YOUR LOADS THE MORE YOU NEED
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DUNLOP
The maintenance staff totals 65 men (0.64 man per vehicle). Trolleybus operation demands a sizeable electricians' room and there is no reason to suppose that the facilities will be any .less useful when the entire fleet is powered by the oil engine. The pump room, too, is fully equipped with Hartridge and Merlin plant and is well able to cope with the work coming through. The inspection pits are of modern, tiled pattern and the bodyshop deals with a vehicle per week. Repaints are carried out every two years.
In addition to .preventive maintenance of the routine kind, complete overhauls are carried out at intervals of 250,000 miles. At this time, both engine and body receive equal attention, and all the work, except the regrinding of crankshafts, is done in the shops. In the past year, because of the shortage of skilled tabour, advantage has been taken of the A.E.C. engine-exchange system. A Wickham steam cleaner is used for under-cleaning and three vehicles are prepared weekly for the regulation Ministry of Transport inspection.
The ticket system currently in use is the T.I.M., which deals with the wider range of fares now obtaining in the two boroughs. The machines are maintained in the undertaking'sworkshops.
At a time when the " take-over " is a national debating point, the joint operation of two municipal transport undertakings is of more than ordinary interest. In Grimsby and Cleethorpes, the amalgamation has been demonstrated to function efficiently, both from the points of view of Management and public. There has been no reduction in. facilities (rather the reverse) and, indeed, the service offered-. has been carefully designed to meet the demand for transport from both town centres and the new ho,using estates. Fare scales are realistic and, in the case of workmen's fares (available until 8.45 a.m.), generous: If economy is •the watchword, it is not at the expense of the travelling public.