COVENTRY'S REVENUE REACHES £405,968
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THE annual report and statement of accounts of Coventry Transport Department show that the total revenue for the year ended March 31 was £405,968, the highest ever recorded by the department.
The revenue accounts for the trams and buses show a total gross excess of income over expenditure of £112.356, the buses being responsible for £94,499 and the trams for £17,857.
A total of 6,883,091 miles was covered by corporation vehicles during the year, an increase of 952,395 miles as compared with 1938. Passengers carried totalled 56,975,294, an increase of 6,873,052. The net balance on the year's working was £1,214.
CARRYING THE EXHAUST TO TOPS OF VEHICLES.
THE road transport section of the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce is to investigate the merits of a suggestion that the exhausts of motorbuses should be carried to the top of the vehicles. Authority has been given to the committee of the section to call expert evidence on the subject,
Mr. R. B. Stockdale, chairman of the section, states that, so far as he is aware, the proposal to carry exhausts to the top of the vehicles would not contravene any of the Ministry of Transport regulations.
WORKSHOP TO HANDLE 900 BUSES.
THE workshop for the repair of buses which Glasgow Corporation Transport Department is erecting at the Larkfield Garage, is expected to be ready in September.
It will cost more than £60,000 and will be capable of dealing with 900 buses ; the paint shop will be capable of handling 14 buses an hour.
LEICESTER TO ACQUIRE 16 MORE BUSES,
A NOTHER nail was driven into the
coffin of Leicester tramcars at the city council meeting held last week. It was agreed that application should be made to the Ministry of Transport to borrow £37,371 to buy 16 64-seater six-wheeled motorbuses, for the new Clarendon Park bus route.
The Lord Mayor, Alderman T. G. Gooding, said this was the fourth stage in the abandonment of trams. It was proposed to run a through bus service from Fosse Road North, Woodgate, Frog Island, Great Central Street, High Street, Gallowtree Gate, London Road, Victoria Park Road, Queen's Road, Clarendon Park Road and Welford Road, to the existing tram terminus, and beyond to Knighton Lane. There was no debate on the motion, e38
THE municipality of Durban com
menced the operation of trolleybuses in February, 1935, with a fleet of 22 four-wheeled double-deckers, including 11 Sun beam-BTH machines with Park Royal bodies.
This new mode of travel having proved popular with the Durban public, further tram routes were converted to trolleybus operation in May of last year, when a repeat order was placed for eight Sunbeam-BTH machines which were of the sixwheeled type.
A further order was received in February last, these vehicles, which are now going through the works, being MS2 long-wheelbase six-wheelers. A feature in the design is the rear bogie, in which twin inverted cantilever springs of the divided back-plate type, carried in trunnion brackets pivoted on a fulcrum tube of large diameter, are used.
Westinghouse air-pressure brakes are provided, each wheel having its own cylinder. In view of the severe nature of the gradients which have to be negotiated on some of the routes—the maximum is 1 in 6—each chassis is PHILIPS INTRODUCES NEW MOTORADIO.
COACI-1 operators making a feature of the installation of radio in their machines will be interested to learn that the new Philips MotoRadio, a speciality of Philips Lamps, Ltd., Century House, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W.C.2, incorporates a number of improvements and refinements for the 1939-40 season.
Whilst there are no radical changes in design, appearance and ease of control have been improved, and certain tech equipped with a coasting brake of the rheostatic type, which is brought into action by moving a special reverser to a braking position. A "run-back " brake is also being provided to ensure safety in the event of the power supply failing when ascending steep hills. This brake is automatic in action and restricts the speed of the vehicle to approximately 2 m.p.h.
The 70-seater bodies on these vehicles are of M.C.W. all-metal construction, with an overall width of 8 ft., which is 6 ins, more than is permitted in this country. Even this additional 6 ins. adds considerably to the interior space and passenger comfort.
An interesting feature of the body lies in the provision of a tray, outside the rear panel of the body, for the reception of fishing rods. Durban transport authorities in this way show consideration for their angler passengers who fish the warm waters off the Natal coast for shark.
We understand that the total number of Sunbeam-BTH trolleybuses in service or on order for the cities of Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban is 113.
nical features give improved reception and still more effective noise suppression.
Easier and quicker fitting and servicing have also received attention so that, with the 206 fitting stations distributed throughout the country, at all of which Philips-trained mechanics are available, installation and maintenance service is of a high order.
Of the MotoRadio models offered the 258V and 259V types are most suitable for use in coaches.