A New Terminal COACH STATION IN LONDON
Page 56
Page 57
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
WE recently had the opportunity for inspecting the new coach station which is now in course of erection and nearing completion at Kennington Oval, London. This coach station, when finished, will undoubtedly be the largest in Great Britain, having a frontage of some 200 ft. on the Clapham Road, and extending back about 850 ft. towards Vauxhall. It occupies a most valuable site, accessible both to Victoria and to the junctions of practically all the main roads leading out from London.
The coach station and the stati.„:1 approach have been designed by Mr. Edw. W. Wallis, L.R.I.B.A., and every one of the plans has been submitted to and approved by the London County Council, the London Fire Brigade and all other authorities.
The Architect's drawing, which we reproduce, will give 026.
the reader some idea of the appearance of the station from the main road. The roadway shown in the picture is a new private approach road 100 ft. in width and 200 ft. deep. On each side are waiting room, buffet bars, tea rooms, booking offices, etc. On either side of the approach and with a frontage on the main road self-contained shops are being constructed, with modern residential flats above them. At the rear of the shops on one side of the approach a large motor works is being bi 'It, which will be equipped with all the latest devices for effecting quick repairs to coach chassis. Drivers will be afforded facilities for carrying out small repairs to their vehicles, and no charge will be made for the use of the benches, tyre pumps, etc.
At the end of the private road is the actual coach station. This is entirely covered in and extends 658 ft. in
the direction of Vauxhall. The coach station is equipped with eight arrival and departure platforms, and is so arranged that 40 coaches can be loaded and unloaded at any one time. There is sufficient parking place for more than 250 coaches.
The garage is lighted by day with four rows of top lights, fin, plate wire glass and Hope's patent lead glazing being used. Some 17,000 sq. ft. of glass are employed in the roof, as well as 40,000 sq. ft. of fireproof asbestos and 100 tons of structural 'steelwork, the roof being capable of supporting a weight of 400 tons. Over 100,000 bolts and nuts have been used in the steelwork, and the magnitude of the task can be appreciated when one realizes that all these bolts and nuts have had to be put in by hand. The whole of the constructional steelwork, roof, glass and asbestos has been supplied by Smith Walker, Ltd., of 16, Caxton Street, Westminster, S.W.1, and the work is being carried out to the instructions of the 0, era of the property, who are two directors of Blue Belle Motors, Ltd., that well-known Brixton concern which has been so successful in recent years.
The size of the coach station can be better realized when one states that eight long express trains, side by side, could easily be accommodated in the building.
The Coach Owners' Difficulties.
Our readers will certainly know that provincial coach owners have to contend with the utmost difficulty in parking coaches in London, and indeed the practice of picking up passengers in the street is rapidly becoming more and more difficult, and might even be prohibited by the Metropolitan Police before many years have passed. Last week's issue of The Commercial Motor included particulars of coach parking places in the London area; these are of considerable service to commercial vehicle drivers who are obliged to park their vehicles for a short time in town, but it is generally recognized that the coach parks available are quite inadequate for the many road services terminating in London, and it is plain that the new London terminal station will fill a long-felt want.
At a recent interview with a director of Blue Belle Motors, Ltd., we were informed that large numbers of coach owners had already sought for the facilities and accommodation which the new station will provide. We understand that the scale of charges is not yet fixed, but it is proposed to make a minimum charge of 2s. per day for the use of the station, and a further charge of 4s. per night for garaging; on a weekly basis an inclusive charge of 30s. per week will be made for day use and night garaging. Long-distance operators will also be afforded the opportunity to have their own booking offices in the building, or they may work through the intermediary of the bookinagents already established by the station proprietors. Special provisions have been made for the supply of petrol and oils, and graded qualities will be obtainable by coach owners at the lowest rates chargeable to big consumers. A 12,000-gallon storage installation and an equipment of eight of the latest type 5-gallon pumps will be installed by Liquid Measurements, Ltd.—a company that is better known as the maker of the Hammond pumps. As a precaution against fire a system of 452 sprinklers of the Hoffmann type has been installed in the roof. This ha s involved the laying of a 17-in, water main and two 6-in. steel pipes which run the whole length of the garage; and the entire installation has had to be passed by the London County Council, the Metropolitan Water Board and the London Fire Brigade.
Another feature of interest is the electric lighting system, which has been arranged and installed by Messrs. Pruden and Pope, of Westmount Road, London, S.E.9. Over 300 high-powered lamps and four massive bronze three-light lamp standards were required, not to mention searchlights, which are to be used as flood lights for showing the approach and the frontage of the main buildings at night.
Electric Indicators and Clocks.
The arrival and departure of every coach will be recorded by electrical devices at the control box situated on the island in the approach road, and special electrical signalling devices are now being constructed which will show the number of the platform and the time when each coach will leave. Electric clocks, operated by a master clock which is synchronized from. Greenwich, are being fitted in the station building, the waiting rooms, the buffet and the booking offices. The main clock in the tower above 'the entrance to the main building will be some 4 ft. 6 ins. in diameter and will be brilliantly illuminated at night time by flood lights.
Hickman (1928), Ltd., of Great Russell Street, W.C.1, is the principal contractor for the station and has also the contract for the reinforced concrete roadway. It is hoped to have the building ready for use by the middle of June. Inquiries concerning the new coach station should be sent direct to Mr. Thomas Boon, of 42, Acre Lane, London, S.W.2.