• OLYMPIA'S LARGEST COACH ORDER?
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Details of a Big Order Placed by a Well-known Operating Concern in London.
p1LOBABLY one of the largest orders which were placed at Olympia was that of Blue Belle Motors, Ltd., 43-45, Acre Lane, Brixton, London, S.W.2, when this concern ordered 31) A.E.C. Regal chassis for operation during the next coaching season. The 31-seater bodies for these chassis will be supplied by London Lorries, Ltd, Spring Place, Kentish Town London, N.171775, this company's wed-known Plein-Azur sliding head being incorporated in the design.
The Blue Belle Co. has been appointed retail distributor in England and Wales, and wholesale distributor for London and Middlesex, for Commer vehicles, and we understand that an order has been placed for 22 coach chassis of this make, which will be available for delivery before Easter, equipped with various types of allweather and saloon body. A contract has also been placed for six Gilford machines.
The bodies of the A.E.G. vehicles will be designed to' include many of the latest improvements. All the seats will face forward, the driver's cab will be fully enclosed, and the exterior colour scheme will conform with the standard colours of the Blue Belle Co., i.e., two shades of blue, one being dark and the other light. All the vehicles will be built to meet the requirements of Scotland Yard.
During our recent visit to the offices of this company, we were told that, in the forthcoming season, the number of agencies will be increased, more new services will be instituted, and ambitious plans for providing frequent services will be put into operation. The fleet of vehicles that was in service during the past season has been discarded, so that next year an entirely new team will be worked.
Some of our readers may not know that the main side of the business of Blue Belle Motors, Ltd., is in connection with the buying and selling of commercial vehicles. A speciality is made of favourable hire-purchase terms and part-exchange deals. Ti.1:1 company has had a most successful career since its inception in 1923, when it was named Blue Belle Transport, Ltd., and had a capital of £2,000. in 1927, the title was changed to Blue Belle Motors, Ltd. Several additions have been made to the capital, which now stands at £30,000. All the increases have been made by cash subscription of the directors.
We are told that the company has just experienced a record year, the coaching work having been 30 per cent. in excess of that in any previous year.
With regard to the large coach station which -was recently constructed at Kennington Oval, London, S.W., and which was fully described in our issue dated April 30th, it is expected that, next year, at least 40 companies will be using it with about 500 coaches running to and from the station per day. the Boston and Maine Transportation Co., in addition to running gooa'services by motor, operates 111 motor coaches. By using passenger road vehicles in place of certain unprofitable train services, the company estimatds that it saves $500,000 per year.
A new and more convenient way of transporting passengers to and from the centre of New York City was inaugurated in August, 1926, by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Co., and it was really the pioneer effort of a railway to run motor coaches. Under the scheme the trains of the company end their journeys on the west bank of the 'Hudson river at the main station of the Jersey Central Railroad in Jersey City, from which point special parlour-type coaches run by the Baltimore and Ohio concern transport passengers, without extra charge, through the business, shopping, hotel and theatrical districts of Manhattan.
The vehicles work to and from the Baltimore and Ohio motor-coach terminal station in the heart of New York City, opposite the Grand Central Station. This is claimed to be the most modern design of coach terminal station in the world.