AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

Broken Propeller Shaft Caused

21st November 1947
Page 52
Page 55
Page 52, 21st November 1947 — Broken Propeller Shaft Caused
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Coach Crash

ABROKEN propeller shaft figured prominently in the evidence at a Ministry of Transport inquiry at Holmfirth, Yorkshire, on November 13, into a coach accident there on October 18, when the _vehicle got out of control while-descending a hill and crashed into a warehouse, part of which collapsed on the coach. Nine people were killed and 24 injured.

At the inquiry, conducted by a Ministry of Transport inspector, Mr. R. A. Lovell, evidence was given by Arthur Rowe, partner in Messrs. A. Rowe and Sons, Cudworth, owners of the vehicle, that his firm operated a fleet of 20 coaches. The vehicle involved in,the accident was bought second-hand in 1934, and was thoroughly overhauled last April, when the brakes were refaced.

Since then it had been given a routine weekly examination. The driver on the clay of the accident, a week-end employee, had been with the firm for about three weeks, and was used to the vehicle.

Referring to indications that the propeller shaft had snapped while the vehicle was descending the hill, Mr.

Rowe put forward the theory that when this happened, the driver switched off the engine and thus lost the great braking power of the servo mechanism.

Thomas Stringer, maintenance engineer for Messrs. Rowe, said that the brajces were jnspected the dai, before the accident.

A repOrt by Professor L. C. Nichols, director of the Forensic Science Laboratory, Wakefield, Stated that the propeller shaft had a. fatigue track of comparatively long standing, which might not have been visible by ordinary examination. He thought, how ever, that the shaft must have suffered some unusual stress to cause it to break.

Police-Sergeant S. •S. Oldham, who examined the wrecked coach, said he though that the propeller shaft was snapped by bad driving. There was grease and oil on three brake shoes. The fact that the engine did not burst into flames on the impact, and the condition of the broken shaft, supported the theory that the engine was not rotating at the time of the crash: He found the gearbox engaged in third gear.

Changed Gear on Hill A passenger who stayed in the coach until it crashed said that while the driver was changing gear during the descent of the bill, there was a snap, apparently caused by the breaking of the propeller shaft. He saw the driver pull back the brake lever; this checked the acceleration for a split second, "and then we were off." Immediately before the crash he could see nothing, because the vehicle had filled either with smoke or dust.

Harry Dain, Ministry of Transport certifying officer said that a routine inspection of the vehicle in "August, 1946, showed that it was well maintained and in a serviceable condition.

H. C. Thomas, a vehicle examiner to the Ministry, said that oil which he found on three of the brake facings, after t he crash, was of long standing, for it was embedded, and he thought it arose from overlubrication. NEW LONDON DOUBLE-DECKER RADIATOR UNDER STAIRCASE IT is understood that London Trans1 port is carrying out advanced experiments on the A.E.C. Mark 111 doubledecker bus chassis, which will be used on certain coach routes.

Changes in bodywork design include specially reinforced body pillars which are encased in stainless-steel sheeting. Passenger comfort is enha,nced by half' drop full-length windows, electro-pneumatically operated doors at the reax entrance, and thermostatically controlled heating or cooling for both decks.

It is probable that the radiator will be positioned under the staircase at the rear, and used in conjunction with a reversible electric fan, will supply hot air through ducting to both decks, In warmer weather the reverse operation of the fan will extract air through the ducting, and be used to cool the radiator.

£386,000 GARAGE PLAN

SUNDERLAND Transport Committee is to consider a £386,000 plan for the erection of two garages and a depot to hquse the municipal biles. It is expected that within three years the corporation's fleet will comprise 200

buses. . .

The committee has a long-term plan for replacing the town's trams by buses and a report on the need for eitra garage and depot accommodation has been prepared by Mr. C. A. Hopkins, transport manager, and Mr. J. E. Lewis, borough engineer.

TROLLEYBUSES FOR TRAMS

TVENTY trolleybuses are likely to re-place trams on the Newcastle-onTyne-Gosforth route by next February. Newcastle City Council will shortly consider converting to trolleybus working the route from Jesmond Road to Heaton Road and Byker Bridge.

NEW SCHEDULES AGREED

BY a majority, delegates to a meeting of the Transport and General Workers' Union decided last week to work the new bus and tram schedules introduced by London Transport. There was some disagreement on the question.

BREWERIES TO RUN EXPRESS SERVICES

LICENCES have been granted by the LA Northern Licensing Authority for Public Service Vehicles to enable Vans and Associated Breweries, Ltd., Sunderland, to operate express carriages between Newcastle-on-Tyne and the company's hotels at Otterburn, Belford and Blanchlancl. Mr. S. W. Nelson, chairman, said that life was dull and people should be encouraged to get away for relaxation at Week-ends.

Objectors included United Automobile Services, Ltd., and the Venture Transport Co. (Newcastle), Ltd.

MUNICIPAL TAXICAB SERVICE?

UNDER a Bill which Coventry Corporation proposes to promote, the municipality seeks power. to provide a taxicab service: This plan is said to be without precedent in civic trading. A special meeting of Coventry' City Council is to be held on November 25' to consider the Bill and its promotion.

"COACH-BUSES" A SUCCESS. • THE '350 emergency coaches . which

have been running as bus reliefs in London are reported by London Transport as having proved "an Outstanding success" in reducing the queues.,

Reports show that the coaches have cut passenger waiting time by an average of over 20 per cent, in all the areas where they are running. Effect has been specially noticeable in many of the busy suburban areas. . . .

" The•-coach drivers, many of whom have never before. tackled bts work in London traffic, have done -extraordinarily well," said an official . of the Board.

SERVICES FOR BUSMEN C_RANTING an application by the Northern General ' Transport Co.. Ltd., to operate special services to carry employees to and from work, Mr. S. W. Nelson, chairman of the Northern Licensing Authority for Public Service Vehicles, commented that if anyone should be transported to and from work, it was the bus drivers and conductors.

TAXICAB OWNERS WARNED

D RADFORD taxicab owners and Ddrivers were warned, last week, by Aldertnan David Black, on behalf of Bradford Watch'Sommittee, against using meters that were not illuminated or not working, and against overcharging.

HIGHER FARES TO OFFSET 1134,000 LOSS? • raECISION was reserved on-an appli cation byDerby, Corporation to inCrease fares . on motorbuses and trolley.buses which :Caine before the East Midland Licensing AuthoritY for Public Service Vehicles, at Derby, on November 12. No objection was offered.

For the corporation. Mr. A. 1 D. Langford said that the steady accumula'lion of profits which the' undertaking made each year was now (IV/it-idling at an :alarmingly increasing rate.: Since 1937-38 the total receipts had increased , by just over 55 per cent.' Whereas working expenses had risen 15.y 75 percent. This year a loss of 1134,120 was likely.

No general increase in fares had been made by the corporation since 1925. A further income of 159,000 a Year was . required.

BIG "REPEATS" FOR REGENTS

A MONG repeat orders for Regent Mark UI, donbli-deckers -recently -received by' the AssociatedEquipment Co.,Ltd., the largest is feomAberdeen, which is taking -another: -50 vehicles. Newcastieqrpon-Tyne Corphration also purchasing another .30. Bradford 20 and Leigh 14.


comments powered by Disqus