Another Man Who Hates Trains
Page 41
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
THE delightful and witty article by Janus must have been joyous reading to all of your readers, and he deserves our grateful thanks for his contribution of December 6.
We can assure Janus that we do not underrate the vested interests, the lack of vision or understanding of the politicians, and the lack of favourable public opinion. It is our intention to address our efforts to creating an informed public opinion and once that is established we have no doubt as to its being favourable. We are indeed most grateful to the Press for the splendid beginning that has been made since November 7, the date of the publication of Brig. T. I. Lloyd's book, "Twilight of the Railways."
We are particularly indebted to The Commercial Motor for having devoted so much space to the splendid and penetrating appreciation of the situation by Janus.
Let us be quite clear upon what should be the correct answer to this question: "Is it vital to the nation's future welt being that it should have the most efficient transport system in the world?" We of the Railway Conversion League have no shadow of doubt that the answer is an unequivocal "Yes." Having come to that conclusion we have endeavoured to make the dispassionate survey of the alternatives available by which that end might be achieved. Brig. Lloyd's book is the text book for the unanswerable case for the converson of the railways.
The author is a personwho loves Britain and all that Britain stands for in the realm of good. He does not hate trains. He sees that they are a drag on the nation's future prosperity and, quite properly, he wants to see Britain drop this and other shackles:
The easy way for the Parliamentarian is always the hard and costly way for the taxpayer, and the last sentence of the Janus article is a strong endorsement of this statement.
The Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation would do well to pause in his hopeless task of rebuilding the railways" fo which fie his pledged the taxpayers' money, and ask himself a simple and fundamental question. in the environment of today would it be possible to push the cause of the piston engine in the face of the all-conquering advance of the jet? If he will then ask himself: "Can 1, in the environment of today, persist in boosting an effete system of captive vehicles which has no future in fair competition with a system using free vehicles, without endangering my political future?" He, doubtless, will be guided by the historical precedent of the eclipse of politicians who have been held by public opinion to have "taken the nation for a ride," in deciding his answer.
The conversion of railways into roads is inevitable; the only question is, how long will it take public opinion to understand that we are being taken for a ride that is costing the public over £1,000m. per'annum.
When that day dawns, public opinion will dominate the politician who, in turn, will jettison his beloved vested Interests, having newly discovered his life-long passion for a controlled roadway System.
London, S.W.1. F. C. GORDON ENGLAND,
I WAS much interested in the article by Janus in your I issue of December 6.
I have iread Brig. Lloyd's book and it seems to me that his rather startling analysis of the situation deserves a lot more serious consideration. If somebody suggests a saving to the nation of, say, £10m. everybody applauds, but when il,000m. per annum is suggested the scheme is brushed aside without serious consideration.
I cannot see any fallacy in Brig. Lloyd's thesis, neither, apparently, can Janus.
Could we please have an authoritative analysis of the scheme? If it be nonsense then let this be proved, if it be sound sense, then shout it from the roof tops.
Sevenoaks, Kent. N. E. BENNETT.
Not all Vehicles could have Vertical Exhausts
THE letter from A. G. Watford concerning vertical I exhaust pipes for oil-engined vehicles, published in your issue dated November 29, was of much interest to me. I believe that on the Continent and in the U.S.A. such positioning of exhaust pipes is required by law on all large vehicles.
In articulated models, this can easily be achieved within the space available at the back of the cab; with smaller vehicles, however, there is no such .space and in these it is almost essential to have the exhaust under the vehicle:
Again, the Home Office regulations concerning the carriage of inflammable liquids require that the silencer and exhaust pipe must be mounted at the front of the vehicle, and a fire screen secured at the back of the cab.
As to the objectionable odour arising, this is found generally when inferior oil fuel is used. Modern oil refining practice makes it possible to produce an almost odourless oil. The main problem is to get vehicle operators to ascertain that the injector pumps are properly calibrated and the injectors kept in good order, also that the fuel and air filters receive frequent attention.
Now that service stations for pumps and injectors are available in nearly every part of the country, operators should take full advantage of these facilities, the cost of which is not considerable.
My observations show that it is mostly vehicles in the smaller fleets that emit black smoke, and then only where the owners are indifferent to the necessary maintenance.
The only real answer to the problem would be to by-pass the exhaust gases through a chemical scrubber.
Doncaster, Yorks, I. W. MORRIS.
Oversize Tyres May Cause Smoking
waft regard to the letters concerning the emission of " smoke from. oil-engined vehicles, published in your issues dated October 11 and December 6, I am of the opinion that to overcome this cause of annoyance requires the co-operation of operators, drivers and fitters.
If the cause be faulty injectors, a choked air filter, or incorrect timing, then the engine will not develop its full power or us maximum speed, and there is no doubt that the driver will.complain.
One reason for the trouble may be the fitting of larger tyres to permit further overloading. This is the equivalent of altering all the gear ratios, and if the vehicle be running on a tight schedule, a fitter may be asked to increase the fuel supply to the engine.
It is for the operator to keep an eye on such matters, and his records of individual fuel consumption should show where there is an excess which may result in smoking.
Doddington, Cambs. I. G. SUTTON.