Passengers and Mails Per Mot r .
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Particulars of a Unique Mail-,bus Service in Kent which is much Appreciated by the Local Residents.
Some while back it came to our knowledge that a motor service for the carrying of both mails and pastengers was about to be instituted in Kent. At the time it was realized that a successful issue to an enterprise of this particular class would. be good for the future of the commercial-vehicle industry. The combining of a passenger transport service with the carrying of the mails, and the consequent advantages derived from the linking up of outlying districts, would obviously import interest to the whole of the countryside. We therefore watched the matter some little while before publishing details.
The success of this enterprise is now an established fact, and in order that we might be in a position to place before our readers full working particulars, a representative of this journal paid a visit to the actual route just recently.
The headquarters of the service is at Ashford, Kent, the contractor to his Majesty's Post Office in this dis-. ttict being Mr. H. A. Bergersen, who is also proprietor of an oldworld hostelry known as the Kent. Arms, where he has been estabiished. for over 22 years. Alighting at Ash ford, and making inquiries, the
situalion of the hotel proved to be in close proximity to the railway station, so that there was no difficulty in finding it. We were cordially received by the originator of the scheme, whom we met coming out of a well-built garage, he having been supervising preparations for the second mail service of the day. Mr. Bergersen proved to be entirely pleased to give us full details of his system, realizing that the matter would be of interest to our readers and the commercial-vehicle industry in general.
"How long have you been running this combined service, Mr. Bergersen ? " was our first question.
" We commenced in April last, and very much appreciated it is, too, by the local residents. Come along with me and I will show you the machine itself, when you will see that the comfort of passengers is T)y no means a secondary consideration." We accompanied the proprietor to the garage, and stepping inside the vehicle we found it so comfortably cushioned that it was a pleasure to sit there and ply further questions. "Did you carry the mails by motor previous to last April?" " No. It's this way ; a horsed van was used at that time, but upon the -termination of the contract, which was then in the hands of another local man, I myself tendered for the new contract for the carrying of mails by motorvan.
" Then how came the combined service to be instituted ? " we pursued.
" Well, after some consideration of the traffic requirements between Ashford and the outlying villages, I conceived the idea that a distinct advantage would be attained if I cunici get permission to carry passengers in addition to the mails, so communicated my further suggestiou. The postal authorities having duly satisfied themselves as to the practicability of my offer, the tender was eventually accepted.
" Then, of course, came the choosing of a suitable machine, and after deciding that a vehicle capable of carrying a gross load of about 35 cwt. would serve my purpose, I ultimately selected a 16 h.p. twocylinder Thornycroft, and am. well satisfied with my choice. The machine has not failed me once."
" We quite realize that you must not lose a single journey," was our niriieiit..
" The bodywork was constructed to your special requirements we presume, Mr. Bergersen?"
" Quite so, and at first there was some difficulty in providing accommodation for a paying number of passengers and their luggage, yet at the same time to comply with the Post Office requirements ; this, however, was eventually overcome by placing the mail compartment well forward on the roof. It is, as you will observe, a stoutly-built structure • and needless to say is always kept securely looked. rOur photograph shows the construction.--En.} We entrusted the coachwork to Messrs. Bligh Bros., Canterbury, who have made an excellent job of it."
At this juncture we made a.cursory examination of the body. There is room for 12 passengers inside, and two more can sit beside the driver, both the seats and back rests are well upholstered and two large drop windows are fitted each side ; in addition to these, the door at the back of the vehicle is provided with a glass panel, so that there is plenty of natural lighting arranged for ; attention has also been given to ensuring adequate ventilation. The driver's seat is well enclosed, glasspanelled sides extending to the dashboard, and a full windscreen is fitted. The lighting installation takes the form of an E.C.L. acetylene outfit. Altogether, it is a comfortable, roomy body, is well spriing, and should ensure easy riding over the most indifferent country roads.
" What is the daily mileage of the mail-bus 1" we next queried.
" That all depends," replied the proprietor, "it is, however, never less than 50, that total being the extent of the two mail-passenger services which I run each day."
" Will you now give our re.aders details of this important part of the business ? "
" Yes, certainly, and here is the official time-table to act as a check. I have had a copy of it posted up in each village, where we call. For the first journey the machine starts from Ashford with the mails at 4.45 a.m., it picks up at Chart, Bethersden, and runs on to Woodchurch, arriving at 5.50 a.m., there dropping the mailbags. For the
convenience of paasengers wishing to catch fast trains from Ashford to London, the bus awaits at Woodchurch until 7.40 a.m., then returns home through Tenterden, High, HaWen, Bethersden, Chart, and arrives at Ashford at 9 a.m."
At this point there was a knock at one of the windows, and it transpired that two would-be passengers had sent a messenger to book seats for the evening run to Woodehurch.
" We shall have more interruptions of that kind yet," said Mr. Bergersen, upon his return alongside. "I keep the prices above those of the local carrier, yet people come and fix up hours be-fore the actual time of starting so as to be sure of a seat."
" Well, of course, the punctual running and general convenience will naturally appeal to people," was our comment.
We then took down the following details concerning the second official journey of the day, which differs from that of the morning :— Ashford, depart, 6 p.m., run on to Chart and Bethersden, when a triangular route is taken so as to include High Halden and Tenter
den before arriving at Woodeharch at 7.20 p.m. A halt of 85 minutes is made here, when the bus departs with the mails at 8.45, picks up at Bethersden and Chart, reaching Ashford fully laden at 9.40 p.m. The service is, of course, continued on Sundays.
" It is to be presumed that you run a stage service between the times set out by the official contract ? "
"Oh no, I do not, one reason being that there has been much private-hire work this season. You see, the Kent Arms' is known for many miles round, and people often make up a party and book the machine, for a country tour or a picnic. We have made several journeys to Romney Marshes with coursing parties, then there were the cricketers,. and now I have started carrying football teams to outlying grounds. So that you see the bus is kept pretty well employed." " Perhaps you have ideas of extension," we ventured.
" Not immediately, although there is perhaps a possibility of some form of working agreement with Mr. Neve, of Staten Valence, who runs an excellent service with Leylands to Maidstone from Tentsrelen ; through bookings could then be arranged for both passengers and parcels. Nothing, however, is settled at present." "Your passenger rate, I see, is very reasonable, is. 6.'d. for 121-, miles."
"Quite so, yet, as I before told you, I keep the charges somewhat higher than those of our local carrier ; for ordinary Parcels the charge is ad., whilst 9d. is the rate for the heavier class, that is for the same distance you have just mentioned. The parcels express,' as it is named in Ashford, is much appreciated. Residents placing orders at stores, etc., can now have their packages called for and delivered with the utmost dispatch, and in much shorter time than is usual when a horsed-vehicle is patronized."
"We should consider," was our final comment, " that this new system, -so successfully carried on here, is quite likely to be the forerunner of many such services throughout the whole of the country."
Then thanking Mr. Bergersen -on behalf of our readers we departed