Salford's Bus Operations.
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The annual report of the general manager of the tramways department of the Salford Corporation shows that during the year ended March 31st last the motorbuses in the service of the corporation travelled 563,977 miles and carried (3,238,688 passengers. Although the Salford authorities had 23 buses in stock during the period, the average number in use per day was 15.
The amount received by way of passenger fares was £36,170, this being at the rate of 15.392d. per bus mile. The total working expenses amounted to 134,644, and the sum of £1,528 was carried to the profit-and-loss account, the profit per bus mile being equal to .65d.
So far as disbursements are concerned, the purchase of motor • spirit absorbed £8,105 and the cost of repairs £6,051, whilst traffic expenses absorbed £17,854 and general expenses £2,633. The number of miles travelled per bus Per day was 106 and the average speed maintained 7.10 m.p.h., these figures being secured on an average of 12 hours' working per bus per day. The average number of passengers carried per bus mile was 11 and the average fare paid per passeeger 1.39d. The number of passengers carried, the miles run, and traffic receipts were all higher than for the previous 12 months, but the average receipts per bus mile fell by 1.644d. from 17.038d.
More Daily Long-distance Services from Newcastle.
The most recent entrants into the field of long-distance bus operation are the County Motor Services, who have commenced to run from Newcastle to both Edinburgh and Glasgow. The routes follow an entirely different line from existing services to these two Scottish centres and good business is being obtained. A fleet of luxuriously appointed Leyland saloon vehicles is being used, and a daily service is provided over both routes. The single fare to Edinburgh is 10s. 6d. and the return fare 17s. 6d., the charges on the Glasgow route being 13s. single and 23s. return.
Surface Grinding Facilities.
It may interest our readers to know that the Laystall Motor Engineering Works, Ltd., Ewer Street London, S.E.1, possesses facilities for effecting surface grinding, an operation for which • there is much scope in connection with motor repairs. It often happens that it is necessary to grind a cylinder block or head on the surface, and this company is in a position to carry out such work accurately and quickly. Its plant includes special vertical grinding machines.
York's Passenger Transport.
An ambitious proposal of the tramways and motors committee of the York Corporation, to seek powers to use trolley-buses in place of trams on ell or any existing route, and to operate motorbuses up to a distance of 10 miles outside the city boundaries, was turned down at the last meeting of the corporation. Opponents to the scheme pointed to the fact that private enterprise was already adequately serving the transport needs of people in the neighbourhood, and that any attempt by the corporation to sedum the requisite running powers would be met by stout resistance from
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the 50-odd private owners. In consequence, the authority would be faced with heavy legal charges. To a suggestion that the corporation might buy out the private services, it was argued that such a course was entirely out of the question on account of the immense amount of money which would be required to do so.
The Subject of Our Sketch.
On this page we reproduce a sketch of Mr. Arthur Franks, managing director of W. B. Dick and Co., Ltd. Industry, thoroughness and a wonderful personality have enabled Mr. Franks to build up a vast business amongst the great oil consumers, not only on the motor-vehicle side, but amongst railway, shipping and factory users. He Possesses the faculty for making friends everywhere, and, what is more important still, of keeping them. As is apparent from his counterfeit presentment on this page, he is still young. He is a prominent member of the committee of the Engineers' Club, belonging also TO the Devonshire and the Thatched House Clubs. His chief hobby is golf, and the latest trophy he secured was the Isherwood Cup lest month in connection with the golfing 'circle of the Engineers' Club.
• Associated with Mr. Franks is Mr. C. E. Dick, a very famous golfing veteran, who reached championship class, representing Scotland versus England for several years. taking part in the semi-final of the Amateur Championship in 1908.
Competition at Higher Fares.
Eston Urban District Council has decided that a bond be entered into with the bus companies to the effect that they shall be permitted to pick up and set down passengers within the radius of the operation of the trolley-buses only at increased fares over and above those charged by the Teesside Railless Traction Board, and that the Middlesbrough Corporation be asked to act similarly.
Fiat Chassis Prices.
We ars asked to state that the present prices of the range of chassis marketed by Fiat (England), Ltd., 43-44, Albemarle Street, London, W.1, are as follow :---15-ewt., 1175; 25-cwt., £250; 14-seater, 4'950. Model 603 chassis, which is available for 2-ton loads or for carrying 18-seater bodies, sells at £425. These prices took effect as from October 23rd.
Useful Accessories on Guy Chassis.
We learn that Guy Motors, Ltd., Fallings Park, Wolverhampton, is standardizing air filters in the carburetters of all its models from and including the 30-cwt. chassis upwards. Furthermore, the company can arrange for the fitting. of an oil rectifier on all six-cylinclered engines at a small extra charge. As a matter of fact, the company's exhibits at the Show are so equipped.
A 50-50 Bus-licensing Arrangement
At the request of the Newcastle Corporation, the Whitley Bay and Monkseaton. Urban District Council has agreed to the issue of bus licences on a 50-50 basis for services between Newcastle and Whitley Bay, over the new coast road. For each corporation vehicle licensed the Whitley Council will have power to license a privately owned machine to run over the route.
A Windscreen-wiper Improvement Certain discussion has recently taken place concerning the use of rubber tubing with suction-operated windscreen wipers, and, after considering the matter, C. G. Vokes and Co., 95-97, Lower Richmond Road, London, S.W.15, the manufacturers of the British Folberth automatic cleaner, has decided to place on the market copper tubing complete with a special union as a means for securing a satisfactory connection between the wiper and the induction manifold. No difficulty should be found in fitting the tubing, and the form of union employed should enable a satisfactory joint to be made at the manifold end.
Bus Competition and Tramways Assessment.
The effect of bus competition on tramways undertakings was indicated at a recent meeting of the Pontypridd Assessment Committee, the rating authority for a very large Glamorgan mining area, when an appeal for reduced as,sessment both on the Rhondda Tramway's Co.'s tramway undertaking and electricity-generating
business was heard. The company's representative said that a substantial reduction must be made or the company could not pay the rates.
Apart from reduced revenue brought about by depression in the coal mining industry, the development of bus traffic • had meant an enormous falling off in receipts on trams running in the area. The figures of the Rhondda Tramwass Co. undertaking for the first nine months of 1925 showed a profit of £25,352, and for the same period of 1926 a profit of only £355, whilst in the corresponding period of this year a loss of £811 had been incurred. This was cited as an experience common to many tramways undertakings.
An offer of reduction was made to the company, the decision on which will be notified to a later meeting.