Eastbourne s Public-Service Vehicles.
Page 6
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Motorbuses and electric trams each have their supporters, but there is one important town on the south coast where it is unanimously agreed that the advantages of the former are immeasurably superior to that of the latter. It is not the writer's intention to raise any argument upon the question, because each form of traction has its own particular and useful sphere of work, but, to the discerning visitor who emerges from the station at Eastbourne and walks along any of the thoroughfares, there is a pleasing absence of that screaming of wheels, and clanging of bells, inseparable frorre the average tramcar. .?;.
The Corporation of Eastbourne is to be congratulated upon its present efficient service of motorbuses, which has been brought to a high pitch of perfection by Mr. P. Ellison, the general manager and chief engineer of the motorbus department. The vehicles have fixed stopping points on every route, and, moreover, run strictly to printed time-table. A framed schedule of the running times, surmounted by a clock-faced dial is placed at each of the picking-up points, and the conductor of each vehicle alters the hands upon thii dial to correspond with the time of the next arrival. As showing the thoroughness with which the various departments of the Corporation are organised, it may be incidentally mentioned that " lighting-up dials," identical to those mentioned above, are Fixed in conspicuous positions in different parts of the town for the convenience of motorists and others.
The running sheds are situated at Roselands, about mile from the railway station. The sheds have been specially built for the purpose, and are, therefore, fitted with pits, benches, and other equipment to enable repairs to be expeditiously effected. The other motor departments include the fitting shop, stores, and general and drawing offices.
When Mr. Ellison took up his duties last August, there were twelve vehicles in all, four of these being singledeckers. Since that time, four Dc Dion motorbuses have been added, thus bringing the fleet up to 16 in number. Three out of the four single-deckers are not at present in service, as the bodies have been removed, and the chassis are being overhauled in preparation for chars-a-bancs bodies. The fourth of the small vehicles is now running regularly along the " Front," and is exceedingly well patronised. Mr. Ellison's theory, viz., " that people from London, and other places, don't come to Eastbourne to ride in a box" appears well founded, judging from the scramble which takes place when this char-à-bancs arrives at any of the prescribed stop
ping places. It is worthy of note that the char4-banc bodies have been designed by Mr. Ellison, and constructet in his own workshops.
The fact that all the vehicles must run to a publisheo time sheet does away with any inducement for the drivers t race while on duty : the result is that the total " rnis-trips ' work out at the low figure of 2.5 per vehicle per fortnight All fares have recently been lowered by one-halfpenny, excep the minimum fare of one penny, so that, now, what wer twopenny distances are covered for three-halfpence per pm seng-er, and so on. Notwithstanding this reduction, the re ceipts have shown a satisfactory increase during the las three or four months, and the takings on last Easter Mar day worked out at an average of slightly under .4'8 pe vehicle for the day. The whole of the motors have a wel earned rest upon Sundays, because upon that day the sel vices are entirely suspended. It has been found that visitor: and residents, prefer to remain upon the " Front " on Sur days, and, consequently, the receipts did not warrant the e2 pense incurred in maintaining the different services. The vehicles are equipped with a neat form of destinatio indicator, fitted with revolving rollers, with the rout' names painted upon canvas, and lighted from the interior L an acetylene gas burner, which is supplied from the sarr generator that lights the inside of the buses. These ind eators are made at the depot, from Mr. Ellison's design, an they have been found most efficient, whilst they can be co structed at a low cost.
The vehicles are kept in thorough repair, and are not a lowed to run on the roads until some " hitch " necessitates prolonged stay in the repair shed. This method of reg-ul: overhauling and adjustment, in conjunction with a tim table which precludes any possibility of racing, tends
keep the cost of running-repairs low. The one direction ' which an improvement might with advantage be made in ti present state of things would be to supply the conducto with some description of uniform. The men now wear at description of clothes they like, with the result that, to tho: who do not know better, the men look as if they were probation, and not regular servants of the Corporatio When it is stated that Eastbourne has a population of abo 5o,000 inhabitants, it will be conceded that the present se vice and its organisation are together an excellent testirno to the efficiency of motorbuses : it satisfies, too, the great demands of a large extra population in the summer month The full accounts of this motorbus undertaking for the ye ending 31st March, 1906, were published in our issue of ti igth July last.