Bath Tramways Motorbuses.
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An Interesting Account of Char-a-bancs Services under the lEgis of a Provincial Tramway Authority.
After many hurried and oft-repeated peregrinations over the Durdham Downs during the week before the Royal, hastening off photographic plates and " copy" relating to late-corners at Bristol, it was a fortuitous circumstance that we were enabled to slacken pace somewhat at the week-end and to pay a long-intended visit, in the interests of the " C.M.," to that delightful old-time city of Bath, or Aquila Salis, as its founders, the Romans, named the place about the year 50 B.C.
We had, in advance, arranged to call upon Mr. W. E. Hardy, M.I.E.E., general manager and engineer of the Bath Electric Tramways, Ltd., this gentleman, owing to his pioneer work in the city, being particularly able to afford us valuable information regarding the working of yet another successful system of party touring and passenger transport in the West of England. Our exclusive and f ully -illustrated account of the Bristol Tramway and Carriage Co.'s organization in our issue for the 21st ult. has brought us quite a number of WestCountry congratulations.
Our arrival at Kensington Garage, Bath, on the Sunday morning, coincided with the departure of a, very handsome 32-seated torpedo char-a-bancs for the Guildhall, there to pick up a party for Weymouth. The morning was gloriously fine, and we already found ourselves casting longing glances at the vehicle as it disappeared along the road. "Every seat booked," said Mr. Hardy, as he conducted us to a seat in another beautifully-upholstered torpedo, in which we reclined and made notes concerning the general progress of a system of passenger transport for both pleasure and business, of which our informant is obviously and justly proud.
Commenced Eight Years Ago.
The system was first started in 1905, we were informed, when six double
decked Milnes-Daimler machines were acquired for service, running in and around the city. The undertaking met with such success that in 1906 six more machines were purchased, this time Straker-Squires. The 12 machines proved adequate for the demands made upon them as public-service vehicles, and were successfully run as such for some considerable time ; the vehicles, under the constant and personal supervision of Mr. Hardy, are rarely out cf service for repair for any serious length of time. Indeed, with the exception of one machine, the original fleet is running perfectly at the present time, some of the machines after eight years of service.
End of the Double.dechers.
Soon there grew up a constant demand, for the hire of machines for pleasure parties for the purpose of visiting the, surrounding places of interest in which the district abounds, as well as for tours to the sea coast. To meet these demands, to some extent for the time being, and to make the parties on tour feel that their comfort for the longer journeys was a primary consideration, one or two machines were converted into single-deckers, and thereafter began the running of organized tours.
"Of course, you sent the bodice away to Bristol for alterations? " we unwisely ventured. " Not at all," replied Mr. Hardy. " I got them carried out locally to my instructions ; come along and examine one of the converted bodies, which I had turned back to front, haying new panels made to suit." We followed, and found a single-decked body looking probably as good as it would have done when purchased in 1906. The modifications to the back and front panels proved most interesting, and the general finish was all that could be desired. We were glad to beat a retreat to our previous seat, and were afterwards. more.careful in our questions.
The Green Torpedoes.
"Did you not interfere with the local service by these alterations for the tours?" we next inquired. "I can soon satisfy you on that point," replied Mr. Hardy. "We purchased four Commercars to meet the demand for party tours, thus relieving the service machines. The Commers, of the W.P. 2 type, were each fitted with a torpedo body." 'When were they purchased? " we asked. " In
1912." " And are you satisfied with them ? " Mr. Hardy gave us a steady glance and smilingly replied, " We recently bought six more machines from the Luton Works." 'What type ? " we merely queried this time. " W.P. 1; four were fitted with torpedo bodies and two with specially-built enclosed bodies for the Lanadown Hill service, which
includes a stiff incline of 1 in 7. The Commercars are known locally as ' The Green Torpedoes,' and very fine machines they all are too. A point I should like to mention," continued Mr. Hardy, " is that I specialize with one man for 'each machine, thereby ensuring getting the maximum capabilities of each equipment."
Comfort in Bodywork.
"You will notice," Mr. Hardy continued, "that each body has ample leg -and seat room provided." Upon measuring, we found there was no less than 2 ft. 10 ins. space between the seats, and we could appreciate that four passengers per seat, the maximum number allowed by Mr. Hardy for long journeys, would -each be most comfortably accommodated. "I also insist on having the bodies built high up," said Mr. Hardy. " This, I consider, an important feature in country touring, as enabling the passengers to get a clear view of the surrounding scenery over high hedges; for the easy access of the old people, the machines carry a light, portable ladder. Another point is that the passengers are well out of the dust."
"The high-class upholstering of the bodies and their particular construction indeed offer a most comfortable form of travel," we remarked. "I am convinced," proceeded our informant, "that the success we experience with these tours is almost entirely traceable to our ensuring the personal comfort of each and every passenger during the long journeys usually undertaken. We have both open and enclosed typos of bodies, some parties preferring the one kind and some the other, but, of course, all ouT machines are now single-deckers. in eaach case, as I previously mentioned to you, the personal comfort of each passenger is our primary consideration." We could but agree with this sound policy. Evidence as to the wisdom of it is offered by the fact that the 20 machines are now booked right up to the end of September. " Even after then, bookings will continue," we were informed.
An Extensive Garage.
"Will you now please name some of the places to which you run "
" Certainly ! " replied Mr. Hardy. "Come with me to Torpedo House, Old Bond Street, and have a chat with the traffic superintendent, who will run through the liet for us." Before leaving Kensington, however, Mr. Hardy conducted us round the garage, which at present covers upwards of 2; acres, but already arrangements are in progress for making extensions which have become necessary. Here were men busily occupied making small adjustments to charsa-banes due out later ; others were replenishing the Conuriercar radiators, three of which machines only now remained for tours the same afternoon. There was ample evidence of systematic organization throughout the garage, and we experienced no difficulty in getting about from point to point. In addition to the necessary equipment for forging iiid machining, a small foundry has been constructed, and many patterns of modified replacements have been made on the spot.
On our way to the touring offices, Torpedo House, Old Bond Street, we paid visit to the Bath Power Station, at which place Mr. Hardy, as general manager and engineer to the Bath Electric Tramways, Ltd., has to spend many busy hours. Here we were much interested in the fine examples of Yates and Thom horizontal steam engines there installed for light and traction purposes.
West-Country Tours.
Upon our arrival at Torpedo House, of which we reproduce a photograph, and from which establishment, we un
derstand, one may book to anywhere on the globe, we were introduced to the company's traffic superintendent. This gentleman gave us additional and interesting information concerning internal arrangement of the tours and the system of working them. A large modern map of the West of England covered one wall of the office and from this, the various routes to be arranged, and the many places of interest to which the motors run are decided upon. Charge, of course, is based always on mileage. We were then shown how carefully and systematically everything is arranged. All tours start from Bath Guildhall, and an illustration below shows two Commer chars-a-bancs outside the building about to commence a tour through the beautiful Wye Valley. A duplicate system of booking and checking is kept up, so that there is little or no chance of clashing with alreadyfixed dates. Inquiries are attended to and indexed carefully away for quick reference, until the respective tours are fixed, in a specially tabulated book. which, when consulted, shows at one glance which machine is available for a certain date.
On looking through it, we noticed some really good runs therein entered. One torpedo took a party to Epsom races, another, on the 29th June, to Weston-super-Mare, whilst Tintern, through Gloucester, ROISS and Monmouth, and the Wye Valley are again on the cards. The coming Sundays in July are fixed for Lyme Regis, Minehead, Bournemouth, Weymouth and elsewhere, the return fare for each tear being 10s. We were informed that, on Monday, 23rd June, throe chars-a-bancs ran to Bournemouth, and on the return journey deviated and came back through the New Forest, the three machines together covering no less than 645 miles for the day. This in itself speaks volumes for the progressive policy of the undertaking. Having occasion to have some regard for those people who are engaged at business all day, we were very interested to hear that evening weekday tours are also being run.