MOTOR COACHING PREPARATIONS FOR 1922.
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A feature popula,r and much appreciated amongst motor coach proprietors has been the section of "The Commercial Motor" which, without a break, has appeared under the heading of " Progress in Passenger Travel.". In it we have kept our readers freely advised upon every development in motor coaching, and with the approach of the 1922 season we propose, week by week, to deal fully with the plane and intentions of coach proprietors in different parts of the country. We look with confidence for the co-operation of coach proprietors and coachbuilders in this mqtter.
Important North Wales Developments.
AS AN INDICATION that the railway companies are not .going have it all their own way during the coming seaSon, important developments have taken place in the North Wales area, and an amalgamation of interests; consisting of Avery and Roberts, Ltd., of Liverpool, the Lancashire United Tramways, Ltd., of Atherton, Liverpool
and Manchester, and the motor section of Tourists' Hotels, Ltd., who have a wide range of hotels and motor coaches throughout North Wales, have taken over the management and controlling interest in Bangor Blue Motors, Ltd., with a view to extending the services of all these companies, which will now embrace a through connection from Liverpool and Manchester to Llandudno, and from there through to Bangor and Carnarvon.
It is proposed to run a daily service in the summer so that it will be possible for tourists to step into a motor coach at Liverpool or Manchester and be taken to Colwyn Bay, Llandudno, or any of the Welsh watering-places along the coast so far as Carnarvon.
The company will have at their disposal a large number of motorbuses and motor coaches, and will have depots at Llandudno, Penmaenmawr, Llaufairfechart, Bangor, Beatutiaris, Ivlenai Bridge, Bcddgelert, Criecieth, PwItheli, and Llangollen, from each of which a service of either motorbuses or motor coaches ' will be rim. This will prove an inestimable boon to North Wales tourists, who will be able to reach, either by motorbus or motor coach, all the most beautiful parts of North Wales, many of them inaccessible by train.
The company also propose to run a daily service of motorbuses between Pentnaeumawr and the intermediate villages to Bangor, connecting up there with a town service, which will be largely augmented:and extended to the surrounding C18 districts, including Carnarvon, Bethesda, etc.
In selecting Bangor as the centre for this important development, those responsible rightly recognise its unique territorial position with all the important roadways radiating from it. As a point from which to start the motor tours it has few equals in Wales, and in the summer, there is ample hotel and lodging house accommodation for visitors to the city. A general linking up of these towns and villages should prove a great boon to all the tradespeople in the different localities, and will tend to bring a large influx of visitors, who will be able, for a small cost, to see all the beauty spots of North Wales, and amongst them there are many the equal of which it would be hard to find in other parts of the country.
A Newcastle Owner's Plans and Preparations.
FOR THE coming season the motor coach programme of Messrs. Galley's Garages, Newcastle, one of the leading firms on Tyneside so far as this class of business is concerned, will be operated on almost similar lines to those of last year. Mr. G. Galley, the proprietor, has been actively engaged in the coaching business since the days immediately following the war, and is fully conversant with the industry in all its branches.
For the 1921 season the fleet operated consisted of two 30 seater Dennis coaches, one Daimler of similar seating capacity, and one small 14 seater Ford coach, and this season the same fleet will be in use, and will he augmented by the addition of two smaller vehicles, both capable of seating 14 passengers. In conversation with a representative of The Conistercia/ Motor Mr. Galley said Ire was especially pleased with the performances of the Dennis vehicles, both of which were new last seasen, and passengers, to judge by their comments, were equally pleased with their comfortable seating.
One of these vehicles, which is reserved chiefly for long-distance tours, gave a particularly good account of itself, and covered something like 10,000 miles during the season. It is fitted with a special luggage locker at the rear for accommodating all baggage and personal effects of travellers on runs exlending over one night.
All the large coaches have solid tyres, as this firm, in common with almost all
other owners In this district, coneider that solids are eminently satisfactory and much safer than pneumatics, especially in view of the heavy going on most of the roads encountered on coach work
in the district,. As a matter of fact, Mr. Galley finds that a well-sprung. vehicle, which is overhauled carefully at regular intervals, and which is well upholstered, vehon fitted with solids gives very comfortable riding, which leaves little to be desired. The 14-seater has, of course, pneumatics, and last season was employed for small parties and for overflow work; when the occasion demanded. Dennis cape hoods are favoured, as being quickly adjusted and easily manipulated.
The additions to the fleet referred to above are at present in hands and consist of two 14-seater bodies, which are being fitted to Crossley chassis. They will he ready in good time.for tlso opening of the season, and will be reserved primarily for long-distance touring. They will also be substituted for the heavier vehicles when bookings are not, sufficient to warrant the running of the latter, and in cases of particularly heavy orders they will be turned out as required to accommodate passengers who cannot be taken in the original coach.. Pneumatics will be provided on these vehicles, 'Mr, Galley being of the opinion that, whilst the demand is still far from big for really de lose accommodation in the district, it. is gradually eleVeloping, and there are people who appreciate the faster and more comfortable sad exclusive conditions obtained with a small coach. Each will have a luggage locker on the lines of that fitted to the Dennis touring model. So far as bodywork is concerned, the tendency this year seems to be for simplicity and general neatness, and these points are being kept in mind in the building of the bodies for these new vehicles. Uphtlstery, too, is receiv_ big careful 'attention.
Whilst plane have not been quite completed in all respects, the day and halfday trips will be run on much the same lines as last year. Then it was found that the most popular runs were those to Allendale and A!nmouth—two favourite resorts of Northerners—and trips to these places will be operated frequently during the season. Among the other places which also found favour last season were Rothbury, Newbiggin, Morpeth, Carlisle, Hexham, Barnard Castle, Darlington, Redcar, Seaton Carew, Middleton-inTeesdale, and Berwick, and all these venues will find a place in the coming season's programme. Normally, the scope of Messrs. Galley's extends to any piece within the five northern counties— Northumberland, Durham,. Yorkshire, Westmorland and Cumberland, and they are always ready to run special vehicles to any beauty spot, provided sufficient bookings are obtained.
Another whole-day tour which was very popular with Tvnesiders last season, and which will be again featured, was a run of something like 160 miles, touching the Lake District, The outward journey was via Hexham and Alston, to Penrith and Ullewater, and the return by way of Carlisle. This gave a cheap Lakeland tour without incurring the expense of overnight accommodation.
i Care s always taken to ensure that an alternative return route is provided on all runs.
Usually day trips leave at 9 or 10 a.m., according to the distance to be covered,
and afternoon runs at 1 p.m. The firm make a big point of returning exactly to schedule time—namely, 9 p.m. in the vast majority of cases—in order to allow passengers who come from a distance ample time to catch their train, tram, or bus home. Except in cases of race meetings or other functions, however, last season proved that passengers were not so much concerned as to reaching the destination prompt on the minute. Accordingly, on the purely pleasure trip the speed is largely regulated by the nature of the country being traversed. At times steps are made in order to afford passengers an opportunity of inspecting any particularly interesting view en route.
When parties book up en blocMr. Galley usually finds they prefer to make their own arrangements for lunch and tea, but. on numerous occasions last. year, with mixed bookings, adequate arrangements in this respect were made by the 'owner. Care is always taken to select some place of outstanding merit f or lunch or tea halts, allowing passengers time to have a look round before returning to the coach to continue the journey. The general trend for some time past in the North has been for cheap travelling facilities, and many persons, before turning to the coach as a. means of conveyance, desired something very much approaching railway rates. Nevertheless, Mr. Gilley was very much impressed by the class of passenger who travelled by coach last year, and is confident that, now that certain prejudices have• been to a large extent broken down, the better -class people might patronize it in larger numbers.
Last season's industrial position had an adverse effect on coaching, and, whilst at the opening as much as 2d. per mile was charged in the district, this fell to below Md. before the close, and Mr. Galley is confident that substantial reductions on these figures will prevail during the forthcoming .season. As he pointed out, the mining and shipbuilding industries, which contribute a large ijortion of their clients, have both suffered large wage "cuts," and, therefore, cannot be expected to pay the same rates as last year. The big thing this year is
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to secure patronage, -which, n. more prosperous times will remain. He did not greatly tear railway competition so long as the weather was favourable, for, as stated above, there were people who were steadily increasing in appreciation of the open road. He thought a fair margin of success would be met with, even if matters did not develop at quite the same rate as they did in the South, which was unquestionably more favourably situated for coaching work. in the North the season was, on account of weather conditions naturally a curtailed one, and at beat only extended from about Easter to the end of September. When the start was made at Easter it all depended on the weather as to bnsinees for the next few 'weeks before Whitsuntide. If the weather was good they began to develop trade, and if bad, matters fell off again, until the arrival of the latter mentioned holiday, which, in that circumstance, really constituted the commencement of the North-country season.
"My chief consideration," Mr. Galley said, "is to give every satisfaction. The public particularly appreciate clean and well-sprung coaches." All the vehicles are housed at the Coquet Street Garages, where they are periodically overhauled and generally kept in spick-and-span condition.
The long-distance tours have not yet received consideration at any length, as the business which is in demand in the early stages of the season is chiefly of the short-trip nature, but the longer runs will be given careful attention in the very near future.
Mr. Galley is arranging a more comprehensive booking system for the coming season. Last year all orders were received either by telephone call, or letter, at the offices in Coquet. Street, but this year a number of agents is being secured in different parts of. the city, who will make all arrangements in this respect. On the day of the trip the vehicle will call at a number of stands in the city to pick up travellers. Normally three persons are carried in the driver's seat and the remainder in fives behind, in the large vehicles; and two with the driver, and the rest in fours, in the 14-seaters ; and every care is taken to ensure that friends are kept together during the rim. As a matter of f^zt, however, it was noticeable last year ilea
-practically, all parties carried vary quickly developed friendship, and before they had been on the road an hour the whole "crew " were on the best of terms. This was in itself a good busiuess maker, as it frequently resulted in return bookings by the same party.
Staff outings and private parties, as well as special trips to races and other :ocal events, are all dealt with by Messrs, Galley.
Confessions of an Owner-Driver.
A Specialist in Ten-day Tours.
HAS the dual, purpose vehicle—the lorry in winter and the coach in summer—had its day? All evidence points to the fact that this is the case, and even a single owner, who had been using his vehicle all the year round, admitted to a representative of The Commercial Motor that it did not pay.
" You must either get a fair rate all the year round," be said, " and by that. I mean cover running expenses, establishment charges, etc., and make a reasonable profit for each of the 12 months, or else make a good profit in the summer with the vehicle as a coach, and at least meet operating expenses, incl.-lading depreciation and establishment charges in the winter, when the bus is a haulage lorry.
"Many of my confreres have said that oil and petrol are the.only charges. they have to meet in the winter, and that their vehicles might as well be on the road working instead of idling in the garage, The reason why you see.m..... tinkering with my machine here (the interview took place in the corner of a garage) is because I do not agree with them."
The subiect of our interview was the owner of an A.E.C. 28-seater which cost £2,000, and which was being run to provide a livelihood, and from our interview it was evident that, much of the criticism of the owner-driver spoiling the trade is not warranted. In this case, because the local fleet owners—and the single owners too—were engaged in a very fierce rate war, this owner sought green fields and pastures new,",and instead of ,running day trips, he made a . speciality of long-distance•touring,being away about ten days at a time using the surplus. days, of the -,fortnight for .overhauling his machine, a job which he is quite competent. toe do himself., His season commences kr May and ends in
020 September, and already he has had a few inquiries concerning his -coming season's programme. Being e. Churchman, Sunday runs are taboo—six days a week to labour is enough for any man, he says, coach owners as well. What are your plans and prospects for the coming season? " we ventured. "The question is easier asked, than answered," we were told. He went on to say that that in his town (an important Northern resort) other looa owners . thought that, if he could do a run down South for, say, .£8, they could do it for £7, and so while this goes on the future is somewhat obscure.
" Everybody here," he added, " is out to get money, and whether it pays them to receive it or not, they still stretch out their hands. There is not the slightest doubt that some of them have been losing money at the rates for which they have run."
He paid a tribute to the efficiency of his 28-seater A.E.C. Twenty passengers constituted a load, the remainder of the space *being used for the storage a luggage. Complaint was made of the excessive hotel charges, especially in
the Shakespeare. country, where . hotel keepers, catering largely for American visitors, made no allowances for coach tourists. Passengers, he found, did not wish to be rushed through the country, and 80 miles a day he considered to be adequate. His charges worked out at 2d. per mile, plus hotel charges. Care -is exercised in the selection of routes.
"What is my ideal coach? Well, I have it in mind, but as I am hopeful of getting it in service this spring, I do not want to talk about the body design just yet. I can tell you this, however : it will be an 18 seater, on giant pneumatics, with a luggage box at the rear, and compartments under the steps."
February 14, 1922. Prospects-in the -Midlands.
An improvement in the Trade Anticipated.
THE manager of a large firm of chara-bancs proprietors in the Midlands recently informed us that; so far as he could see, there would be an improvement in the trade for the coming season.
"I do not see how charges can be materially reduced," he said, " unless, of course, there is a drop in the price of petrol. The overhead charges of the motor ooach business are so high that, apart from the petrol fall, fares cars only be reduced by increased business, and with so much unemployment about this seems unlikely.
"The char-a-bancs trade in the Mid. lands is, of course, very different frem that at a seaside town. Nowadays, about 10 per cent. Of our business is by public hire. The other 90 per cent. consists of trips for social clubs private parties, works l outings, etc--all' booked up before.hind.
" We run a fair number of coaches,
-but, of course, we are in a smaller way than many films. It is on the seaside trips where the big -firms have the pull over us. They have depots at Weston. super-Mare, Llandudno, etc., and can thus always fix up a return load. We cannot, do this and, therefore, are unable to approach their cut prices for the single journey, although for return fares, of course, we are competitive with them.
"This year we are paying taxes quarterly. It costs more, if all the vehicles are licensed, but we can 'save two quarters' tax on some vehicles, and then, of course, there is always the chance of an accident or severe breakdown putting a char4-banca out of running for a quarter, and so saving tax."
Asked what he considered his running costs to be, he replied that for general work, with a moderate mileage, about 3s. a mile would cover the cost of a 28-30 seater. His firm has a contract in which four days a week, all the year round, a 28 seater does 44 miles, and for this work he thought that the running costs came out to about is. 10c1. per mile only. He was very much averse to the practice of using a coach chassis for haulage work in the winter.
One of the disadvantages of storing a motor coach ■for the winter months is that the insurance premium, of about 480, for the full year's running, has to be paid, whereas for six months the vehicle is subject to no running or thirdparty risks, and when stered is usually covered by the garage fire and burglary policies. If the insurance companies could see their way to issuing sixmonthly policies at, say, two-thirds or even three-quarters of the full year's premium, a considerable saving in overhead charges would result.
Samuelson's Plans for 1922.
THE directors of the Samuelson Transport Co., Ltd., have, they believe, one of the biggest propositions of its kind in the country, and under the active guidance of Mr. Cecil S. Windsor, the chairman, and Mr. Mullins, a highly successful season is anticipated.
The fleet is being standardized upon two makes of chassis—the Thornycroft and the Dennis—and with the very latest ideas in coachwork at their disposal (because it must not be forgotten that Mr. Windsor is a director .of James Rattle and Co., •Ltd., whose coachbuilding enterprise is very well known), the fleet should make a great impression upon the coach patronizing public when it appears in all its glory at Easter. A few of the coaches are already on service, as a set of tours round London was inaugurated on
February 1st, but the Easter holidays will see the first real rush of pleasure seekers, and by the week-end of` April 28th the coach season should be fairly in swing.
Fares are generally expected to show a small decline this year, but it is not the intention of the directors to fix a scale below first-class railway fares. Private hire work is prospering exceedingly, as already 40 coaches are booked each
week-end from the last Saturday in April to the close of the month of September. One contract that tire company has entered into is for the supply of 57 vehicles, each a 28-seater, for a big private outing.
New offices have been taken in Page treet, Westminster, and every facility is provided for the transaction of a huge volume of business, the whole of it, practically beingready-money. trade:.