PASSENGER TRAVEL NEWS.
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The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.
RECENT COACH BODY IMPROVEMENTS.
Little Points in Construction Which Make for Efficiency and Passengers' Comfort.
UNTIL comparatively recently the demand for motor coaches was such that the bodies were more or less standardized,'the purchaser merely .stating his requirements so far as seating capacity and the general arrangemeat of the seating were concerned and not troubling to any great extent about details. Now, however, owing to the competition in the coach industry and the
fact that bodybuilders have more time to devote to catering for individual requirements, coach owners are continually demanding novelties in body construction which will not only, increase the comfort Of the passenger but will also render their vehicles rather more canspicuons and thus attract a larger proportion. of the business.
In this connection a brief description ef some of tho latest novelties in the design of coach details will show the prevailing tendencies.
One of the most clumsy parts_ about the ordinarly coach is its hood. Various
means have been devised to obviate the .necessity for the cumbersome overhanging type, which not only detracts from the appearance of the vehicle, but also reduces the permissible over-all length and causes considerable extra weight to be thrown on the back axle.
, In order to reduce the overhang and, in fact, to bring the back of the hood flush with the back of the body when in its bided position, the Chelsea Motor Works, of.90, Lots Road, Chelsea, London, S.W.3, have devised a simple but effective arrangement of the hood, in which the hoop stick pivot, instead of being carried direct to the body, is mounted on an iron slide, so that it can be moved up or down, according to whether the hood is in use or not, and in both the tap and bottom positions it is locked in place by a pin, so that, when folded, the hood does not lie horizontally, but is carried af an angle, with the sticks resting on the brackets shown in the diagram, and which are covered with leather to prevent damage to the hood material.
One of the main features is that this new fitting can be applied to almost any type of hood and open body, and can, if desired, be fitted in a few hours.
The same works produce very neat 14seater coach bodies in which the spare wheel for the pneumatic tyre equipment is mounted in a well in the off-side running board. Behind this wheel is a container for three two-gallon petrol cans, this container reaching back to the chassis frame and protruding about 3 ins, on to the running board. The particular body which we examined was mounted on a Unic chassis, the whole making a very pleasing vehicle. The hood was of the single-throw type, but fitted with a central stay to conform with the new Police regulations, which have been put into force owing to the fact that occa sionally the wind got under the old type hood and caused it to swing right up. We noted also that side wind flaps were hinged to the windscreen.
The bodies are very carefully ironed up, the irons of each passing up one Side to the rear doors, along the door bottoms and right round the back of the body, thus preventing all risk of sagging, and also serving to take the upper part of the hood support and the hood carriers.
During_ a recent visit to Strachan and Brown, Ltd., we inspected some interesting novelties, which display that re markable ingenuity for which Mr. Strachan is so well known.
One which particularly took our fancy was a sliding door for saloOn coaches or buses, built on the roller shutter principle. The door is built of thoroughly waterproofed canvas with wood interlocking slats, in a similar manner to the roll top roofs which were recently designed by Mr. Strachan, and which have already been described in detail by us.
The drawing which we reproduce Ehows the general appearance of the door, whilst the small insert will give an idea of the arrangement. It will be seen that the roller can be mounted in the rear pillar at the front of the partition between driver and passenger, or as may be desired. To facilitate the sliding of the door and to prevent binding, rollers on ball races are mounted at top and bottom, these running in suitable channels.
• Another article, of interest was a removable type armchair seat, spring mounted in a cast aluminium pedestal. The frame of this-seat is all steel, which gives the arms a certain amount of spring ; they can thus accommodate themselves,to snit various people. Both the cushion and back are thoroughly well upholitered and, owing to the width of the base, the seat can be moved about on thefloor of the vehicle to any position required, and the seat itself can also be rotated in the base.
The company have also devised a very satisfactory gangway seat which, when not in service, folds right under the seat to which it is hinged, torsion springs, embodied in the hinges, being used to hold it in position. When the seat is required for service it is swung round, when it lifts a small hinged bracket on the seat at the other side of the gang-. way, which bracket drops back into position after the passage of the seat and thus holds the latter in position. A backrest is formed by a stout strap which is normally held at the back of one of the seats.
In one of the coaches the gangway seat itself is permanent, although the cushion can be removed if, necessary, and in order to allow the passengers to. pass, the upholstered backrest can be lifted up on a hinge; normally the free end rests in a dovetail similar to that fitted to doors.
Not long ago a certain coachbuilding -concern assisted an inventor in the development of a body in which the whole of the floor was sprung separately on the chassis. This interesting method of isolating the passengers from road shocks was not pushed to any great extent as it received adverse criticism on the score of danger. However, it would +appear that modifications of the scheme might well be introduced. 'Already quite a number of. vehicles is provided with spring footrests, and the idea might be extended to. sections of, the flooring.
COACH DOINGS IN YORKSHIRE.
The Latest Activities of Proprietors in the County of Broad Acres. The Effect of Reduced Fares Upon Cut Rates.
THE prospects for motor coaching in the industrial towns of Yorkshiee are brighter now than they have been for a considerable time, and hopes are being held out by coach proprietors that trade will be brisk during the summer months. Without doubt, Whitsuntide gave the movement a splendid send-off, and trade was better than ever was anticipated. In most towns it was impossible to get a vehicle, or even a seat, awing the holidays, and bookings for future events are said to be coming in well. Long tours of several days' duration are now running regularly, having started with trips to the Derby, and the Managers of those concerns interested in this branch of the 'business report that the hotel proprietors are now realizing the value of motor coach patronage and
Throughout the county them is every indication that the motor coach industry is settling down to normal conditions and that those concerned in it are gradually finding their level.
A good type of passenger is coming forward, and this has meant that the longer and more expensive trips have been booked. There is also an absence of rowdyism. One proprietor reported to a representative of The Commercial Motor that parties on the whole, although they took long journeys, were also desirous of getting home in reasonable time, and this rendered the work more congenial from the point of view of the driver and all responsible.
Owners generally have now had an opportunity for studying the effects of the lower fares which came into force with • the beginning of this season, and, genet*. ally speaking, they are not so enthusiastic as might be expected. Many owners are finding that the utmost economy, coupled with a high mileage, are necessary before low prices can be successful, and there are indications that the fares of Id per mile which have been adopted in some centres are too low. Last year saw the end of a number of uribusinesalike concerns, which ,were ready . to run "for the price of the petrol," and, only those concerns which have a proper grasp of running costs and overhead charges are now running their businesses to advantage.
To .what extent the treduced prices have attracted customers to the motor coach it is almost impossible to decide, but the rush at Whitsuntide, ia face 'of railway competition, suggested that the attraction of the coach was greatei than ever, and probably would have been go under the old prices. It must be realized that th,ere is room for railway excursions as well as coach .trips, for, except for providing some sort of counter attraction, there appears to be little direct conipetition. The -two appeals are entirely different, and, except in a limited number of circumstances, the railways cannot he considered as running in competition with the coach, especially at holiday times. In the organization of big parties the railway'certainly has an advantage, but this advantage is more than counterbalanced by the pleasure derived from the journey by road in contrast with a cramped journey by rail.
Thedueed coach 'axes nave certainly had one good effect—that of eliminating " rate-cutting " Goads owners now realize that, prioes are at the lowest limit, mid that it. is useless to 'attempt:to get customers at lower rates. Unfortunately, low standard rates have prevented the introduction of many refinements. The standard rate now rules the market, and any additional comfort most be provided by the owner at his.own expense.
It is true that improvements and additional comforts will eventually bring more trade, but, in the case of pneumatic tyres, for instance, coach patrons need educating up to refinements before they will pay an increased price. Hiders are are the most economical to run, notably 28 or 32-seaters, with solid tyres.
Few new coaches have been seen on the road so far this year. As an indication of one of the ways in which the industry is satiate down, and putting on one side . freaks and fads which showed signs of developing in the early days after the war,' it might be mentioned that there is a distinct tendency to avoid the fantastic designations given to coaches. The " ICanopit " and such absurdities have disappeared, and even the simple tabeistian names of the fair daughters' of 'the. coach owners which were emblazoned in letters of gold on the hack panel have given place simply to the name of the owner and his address. This gives an air of respectability, and the owner certainly gets a better &elvertisementatbe fleet owner getting an advertisement in proportion to the size of his fleet in comparison with the owner of a single coach. With a different. title for every vehicle the owner receiaed no advantage from his strength of numbers, and, after all, it. was immaterial to him whether a passenger rode-in " Iris " or " Enid." With one common fleet designation the credit of one vehicle is carried to the credit of all.
On every band there are indications that the coach industry is growing in dignity, and even in reliability, for stories of stranded parties are new few and far between. With this growth of dignity the clientele of the coach is growing, and the industry is taking its place in the affairs of the country, and in Yorkshire it is no mean place.
Brighton Aquarium Coach Scheme Approved.
In spite of the fact that considerable opposition has been offered to tlie proposal to lease the Aquarium, Brighton, to the Southdown Motor Services, Ltd., the council has at last agreed to the scheme of the motor coach company, and the famous building, with its 300 ft. frontage on the Madeira Drive facing the sea, will be converted into a large motor coach station end a .garaga capable of providing accommodation for 200 motor coaches and omnibuses.
The matter waS only settled after a long discussion, and after vigorous oppositiorr had been put forward. Alderman Wellman, chairman of the special committee which has been considering the matter for over three years, introduced the proposal to lease the site to the company for 60 years. He pointed out that it, was a sound business proposition and that the scheme would convert a loss of -23,000 a year into an annual net gain of £1,500 after all charges had been made. The scheme is in all ways a commendable one, -and will provide facilities which have long been desirable. The rental is £2,870 per annum, end the Southdown Co. are to spend £40,000 on the building. The Southdown Co. are very progressive in their ideas and can be safely left to study the interests of coach patrons.
A Privately Owned Coach Stand.
At a meeting of the Highways Committee of the Stoke-on-Trent Town Council, the borough surveyor reported on a communication sent to the Chief Constable by the agent of the Trentham Estate with regard to the use-of a motor coach stand provided by the estate off the main road and upon land belonging to the Trentham Estate outside the borough boundary. The communication further dealt with the question of steps being taken to secure some contribution towards the cost, of the. maintenance of the stand, failing which, the alternative was the closing down of the-stand, which would entail an expenditure by the county borough in policing the main road for the regulation of the traffic. The borough surveyor was authorized to communicate with the Trentham estate office with regard to the motor, coach stand.
It is officially announced that the Torquay Tramways Co. have Laken over the control of the De'von' General Omnibus Co.'s, business. The two companies run 'numerous vehicles on regular services In South Devon.
A New Luxury Coach.
An • 18-seater Straker-Squire' coach, with fine, luxurious lines, has just been put into service by W. B. Horn, Ltd., of Birkenhead, who operate a fleet of Straker-Squire vehicles, some of them A handsome 18-seater StrakerSquire coach on pneumatic tyres recently added to th'e fleet of a Birkenhead user.
with a seating capacity for as many as 33 persona.
Their latest addition has a 2-ton chassis with a 20 h.p. engine and four-speed gearbox. A distinctly() feature of the bodywork is that every seat on each of the rows has been upholstered separately, giving an appearance which undoubtedly adds to the attractiveness a the coach. Electric lighting is provided. On the rear !wheels twin Michelin pneusnatie tyres are fitted, singles being used on the front wheels.
The rate generally commanded by coaches of this•description on the Merseyside is 2d. per mile for single-seat bookings.
A Big Outing.
The Birmingham and Midiand Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., who operate a vast network of passenger services in and around the Midlands, recently undertook the organization of a comprehensive outing for a section of the Bakers' Federation; who held meetings in Birmingham during the week ended July 1st. In all, between 700 and 800 passengers took part in the trip, and close upon 30 vehicles, including some of the company's saloon buses and coaches, were brought into commission. The party left the Grand Hotel on Thursday, June 29th, at JO a.m., and proceeded to the county cricket. ground at Edgba.sten. afterwards travelling via Alcester and Evesham to
-Broadway, where an open-air iimeheon was served on Tower Hill. The return, journey wits made via Stratford, where tea. was served, and the day's proceed lagsterminated :without a hitch,
A scene_ during the run is illustrated on the previous page.
A Daimler Fleet in Lancashire. . We illustrate on this page a part of a fleet of Dairider inotor coaches owne-aby Marshall Garages, Ltd., of St. Helens, ono of the largest, passenger-carrying companies in Lancashire. These vehicles are shown parked by the roadside during a recent. tour in Cheshire. The owners state that _they standardized . Daimler. C.K. type machines in 1920 after varied experiences with other makes, and that , since that time their vehicles have run 160,000 mites, and in 'no instance has any vehicle yet failed through mechanical trouble. The company have thus built, up a service for reliability which i due who!ly and solely to the efficient running of the Daimler • coaches