Coal Board Expands Road Transport
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THE transport side of the coal industry has not been neglected in the drive for greater efficiency in production. During 1947, the first year of nationalization, the road transport department of the North-Western Division of the National Coal Board handled some 21m, tons of materials. In 1950, the vehicles moved 4.7m. tons. of which 1.3m. tons was marketable fuel delivered to consumers, The remainder was waste products for disposal and commodities allied to the industry.
Waste disposal is major work and holds scope for development, the aim being to keep down the big, unsightly heaps. General road haulage has increased because it is highly suitable for short-distance work among the concested and industrial ,areas of East and South Lancashire. Following its policy of expanding its road transport activities, the Division is using two new A.E.C. Mammoth Major tippers, fitted with Pilot lightweight bodies with twin inderbody lifting gear, which have a capacity of 15-18 tons.
One vehicle operates in the Bolton district, carrying three loads a day over a 13-mile lead to a local gasworks. Together with the second machine, only recently delivered, it carries 480 tons each week. The tippers draw alongside railway wagons in a large marshalling yard and are loaded in a matter of minutes by mobile mechanical grabs. Unloading, of course, is effected
even more rapidly,by means of tipping.
The divisional road transport officer, Mr. John Williams, M.I.R.T.E4 M.S.A.E., intends to inerease the number of such vehicles as quickly, as possible. The fleet at presenttotals 648 vehicles and the payload capacity
has been increased by the adoption of machines in the I0-15-ton class.
The Division is the largest coal retailer in the country. It, operates a large variety of road vehicles and a new central maintenance workshop has been planned to be built in Salford.