WHEELS of INDUSTRY "The wheels of wealth will be slowed
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by all difficulties of transport at whatever points arising, as a carriage is by the roughness of the roads over which it ranr."—John Beattie Crozier.
Co-operative Bus Scheme.
The T.T1ster Passengers' Combine is the title of a concern which it is proposed to inaugurate to operate buses on the Belfast-Holywood road in opposition to the present railway bus service. The vehicles will operate solely for the benefit of members of the society, who are promised a cheaper fare and a share of the profits in the undertaking. Membership can be secured for 1s. This, of course, is exclusive of travelling charges. It is claimed that, as these buses will be operating for private persons, there will be no need to have licences to ply for hire.
Rival Concerns Agree.
The Glasgow' General Omnibus Co., Ltd., and 1. W. and R. Torrance Ltd., have intimated an arrangement for the exchange of tickets on their vehicles.
Both companies were keen competitors on the Glasgow, Cambuslang and Hamilton route, one of the busiest in Lanarkshire. • Corporation's Coaching Promise.
Complaints that Bury Corporation was running coach services in competition with private firms have been ininstigated by the Amalgamated bone and Motor Owners' Association, Manchester. Mr. J. S. Howarth, the secre
• tary, recently held a meeting with a sub-committee of the corporation tramways committee, which agreed not to extend its present services without consulting the association.
Bigger Receipts in Glasgow.
The revenue derived from the Glasgow Corporation motorbus, tramway and subway services during June, July and August showed an increase of nearly £40,000, as compared with the corresponding period of 1929. The number of tickets issued in the three months was greater by 6 million.
• Military Mechanization and Fuel.
One of the lessons which has been learned in connection with the recent French military maraeuvres is that the adequate supply of liquid fuel for mechanized units is one of the most vital auxiliary services. A nation which has at its disposal the greatest quantity of available fuel for internal-combustion engines appears likely to have a very great advantage over all others.
Bradford's Public-transport Question. It is reported that there is a likelihood of an extension of the trolley-bus system at Bradford to substitute for tramway routes which require track renewal. Certain bus routes, it is suggested, may be abandoned in cases where they are not paying.
Important Bus Service Calls for AutoMatic Traffic Signals. Receipts on Manchester's longest Inter-city motorbus route—the No, 53 circular service, Which almost completely encircles the city—have increased steadily since trains were replaced a short time ago, sothat at present they show an increase of £300 a week over the former tramway statistics.
As this route passes over a large number of arterial roads, carrying heavy volumes of traffic, the watch committee is considering the advisability of installing automatic traffic signals at all important junctions.
A Ticket-issuing Experiment in London.
Particularly on routes which include a large number of popular short-distanee stages, a conductor finds it difficult to collect all the fares before some of the passengers dismount. An experiment was recently made in London with a ticket-issuing machine, operated by a conductor working amongst the passengers standing in queues on the footpath.
Speeding-up Production of the Commer Factory.
For some time reorganization of the Commer works, at Luton, has been in progress, and Commer Cars, Ltd., has purchased additional land in readiness for future developments. The bodybuilding shop is to be enlarged to cope with the production of standard types of van, and lorry bodies, and the repair department is to be greatly extended.
Proposed New Humber Bridge.
With the revival in -practical for of a project which has been under the consideration of local authorities and others at various periods during the past 25 years, there appears at length to be a reasonable prospect of work being undertaken for the construction of a new bridge over the Humber.
Joint Supervision of Passenger Services.
The clerk of Eston Urban District Council has reported that a joint meeting of representatives of Middlesbrough Corporation, Eston Council and the Tees-side Railless Traction Board has been held, and it was decided that the Board should be empowered to deal with the question of rolling stock as it deemed expedient, until the whole 4uestion of mechanical transport in the area had been investigated.
The Eastbourne Concours.
Commercial vehicles were well represented in the Eastbourne Concours
• d'Elegance which was held last Wednesday in Devonshire, Place, Eastbourne, there being 34 entries in the delivery-van class, eight lorries and four coaches. The delivery vans were practically all of conventional appearance, there being nothing outstanding in any of them, although, it must be agreed, quite a number looked very smart and well kept. It is such events as these which reveal the-care in upkeep bestowed on the vans by-their owners, for the judges make a most critical examination, not only of the exterior appearance, but also of cleanliness of the engine, chassis and
soon.
The motor-coach section consisted of two entries by Southdown Motor Services and two' by Southern Glideway Coaches, Ltd. Each presented a most imposing appearance,beautifully finished and equipped inside in a very tasteful manner.
The following is a list of prizewinners :— elivery vans: 1st, Southern Publis ing Co., Ltd. (24 hp. Ford with Ford body) ; 2nd, Frowd's Dairies, Ltd. (11.9 h.p. Morris with Morris body). Komposill prize for best van polished with Komposill : Scotch Bakery (22 h.p. Chevrolet). Silver cup for best-kept Ford commercial vehicle, Southern Publishing Co.
Lorries: 1st, Mansfields, Ltd. (17.9 h.p. Dennis breakdown outfit) ; 2nd, Pickford, Ltd. (36 h.p. Leyland).
Motor coaches (open) : Southern Glideway Coaches, Ltd. (Leyland Tiger with Duple body).
Motor coaches (closed) : Soutlidown Motor Services, Ltd. (Leylaud Tiger with Harrington body).
More Buses Replace Trains.
Numerous substitutions of existing branch-line rail services by buses are to be carried out in the north and in Wales by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway in the next few weeks. A fleet of buses will in future carry passengers on the popular Carnarvon-Llanberia route, in North Wales, and also over the Red Wharf Bay line, in Anglesey. Other brandies affected are the Prestatyn-Dyserth, Skipton-Grassington and Aspatria-Mealsgate (Cumberland) sections.
The Big Towy Bridge Scheme.
The Ministry of Transport has offered Carmarthen Comity Council an 85 per cent, grant on the estimated cost of £100,000 of building a new high-level bridge over the River Towy to replace the present dangerous and narrow bridge which is on the through South Wales, London and Fishguard main road. The county council is to consider this offer subject to the Ministry declining the same percentage grant for a low-level bridge which would be cheaper to construct. The centuriesold bridge now used will be preserved as an ancient monument and will be kept, if the Ministry's advice of a couple of years ago be followed, for purely local and light traffic, leaving the great new bridge for heavy traffic.
Personal Pars.
The many friends of Mr. J. W. Mills, M.I.A.E., M.I.E.S., M.S.A.E., will be interested to know that he has joined the board of the Kelsey-Hayes Wheel Co., Ltd., 106, Regent Street, London, W.1, and will be taking an active part, in the management of the company, which is the English branch of the wellknown Kelsey-Hayes Wheel Co., of America—easily the largest manufacturer in the United States of wheels, brakes, and everything pertaining to them.
We wish Mr. Mills every success in his new position.
Mr. Edward Nolan, who died at his residence in Wallace Street, Stirling, on September 9th, was prominently identified with bus activities in Central Scotland. He joined the service of the Falkirk and District Tramways Co. as a conductor 24 years ago, and eventually became traffic superintendent. Mr. Nolan later became manager of the Scottish General Omnibus Co., which was formed in 1919 as a subsidiary company of the tiYamwaSr concern. As bus developments increased he became chief operating superintendent at the head office in sStirling, eventually becoming traffic manager for the whole of Scotland. Mr. Nolan is survived by his wife and three daughters.
Mr. Rees Jeffreys, the chairman of the Roads Improvement Association, has ;hailed for Canada and U.S.A. to attend conferences on road-building questions. In Canada he will address the Canadian Good Roads Convention on "How the Constituent Parts, of the British Commonwealth ,Cen Best Co-operate to Develop Their Road Systems." Later, .he will attend the sixth International Road Congress, at Washington, to represent the Roads Improvement Association at that function.
He has been appointed a delegate of the British Government at both gatherings.
Planning Newcastle's Municipal Station.
• Elaborate plans for the efficient control of motorbus traffic in it large new municipal labs station which it is proposed to erect at the Haymarket, Newcastle, the busiest centre of road-paseenger traffic in the city, are now nearing completion.
In a report presented to the watch committee by the chief constable (Mr. F. J. Crawley), it is stated /that the control of buses will be worked on a similar system to that used on the railmade.
An official in an interview stated that large time-tables will be provided from which intending passengers will be able to tell at a glance from which part of the station,their buses will leave and their times of departure. One-way streets and other traffic-control arrangements are being considered.
Steam-wagon Facilities at Twyford. , The highways committee of Berkshire County Council reports that in connection with a proposal to provide a watering place for steam wagons, ets., near the new West Bridge, on the Twyford by-pass road, so as to obviate the necessity of these vehicles proceeding through Twyford village, complaints continue to be received in regard to the passage of heavy traffic through the village. In the circumstances the committee decided to provide the proposed watering-place, at a cost of 1100.
An Amended Address.
Several communications intended for Royle and Sons, Ltd. commercialvehicle specialists, 206, Wellington Road South, Stockport, have been returned to the writers by the Rost Office.
Owing to an error in one of our advertisements these letters bore an incorrect address, and we advise the senders to write again to Royle and Sons, Ltd., which company's corrected 'advertisement appears in this issue.
Thames Bridge Problems.
The Marlow Bridge Joint Committee has decided that the councils should not contemplate the erection of a new suspension icridge at Marlow at an estimated cost of £100,000, especially in view of the fact that the Minister of Transport is apparently not prepared to make a grant from the Road Fund to cover the difference between the cost of a new suspension bridge and that of a ferroconcrete bridge; that a detailed inspection and test of the existing structure be made and a report, specification and estimate of the probable cost be prepared as to the works necessary for the complete overhaul and repair of •Maclow Bridge so as to enable it to carry a load of approximately eight tons ; that pending the receipt of the report and estimate, the question of erecting a new ferro-concrete bridge at Marlow be deferred; and that the Berks and Buckingham county councils should, so soon as a favourable opportunity occurs, take the necessary steps to acquire Cookham Bridge from the present owners with a view to freeing it from tolls and reerecting on the site a new bridge capable of carrying modern traffic. Bridges in London Docks.
Recently Bermondsey Borough Come, cil wrote to the Port of London Authority in regard to the swing bridges in Rotherhithe Street. The council has received complaints in respect of two of the bridges in the Surrey Docks., viz., Canada Deck and Russia Dock swing bridges. The staff has been decreased at ;these bridges and vehicular traffic has suffered considerable delay when river craft pass the bridges. The Port of London Authority now replies that certain rearrangements have recently been made in connection with the closing and opening of the road gates, but the platter will be carefully watched.
Another Big Tramway Substitution.
In order to carry out its decision to replace tramways by motorbuses, Wigan Corporation has placed an order with Iseyland Motors, Ltd., amounting to E6,480, for 10 Titan double-saloon vehicles and 20 chassis. It is understood that orders for a further 20 machines will be placed shortly.
Increase in Scottish Bus Fares.
There have been persistent rumours that an increase in fares among Scottish bus companies might be expected at any time, and it is now learned that the concerns operating around Glasgow and in the West of Scotland are contemplating such action.
lit certain cases return fares have already been suspended pending the revision of rates. Single tickets only are in operation. We understand that many of the routes are being operated at a loss just now. The reason for this surprise action is explained to be severe competition. TheL.M.S. Railway Co. has already increased the rates on several routes.
Glasgow Transport Workers' Demands, The Transport and General Workers' Union has made an application to the Glasgow Corporation requesting a reduced spreadover of hours of the tramway and bus employees. The union suggests that the eight hours' daily work should be finished within a maximum of 10 hours, and that all work in excess of eight hours be paid for as overtime. The application is being continued . pending a conference between the union representatives and the chairman and geberal manager of the Transport Department. A joint application has been made by the National Union of General and Municipal Workers and the building workers for a five-night week for men employed on the permanent way. It is estimated that the granting of both demands would cost over £40,000, while the number of men involved is 6,000.
A Far-seeing Report.
Important suggestions for the future of public transport in industrial Lancashire are contained in a report just issued after three years' investigation work by the South West Lancashire Regional Town Planning Committee, which is representative of 10 local authorities in the thickly peopled area bounded by Southport, Liverpool and St. Helens.
, The report suggests that the real solution to existing difficulties is the gradual supersession of trams by motorbuses. It suggests, further, that motorbus stations should be erected in all towns in the area to facilitate the establishment of motorbus lines adequate to serve the whole district, and that no further difficulties should be created by the extension of any existing tramway system.
A system of wide new arterial roads is considered vital to the development of the district concerned, and the report contains numerous miggestions for new through roads.
Reviewing, the general needs, it le mentioned that the population will, it is anticipated, have increased by more than 1i million by 1961 and the building of nine new "dormitory townships is suggested, all of which, of course, would require new transport facilities.
Birkenhead Coach Owners' Grievances.
Urging that consideration should be shown to private operators serving Woodside Ferry approach, Mr. R. P. Fletcher, at the September meeting of Birkenhead Town Council, said it was evident that the watch committee did not give them the same facilities as were enjoyed by a large concern. There were half a dozen, motor-coach owners who, in 1920, began to offer facilities to the people of the borough and the outer districts to get to various points within
the area of WirraL They built up businesses and iroiested their money in the necessary vehicles ; then came an agreenierif this year betsireen the trani c22 ways committee and the Crosville Co. Immediately their business began to fail. They were debarred from putting on an extra vehicle, yet the Crosville Co. was able to dump four buses at a time at the Woodside Ferry stand. The small owner was crowded out.
All the private coach owners asked was that they should be allowed to load up their vehicles from two boats instead of one and be allowed to wait an extra five minutes for the arrival a the second ferry boat. During the past six or seven weeks, at a time when they expected to make a little profit, their vehicles had been practically empty. They suggested that the loading time be extended from 1 o'clock to 2.30 p.m., which was not
the ,busiest time of the day, as the congestion did not begin until 4 o'clock. The chairman of the committee replied that the Crosville concern was complying with its agreement with the corporation.
Trade Affairs in Scotland.
On September 19th and 20th a rally is being held by the Scottish Motor Trade Association at Taymouth Castle, Perthshire, when Mr. George M. Gladstone, J.P., the president, is expected to make an announcement on the progress of the movement for the entire control of trade affairs in Scotland by the S.M.T.A.
Fare-cutting in the Cardiff Area.
Pontypridd Urban District Council, at its September meeting, considered reports that a bus proprietor named Mr. A. Cox, of Treforest, had extended, without sanction,. his PontypriddRhydfelan service (three miles in length) into Cardiff and was running over the entire distance three vehicles daily, charging extremely low fares. Severe competition is thus felt by the council's Pontypricid-Rhydfdan service.
It was suggested that the council could not fled fault so far as that section of the route in the Pontypridd area was concerned, but a committee was delegated to look into the proposal that Mr. Cox's Ticenee.s be withdrawn to give him a • chance to appeal to the Ministry to settle the matter.
Two Appointments Available.
A works manager, age about 35, with experience of pressing plants, is required by an important concern which is building a factory near London. He must be capable of taking over the control of production and labour for a plant making motor-vehicle parts on progressive-assembly lines. An experience of American methods would be an asset.
The second position is for an assistant to the above, to take charge of a complete pressing plant. He must have keen' initiativeand be a good controller of labour.
In each case a good salary will be paid to the right man ; the amount will depend, to a certain extent, on results.
Applications for the first post should be addressed to "Works Manager," care of the Editor, and for the second one to "Assistant Works Manager."
Tractor Trials Programme.
We understand that the demonstration of tractors at Ardington, near Wantage, which starts to-day and continues until September 19th, will consist mainly of. ploughing. It was formerly announced that the work would com• prise ploughing and cultivating, but the programme has now been simplified.
Co-ordinating London Traffic.
Although Sir William McLintock has not yet deposited his scheme for the coordination of London traffic with the Minister of Transport, it is understood that marked progress has been made towards its completion. ,At the same time, the uncertainty as to the lease of life of the existing Government raises doubt as to whether the scheme will be Put into operation.
Papers on Diesel Engines.
During the session 1930-31 the following papers will be read before members of . the Diesel Engine Users Association, 307, Abbey House, Westminster, London; S.W.1 :—Friday, November 21st, 1930, "The Application of Diesel Engines to Road Transport," by Major W. H. Goddard, A.M.I.Mech.E. ; Wednesday, December 10th, 1930 (joint meeting with the Institute of Fuel), " Modern Diesel Engines," by Maximilian GM-eke ; Friday, December 12th, 1930. "Waste Heat Recovery from Internal-combustion Engines," by Major W. Gregson ; Friday, January 23rd, 1931, " Errors in Erecting Heavy-oil Engines," by Geoffrey Porter, A.M.I.C.E. ; Friday, February 20th, 1931, "The Nobel Two-cycle Diesel Engine," by H. C. King,
A Comment on the Merseyside Dock • Haulage.
Of the four main factors tending to eliminate horse cartage in the Merseyside area, the most important is mechanical road transport, states Mr. F. G. Hanham, of the Ministry of Labour, in the report he has made following his investigation of the problem of casual labour in Liverpool and Birkenhead. One section of the report is devoted entirely to road transport.
"Liverpool," he says, "has been described as the home of heavy haulage. The more rapid movement of mechanically driven vehicles has increased the efficiency of the individual unit for most types of journey, thus reducing the number of units required.
"Road transport direct from the docks has increased from 177,000 tons in 1922 to 373,000 tons in 1929. To these figures should be added the tonnage transported direct to the quay for export in order to ascertain the total weight of goods hauled by motors to and from outlying districts.
"The changing methods of road transport have not necessarily benefited the local haulage industry, because much of the traffic lost on the railway has also gone from the carts ; it has not gone to local motors, but rather to the upcountry man.
"Several employers and others. interested in the problem are emphatic that one of the main reasons for this loss of trade to firms outside the area is the non-application of the 48-hour accumulative week which is in force at Manchester and most other neighbotnying centres."
Taxis for Long Distances.
In consequence of serious reductions in the volume of business available, taxicab owners in the Manchester district are considering a scheme for the conveyance of families at attractive rates to popular seaside resorts in the area. It is probable that...a meeting will be held in the near future to discuss the details of the scheme. The idea is that mileage rates should be abolished on long-distance runs of this kind in favour of a flat rate per head, sufficiently low to induce whole families to patronize taxi services. If the scheme be approved it is likely that it will be instituted next year.
'The Closing of Railway Stations.
As a further step in the rail-roads scheme of co-ordination 14 stations on two Northumbrian branch lines are to be closed down from September 22nd, passenger-transit facilities being provided by the United Automobile Services, Ltd., and associated undertakings. On the Hexham-Allendale section, the United Co., in conjunction with Messrs. Emmersou Brothers, will maintain a regular and frequent road service ; in the case of Alnwick-Coldstream, " United " services will be provided.
A New Address for Hammond Pumps.
Oil Installations (1928), Ltd., previously of 200, High Holborn, London, the well-known supplier of Hammond low-pressure petrol-metering systems, removed yesterday to the works of the parent company—namely, Liquid Measurements, Ltd., and future communications should be addressed to Hammond Works, Victoria Road, North Acton, London. N.W.10. The telephone numL ber is Willesden 5861-3.
It is interesting to note that this cora.pany has received an order to supply a large bulk-storage petrol installation, incorporating the Hammond metering system, at the Lawrence Hill depot of the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co-, Ltd., as well as orders for a petrol installation for Leigh Corporation and for the equipment of three new garages of the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd.