SIX YEARS OF MOTORBUS OPERATIONS.
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A Brief Review of the Passenger Vehicle Activities of a Buckinghamshire Company.
WITH the exception of those cc:1Uc;:irns, comparatively few in number, who have been operating motorbuses for a decade or more, most of the companies now running regular passenger-vehicie services have been established of more recent years. The pioneers of the movement to popularize and extend the use of the road motor for passenger carrying undoubtedly had to fight down many barriers of opposition. Their activities, however, were mainly concerned with providing facilities in populous districts, some of them without tramcars ; but, as development proceeded and the success of the motorbus
became assured, they extended their ramifications to other districts, and in this direction they were joined by many other companies, who foreseeing that the public was becoming dissatisfied with tramway travel in obsolete types of car, Set. out to meet its growing require-. ments.
At the outset most of these companies met with formidable difficulties and did not obtain the support so vital to their financial needs, but it Says much for the initiative and enterprise of their directors that, from starting in a very Small way, they have in many instances developed and become flourishing concerns and of value to a movement which is of importance to the country as a whole.
A case in point is that of the Amersham and District Motor Bus and Haulage Co., Ltd., of The Garage, Broadway, .Amersham, Bucks, who were formed in September, 1019, with an authorized capital of £10,000, of which sum shares to the value of £2,789 have so far been issued.
The vehicles originally put into service consisted of two 26-seater Scout buses and one A.E.C. lorry, and the routes over which the former operated • were between Amersham and Cheskon and Chesham and High Wycombe. The latter service was of particular value in so far as no means of transport existed for connecting with the lines of the Metropolitan and Great Western Railway Companies. In the following year two 28-seater Dennis chars-4banes were purchased, which did remarkably good work ; in fact, the progress of the company can be attributed in a large measure to the spadework accomplished by these vehicle.s, which were in great demand during the year 1920 and the following years.
During this period there were very few motor coaches in the neighbourhood, and the name of "Pride of Bucks," under which the company's vehicles Were run, was -well known. The reliability of these vehicles and the comfort of the bodies with which they were equipped were largely commented upon, and each season they were patronized by many of the company's old clients, who brought their friends with them.
In the year 1922 a service was started between Slough and Chesham with a 14seater Oldsmobile bus, and in the following year this service was extended to embrace Windsor, an additional 14seater bus being put into commission. These routes continued to be the mainstay of the company's activities until 1924, when further services were established, these being between Amersham and Chesham, Chesham and High Wycombe (via Amersham and Holmes Green) and Chesham and Beaconsfield :(via. the ChaIfonts and Seer Green).
The fleet at present comprises three Dennis 28-seater coaches, two 32-seater Raloon buses of the same make (the bodies of which were built by Messrs. Straehan and Brown), a 26-seater saloon bus, two 14-seater Oldsmobiles, one 14-seater Crossley and one 14-seater G.M.C.
We are unable to give details of the running of all the .Vehicles, but the company express their particular satisfaction with the Oldsmobiles, bearing in mind the work they have performed. The first machine of this make, bought In 1922, covered an average of 106 miles per day for 12 months without a mechanical breakdown, the only stoppages being due to such trifling items as punctures.
When considering the performance of any of the vehicles, credit must be given to the drivers, for, as the company say, there is little question that a big percentage of the life of any vehicle is due
to the careful driving and to the attention which it receives.
In the last complete year's working to September 30th, 1924, the total tak
bags from the motor coaches and buses combined were very satisfactory, and much progress was recorded during the ceurso of the year.