Forerunner Coach Now Offered on Bedford Chassis as Well
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THE Forerunner coach built by W. L. Thurgood (Coachbuilders) Ltd., of Ware, Herts, which has hitherto been mounted only on modified Thames goods chassis, is now being produced on the 4edford VAS1 passenger chassis. Two vehicles of this type, both 29-seater luxury coaches, have recently been ordered by Mr. Walden of Epping and Mr. Parkinson of Welwyn Garden City.
The first of these is now going through the works and, as well as being mounted on the Bedford p.s.v. chassis, differs in other respects from previous Forerunners. The body lines have been altered, the rather bluff front with singlepiece windscreen giving way to a more attractive, raked profile and a divided, curved windscreen.
This new body is only 7 ft. 10 in. wide overall but, by reinforcing the main ash pillars with steel members which are carried through the cant into the main roof longitudinals, the side structure is kept slim and an internal body width of 7 ft. 5 in. is achieved. This figure, more appropriate to a coach at least 8 ft. wide overall, means that even with a normal gangway, a full 37 in, can be provided over each seat cushion. The seats are trimmed in moquette with Lionide reliefs.
With the exception of a petrol-engined model for the T.G.W.U. convalescent home—which, incidentally, had a " four " and not a " six " as was announced at the time—all previous Forerunners have had Ford four-cylinder diesel engines, but the new models have the 300-cu.-in. Bedford six-cylinder diesel. The chassis differs from the standard VAS in that Thurgood has fitted larger tyres (Avon 8.25-16 2-ply) all round, and a rearward main-frame extension has been built to carry the luggage locker. A neat modification is the addition of steel works to the side-mounted spare-wheel carrier, so that the wheel can be carried in a very accessible position immediately behind the side panelling.
In this form the Forerunner sells complete ex works for £2,837 and £3,075 as a bus and coach respectively.
The Thames-based model is still listed, and a further variation is a 24-seater personnel carrier on an Austin 3-ton petrol-engined forward-control chassis, which has just been ordered by J. R. Inwards Ltd., of Ruislip, for Harefield and Northwood Group Hospital Management Committee.
Ticklish Matter A SOUTHEND CORPORATION bus Pl. conductor had to resign recently because the dark-blue, regulation serge trousers brought him out in spots.
After spending two years at a previous job as a pipe lagger, the conductor has millions of particles of glass-fibre embedded in his skin. For two months the conductor wore his own mid-brown, terylene trousers for working, then the Corporation objected, saying that no exception could be made for him. Told that he would either have to conform to rule or resign, the conductor resigned. He said that he offered the transport department a doctor's certificate, but officials deny having seen it.
Glasgow Buses to Use Clyde Tunnel ? riLASGOW CORPORATION has 1,-1 asked the Scottish Traffic Commissioners for permission to operate bus services through the new Clyde tunnel between Whiteinch and Linthouse, although opposed to the idea in the past on the grounds that it could draw traffic away from the city's underground system.
An application by the private firm of Paton Bros. Ltd., Renfrew, for permission to run two bus services for workers through the tunnel has also been submitted.
Edinburgh Survey In Use of Season Tickets A SURVEY carried out by Edinburgh 1-1 Corporation Transport Department among holders of the 50s. monthly bus season tickets has disclosed that the tickets are being used by many people for a remarkable number of journeys.
The tickets were introduced on the assumption that they would be used for an average of 24 journeys a week, but the survey revealed that one man used his to make 74 journeys, another 70, and a considerable number 60 or more. The average number of journeys per person per week worked out at 37.
Garage Planning Inquiry
PA,
A PUBLIC inquiry was held at Sear
borough Town Hall last week into an appeal by Mr. W. H. Hooper, of Falsgrave Road in the town, against the refusal of the North Riding County Council, to permit the roofing in of a yard at his home, for the purpose of making a garage for motor coaches. Permission was refused because the area was a residential one.
Mr. Hooper told the inquiry that the coach park would not be visible from the road, and that in any event most of the houses nearby had garages. He agreed, however, that the stretch of road was a busy one, with a nearby junction.
A decision will be announced later.
Increase in Border Fares BUS fares in the Border area increased last week. Western S.M.T. Co. Ltd. and Scottish Omnibuses Ltd. claimed they had been losing money on these routes and their application for increased fares was granted by the Northern Traffic Commissioners at Carlisle.
The companies said they had been running at a combined loss of 1-2d. per mile. In the case of Western S.M.T., many buses stood idle all day and carried passengers only in the early morning and late afternoon.
Duple Body Show THE 1963 exhibition of Duple Group bodywork will be held at the Hendon, London, Duple factory from October 21 to 25. All operators will be welcome, states the Group.