CH. IV 6 I 



CHAPTER IV 

 BODY 



The bodies of coaches are essentially the same, 

 but builders vary them sufficiently to make notice- 

 able differences in their proportions, as can be 

 seen by comparing the plates of coaches in the 

 present volume, by detaching and superposing the 

 sheets of transparent paper upon each other, or 

 upon the plates, which are all drawn to the same 

 scale. 



The average length of the body is 4 ft. 10 in., 

 the width 4 ft. o in., and the height 4 ft. 2 in. The 

 extreme lengths, as shown in the drawings, are 

 4 ft. 1 1 in. for the longest, and 4 ft. 8 in. for the 

 shortest ; these are outside dimensions. The di- 

 mensions within these limits are, to a certain extent, 

 a matter of taste, but extreme shortness should be 

 avoided, since it leads to a short coupling in the 

 under-carriage, which is objectionable. The body 

 should be made as light as is consistent with 

 strength, so as to keep the centre of gravity of the 

 whole coach low. Its weight is usually rather more 

 than half that of the whole coach, the irons and 

 cushions of the roof-seats being included. The 

 roof is very nearly flat, so that the seats can be 

 adapted to it, and for convenience in carrying bao-- 



