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Motorbus

25th November 1909
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Page 8, 25th November 1909 — Motorbus
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Keywords : Light Rail, Tram

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Complaint has been made to the Keighley Urban District Council that the motorbuses running in that district are frequently overcrowded.

For the past two months the motorbuses belonging to Messrs. Andrew Barton Bros., of Beeston, have been successfully maintaining a passenger service between Nottingham, Beeston. Long Eaton, and the surrounding chis • tricts. No lost journeys or delays have so far been recorded. The um chines at present in use are two Durham-Churchill:4.

Motorbuses for Dorking and Sevenoaks.

To be added to the public-vehicle services which have already been inaugurated, in various parts of the country by Commercial Car Hirers, Ltd., we now have to record the starting of further services in the Dnrking and Sevenoaks districts. The enterprise of this concern is great.

Friction at Farnborough.

Trouble, similar to that at Bore. which we reported in our last issue. is occurring at Farnborough. The Farnborough Motor Bus Company claim that it is impossible to run their vehicles noiselessly over the Alexandra, Road, the surface of which, it is claimed, is in a bad state. The chairman of the local district council, commenting upon a communication front the motorbus company to the above effect, said that the Alexandra Road was one of the finest in Hampshire.

Splashguards Needed, Various Metropolitan borough councils have under consideration a circular letter from the Poplar Borough Council asking their support in bringing under the notice of the Home Secretary and the Commissioner of Police the necessity for the enforcement of the fitting an improved mud guard for motor omnibuses, in view of the increased traffic, and the serious nuisance caused by the mud thrown on to the footways by the omnibuses, and, having regard to the fact that effective mudguards are available, of a different type to those in use. Acceleration and Braking Tests.

Sonic interesting experiments with regard to the acceleration and retardation of various classes of rail and road vehicles, in and near London. have recently been carried out by a correspondent of "The Times." The tests were recorded by means of an Elliott accelerometer. Amongst other interesting results, it was found that steam trains averaged an acceleration of 0.6 ft. per sec., per sec. The District electric trains frequently attained to 3 ft. per sec., per sec. " Tube " readings varied between L6 ft. and 2.4 ft. per sec., per see. On motorbuses, accelerations varied considerably; a typical case was 2.5 ft. per sec., per sec. on the first speed, 2.0 ft. on the second, and 1.5 ft. on the third. " Motorcars start at almost any figure, and the effect is more of the nature of a jerk than a steady acceleration." The maximum steady acceleration observed was 4.0 ft. per see., per sec. A light five-seated touring car, momentarily, gave a figure as high at 7.0. A L.C.C. tramcar started at 3.0. In all classes, retardation due to braking was found to be at a greater rate than the corresponding acceleration. Motorbuses, when braked, show 3.0 ft., steam train 2.0 to 3.5 ft., District trains 4.0 ft., L.C.C. tramcars 2.0. Motorcabs sometimes are retarded at a rate of 10 ft. per see., per sec.

The R.A.C. hopes very shortly to issue its regulations with regard to the long-promised acceleration tests, which will take place. Yet, another Berlin horse-bus line has gone under ! We hear that the, General Berlin Omnibus Co. is now working one of its oldest lines, namely, the Landsberger Alle-Halleschea Tor line, which connects up N.E., and S.W., by motorbuses, so that the situation as regards mechanical omnibuses is far more favourable than certain rumours might. lead one to infer.

Motorbuses at Olympia.

We noted, in our last issue, that during the first part of the Olympia Pleasure Car Exhibition inquiries for, and interest in, various classes of commercial-motor vehicles were conspicuous. Towards the close of the exhibition, after our last impression had left the machines. this tendency was increasingly noticeable in various directions. To quote only one instance; a well-known manufacturer, who was exhibiting at Olympia and whose heavy machines bear an excellent reputation, practically concluded an order for Italia-dozen hill-sized motorbuses for India late in the week. Inquiries for ambulances and hotel motorbuses were also frequent.. The stall-holders in the gallery in almost all instances quoted commereial-motor statistics to emphasize the value of their wares.

London Affairs.

There will be found, on the second page of this issue, a brief reference to new motorbus movements, of which we have advance information. Exciting times are ahead.

Wirtetnberg's First State Line.

Following somewhat tardily in the footprints of the Bavarian Post Office, the Wirtembergian postal officials have decided to establish a motorpost line connecting up Balingen, Rosenfeld and Oberndorf, with a branch RosenfeldSulz. The interested districts are contributing part of the working expenses. This line seems to have been badly wanted not only hero, but also in neighbouring districts. Wirtem

berg's State ;lines are officially described as " Personenposten mit Kraftwagenbetrieb " (" Passenger posts worked by power-vehicles ").

The Price of Rubber.

The price of rubber, in accordance with our forecast of July last, is tending downwards, but it will be some time yet before it will have any appreciable effect upon the retail prices of tires, as manufacturers have, in their own and users' interests, been working on the finest margins for the last few months, notwithstanding relative advances in the charges for complete tires.

Sydney Police View.

Mr. A. Edward, the Superintendent of Police (Traffic Branch) in Sydney. has addressed this letter to us: " In answer to your inquiry respecting the official attitude towards commercial-motor vehicles in this State, I have to inform you that their use and development will be facilitated in any manner possible.

"I am a firm believer in the value for commercial purposes in this State of motor vehicles for conveyance of goods and merchandise ; in fact, I think they can be much more profitably and economically used for such a purpose than for passengers, such as taxicabs and omnibuses. The latter. I consider, quite out of the question in the Metropolis, on account of our excellent system of tramways, although they will probably do very useful work in the country districts.

"The question of drivers is one with which I am somewhat familiar. No difficulty is found in Sydney, in getting active young men with a knowledge of horse driving who want to drive motor vehicles, but they have absolutely no knowledge of motor driving or of machinery. If a good plan of of systematic training could be introduced, it would materially assist in the proper regulation of this class of vehicle."

This view applies to the State as a whole, and we might remark that Mr. Edward is an authority on traffic of world-wide reputation.


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