Terra Bus
Encyclopedia
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
which is specially constructed for use in the arctic climate by the Canadian specialty vehicle manufacturer Foremost.
The Terra Bus was developed and manufactured by Foremost Industries Inc. of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The all wheel drive (6x6) can transport up to 56 passengers. The vehicle is equipped with 6 extra-large, low pressure tires (30 psi
Pounds per square inch
The pound per square inch or, more accurately, pound-force per square inch is a unit of pressure or of stress based on avoirdupois units...
). The Terra Bus can be found transporting passengers at the Antarctic research station, McMurdo Station
McMurdo Station
McMurdo Station is a U.S. Antarctic research center located on the southern tip of Ross Island, which is in the New Zealand-claimed Ross Dependency on the shore of McMurdo Sound in Antarctica. It is operated by the United States through the United States Antarctic Program, a branch of the National...
, but also as a tourist bus (where is called a snow coach
Snow coach
A snow coach is a specialized passenger transport vehicle, designed to operate over snow or ice, similar to alarge, multi-passenger snowcat that is equipped with bus style seating. These vehicles may have multiple sets of very large low pressure tires or they may have tracks...
) at the Columbia Icefield
Columbia Icefield
The Columbia Icefield is an icefield located in the Canadian Rockies, astride the Continental Divide of North America. The icefield lies partly in the northwestern tip of Banff National Park and the southern end of Jasper National Park. It is about 325 km² in area, 100 to 365 metres in depth and...
and at Jasper National Park
Jasper National Park
Jasper National Park is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies, spanning 10,878 km² . It is located in the province of Alberta, north of Banff National Park and west of the City of Edmonton. The park includes the glaciers of the Columbia Icefield, hot springs, lakes, waterfalls and...
.
Dimensions
- Length: 14.89 m
- Height: 3.96 m
- Weight:
- Curb weight: 24.95 t
- Maximum gross vehicle weight: 29.94 t
Performance
- Engine:
- Type: Detroit Diesel Series 50
- Power: 250 hp (187 kW) at 2100 rpm
- Top speed: 40 km / h
- Turning radius: 21.9 m