THROUGH THE NIGHT BY COACH
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Being the Story of a Journey on the "Welsh Midnight" Coach Running from London to Cardiff. Brief Details of the Vehicle Used on the Inaugural Run.
ON October 10th of last year the Great Western Express Co., Ltd., which has head offices at 32, Dudden Iiill.Lane, Willesden, London, N.W.10, took the enterprising step of inaugurating a direct daily passenger service by road between London and Cardiff, the route followed being by way of Maidenhead, Oxford, Northleach, Cheltenham, Woucester, Ross, Monmouth and Newport. A vehicle was run in each direction daily, the starting time being li a.m.
Not being content to rest on its oars, and with a firm belief in the traffic possibilities of the mate, the company commenced, on March 2nd, the operation of additional vehicles on the route, a new schedule being drawn up to enable coaches to leave Cardiff and London at 9 a.m., 2 p.m. and midnight respectively. Through the courtesy of the .company we were provided with the unique experience of participating in the inaugural run of the "Welsh Midnight" from London_
Six .Vehicles on the Route. .
The company is operating six vehicles en . the route, three Tilling-S.tevens Express modelsand three Leyland Tigers, and it was in one of the latter that ourjourney Westwards was undertaken. Although the run was purely a demonstration one, no departure was made from the regular. schedule . observed. The coach created quite a stir outside Bush House, Aldwych, before setting out on its initial night min, and " isn't it nice?" "Don't the seats look comfortable?" "Oh, look at the maps!" and such sapient observation were freely exchanged by interested on lookers, whose attention was soon 'diverted, however, when it became 'known that Miss Renee Houston and Miss Billie. Houston; the well-knOwn variety artistes, were about to christen the vehicle With, a bottle of champagne. This 'ceremony over--it was rather a pity that•the shell of the radiator header suffered the blows from the bottle, for it was badly dented! (a dumb-iron would have shown no traces of such
treatinent)=-and the vehicle . was headed for London's' main outlet to the west. .
The lights of London left behind, the .party aboard settled down into the 'deep and comfortable armchair seats With their special head-rests, Wrapping rugs around them' which had been so thoughtftdly provided for their benefit-and, be it added, are provided for all Passengers. Very few, then thought of sleep, although, before the dawn broke, some of the' mope ardent conversationalists had (perhaps fortunately) long been lulled to a state of silence.
The vehicle ran with remarkable ease and smoothness, and top-gear running
• was the order of the night. Being new, it was (wisely) not driven "all out." For all that was heard the coach might have been propelled by some invisible agent, for the six-cylindered engine provided little evidence of its existence, the only audible mechanical sound coming from the transmission—and .this was
more soothing than disturbing. • It should be explained that the coach is of the forward-control type, and this arrangement is undoubtedly excellent for night driving, for it not only gives the driver a good view of the road, but isolates engine noises and those occasioned by the work of control from the passenger compartment.
The Half-way Port of Call, Each of the vehicles on the service makes a midnight halt at Northleach, and the break at that point was rather" welcome on our journey, for it enabled us to exchange greetings with farePaying Passengers travelling on the midnight coach from Cardiff, as well as to stretch our legs. Not only that, but it lent weight to Meteorological Office records, which showed that, during the
recent coklespell, districts hereabouts. were the coldest in the country! ket us add, ton,' that the windows were covered with thin sheets of ice on the insideand this, as well as an extremely black night, Prevented our recognising familiar towns and villages passed en route, the only signs of habitation being provided when passing dim street lights e;A:b.nt cup of coffee' at Northleadhthis IS Carried in thettnos flasks and is available with biscuits to ordinary pasAingera at 'a elnirge of (d —and the jniirneY to Cardiff -was .continned, the driver " who had charge" of the 'Vehicle fikai Cardiff handing his coach; over to theothir' driver .to complete the journey -65 Lsaid an and he himself. taking charge of ate :Coach westward-bound. This Is' procedtire normally followed b the oneern;.' its advantage being that riyees-are neveycalled noon tn:sleep eay from the centres in Which
they '
We-Wateted-the lights of the London bound cohch failn into the inkyblackness before resuiningour. journe'., Cheltealiam,.,Ciloucester and ,110ES being
passed before daybreak. It was rather a relief to tired eyes to See the light of day, and the switching off of the interior lights when in the neighbourhood of Monmouth was rather resting—in fact, we felt more like sleep at that point than ever before A steady and devoid-of-incident run brought us to the outskirts of Cardiff, the pithy admonition,' " tar on the Road is Worth Tto in the Ditch," pinclaimed by a big sign alongside the road, providing rather an . unlooked-for tench of humour after such a splendid and non-eventful run over road surfaces which bore traces of recent heavy snowfalls and which " were in parts ice ned. " bo Our destination was reached dead on schedule time, the Leyland Tiger drawing up at our hotel on the stroke of 7.30 a.m., thus concluding an excellent run of close upon 170 miles, during which not the slightest mechanical hitch occurred. The vehicle is not a sleeper coach, but there is no reason why restful periods should, not be obtained by passengers. Possibly those undertaking such journeys will take the precaution of having extra sleep beforehand, but, having not done this, we, for our part, must not be too critical.
A few words concerning the service,
before briefly describing the vehicle, will" not be out of place. The single fare charged for the journey is 13s. 6d. and the return ticket (which is available for three months) costs 21s., these charges comparing with the third-class railway rates of 19s. 2d. and 31s. lid. reSpee
tively. The vehicles do not ply for hire, there being main booking. offices in Lcaulan and Cardiff. whilst there are Vookiag ..".-agents in about .20 inter
mediate places. .• " .
• • • • •
. The Ii ehtcle 'Deseribed... As , we haVc '-already inclitided,. the vehicle 'on which-ourrim_ was Made is 'a ',..LeYlarel Tiger"..T.-Se2e".type, ;ladthe well;desighed btaly...was 'constructed hy Christopher Dodson; " Ltd.. Cobbold Road,' Willesdein-Londen,...-N.W.1.0.it is of the. parleue-saloOri type, and, jug'lug by the interior appointments, no 'effort has been spared toProvide the 'utmost comfort "bir " the PaSsengers. The seats are -of the armchair pattern and are arranged in a more or less " orthodox fashion. There "are ' tone single transverse Seats at" the near 'side, -five doable transverse seats-on.. theoff
side,. longitudinal seats, each for two. 'people, over the rear Wheel-arches, and a transverse seat across' the back of the body.
The cushions and backs are built .up on well-sprung cases and are :tastefully upholstered in brown antique grain furniture hide. A folding table is incoeporated • in the .back of each of the -fornard transverse seats.' this 'having a glass top, below which a map of the route followed is placed, and the position of the table is 'such that writing can be conveniently undertaken, .
A special type of headrest, which is deep and wide and stuffed with down, is included in the design of each seat. This 3s not built as part of the seat proper, but is arranged to fit into slotted brackets on the backs Of the' seats, and' it is a simple matter to detach it. • • The interior presents a most pleasing alinearance. The panels and mouldings are carried out in polished walnut; and all metal fittings arc chromium plated. The inside. of the roof is covered with a cloth of floral design, which bar1:lionizes with the seat trimmings.
Special attention has been paid to the questien of interior lighting and, apart: from four flush-fitting lamps in the1 roof, floral-type lamps on brackets are arranged along the sides. A rack for carrying magazines and another for a range of hooks are fitted-in the forward bulkhead,in which there is also an eight-day Clock. Light-parcel racks are fitted above each window.
1'6 coach hasnitie drop windows, mounted upon Quicktho winders, whilst, if these be Closed, there is little fear of the interior becoming stuffy because there are several Airvae ventilators fitted in the roof.
It is very necessary on a coach which is used on such long journeys. particularly during the night, that the interior should be adequately heated. In this contielion," three Thermorad heaters are relied upon ,• these having protective grids; control levers at the .front are provided so that the tentperatare can be regulated.
There is a .lavatory at the off-side rear end of the vehicle, this having a walnut polished door and being painted .white on the inside, There is "an Airvac ventilator in the .roof and this compart ment is electrically illuminated. An Elsan chemical-type closet is .ased, whilst there is a polished walnut ship's-type wash basin and cabinet ; water supply and waste-water tanks are provided. Paper towels can, be obtained from an automatic cabiuet.
Provision is made for carrying a certain amount of luggage on the reof, where a substantial Iron rail iN fixed, access to this section being obtained by a folding ladder, .which is housed in the spare-wheel locker a water:Proof cover is -provided for the protection of the luggage. For the accom'modation of the smaller packages of passengers there are two lockers in the
near-side skirting. '
The exterior of -the coach is most attractive, the scheme of decoration followed being most tasteful. The lower panels are in crimson lake and the upper in French grey, a waistband of chrome separating them. The wings and wheels are painted in French grey.