purpose of weight distribution, though total capacity will be cumulative, this is why when you look at some older low-loaders, often with knockout rear axles (or newer modular trailers and SPMT with many axle lines), when viewed from the side they may appear to only have one or two axle lines (or many axle lines), but each axle-line will consist of 8 tyres, 8 wheel rims arranged in 4 sets of duals, that are two axles that are in law treated as one but with the capacity of two. tyres are self explanatory, wheel rims like tyres are self explanatory being what the tyre are mounted to, a "wheel" has a duel meaning which can either be the layperson term for a single individual tyre + wheel rim, but in legal terms a "wheel" has a more complex definition, and to give an example from UK law: Interpretation: axles, wheels, axle weights and wheel weights 7.-(1) In this Order- “axle” means any number of wheels in a transverse line; “axle weight” means the sum of the weights transmitted to the road surface by all the wheels of any one axle; “group of axles” means a group of two or more axles that are so linked together that the load applied to one axle is applied to the other; and “wheel weight” means the weight transmitted to the road surface by any one wheel of an axle. (2) For the purposes of this Order, any reference to a wheel of a vehicle is a reference to a wheel, the tyre or rim of which is, when the vehicle is in motion on a road, in contact with the ground. (3) For the purposes of this Order, any two wheels of a vehicle are to be treated as one wheel if their centres of contact with the road are less than 460 millimetres apart. (4) For the purposes of this Order, any wheels, or lines of wheels, whose centres can be contained between two transverse lines less than 0.5 metre apart are to be treated as one axle. (5) For the purposes of this Order, the distance between any two axles of a vehicle or vehicle-combination is to be taken as the shortest distance between the line joining the centres of the areas of contact with the road surface of the wheels of one axle and the line joining the centres of the areas of contact with the road surface of the wheels of the other axle. (of note in the past No4 above was 1m and still is for agricultural trailers and vehicles)

[@sonicdewd]

@@b101uk9 No need for "silly".

[@nicholasbyrne6485]

You need to look at the Bustech CDi. A twin steer, double decker built in Queensland Australia

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Yes, I will take a look at that bus! Thank you for watching!!

[@philandrawis6232]

they use this for making sharp turns in mountainous regions when the road are very narrow and the turns are difficult also was use in Switzerland

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Yes, and the Swiss have very interesting buses as well!

[@rickson5265]

Bro out here looking like Bill Nye the Science guy 😂 bloody love it lol

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Thank you, I'm really glad you like my videos!!! Thanks very much for watching!!

[@rickson5265]

@@JeffreyOrnstein most definitely I subscribed to good sir

[@nameless5413]

Japanese loving restore a but to celebrate anniversary. On top of how incredibly rare the twin steerers are that tidbit is exactly why i adore Japanese way with things. so much care and effort goes into heretage and doing things propertly.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Yes, the Japanese have meticulous attention to detail! Thank you very much for watching!!

[@nameless5413]

@@JeffreyOrnstein i think it is little bit more than that. they have this concept thats prevelant throught their culture bt i first red or actualy saw it when it comes to woodworking - they make things in particular manner, instead of mere but joint they make this complex shape that is strong but reparable because they know it will have to be repaired. it is marvelous culture. My apologies i went off on a tangent. i enjoyed the video is the point .)

[@subhranshuganguly2246]

In India we have twin steer 5 axel trucks( rigid frame) 22 tonne pay load . We only have volvo twin steer buses in India but the 2nd steered whel is placed behind the rear axel.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Oh my gosh - 5 axle trucks - Wow! Very interesting! Thanks for watching!

[@3089280288]

Now there is rear steering in modern buses

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Oh yes, that's true. Thanks very much for watching!!

[@johnpoile1451]

Looks military ,like a converted rocket launcher.

[@JTA1961]

True

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

LOL, it does look like a tough bus! Thanks very much for watching!

I don't suppose there were any triple-steer buses?

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

LOL, good question....I think there were, believe it or not!! Thank you for watching!!

[@Suprahampton]

It's a shame only 1 is restored

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Yes! The other one should be restored, too!! Thank you for watching!!

[@gmcnewlook]

With the windows it looks like a Japanese gm new look or flexible

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Yes, it sure does have that look!! Thank you for watching!!

[@Chester-y1y]

Very nice. Now if that restored bus came from Korea, wouldn't it have right side doors? Korea drives on the right hand side, like the US. Japan on the left, like the UK.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! I guess it would be a mirror image of the Japanese bus, if it did exist! Thanks for watching!!

[@stanleybest8833]

Japan should have ponied up and bought some foreign busses instead of surrendering to crackpot designs. There is nothing wrong with body on frame as long as the frame is quality materials and good design. Gillig models use martensic stainless steel to retain strength.

[@mandywithell]

Why so? Hino in particular produces very good buses and coaches. All manufacturer's products go through a period of development. Some successful others less so. Even the big established producers produce some "Dogs" at times. It is called evolution!

[@stanleybest8833]

@@mandywithell so Hino can make power trains.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

LOL, maybe they could have asked GM to build some twin steer New Look buses. Thanks very much for watching!

[@jacksonclark9826]

Personally I don't see why Japan would want to import designs rather then do it in house if possible since making it themselves allows them to build their industries even if the product is inferior.

[@stanleybest8833]

@@jacksonclark9826 Key word: inferior.

[@josecarlospoggian5460]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Thank you! Glad you liked the video and thanks for watching!

[@albear972]

Eight-wheel, *not* six.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Well, the two double wheels at the rear generally are counted as one....

[@colinstickland3130]

We used to call it a Chinese 6

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Yes! And there's a whole story behind that name that's very interesting! Thanks very much for watching!

[@peterdurnien9084]

Known as a chinese 6 in the uk.

[@JeffreyOrnstein]

Hello! Yes, you are correct! Thank you for watching!