The Motor Omnibus World.
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The omnibus which overturned at Chelsea, on Sunday last, when some 13 people were injured, was drawn by horses, and was not propelled by a motor.
Road Traction Engineers.
The postponed visit of the Society of Road Traction Engineers to the works of Alfred Herbert, Limited, of Coventry, will probably take place on Tuesday the 29th instant. It is proposed to arrange a trip, by motorbus, from Coventry to Stratford-on-Avon, in addition. Full particulars may be had from the secretary, Mr. Charles E. Esse, at 112, Piccadilly, W.
L. and N.W.R. Refuse a Service.
The Hemel Hempstead Urban District Council has recently spent sonic 4'6m> upon repairs to the road between its area and Boxmoor Station, and great disappointment is felt locally at the decision of the London and North Western Railway Company that it cannot establish a motorbus service between the points named. There is no question that an opening presents itself here for the inauguration of such a service by others.
Season Tickets in East London.
The Great Eastern London Motor Omnibus Company, Limited, whose registered office is at 2, Bank Buildings, Leyton, E., beginning on Monday last the Ltth instant, is issuing season tickets and cheap books of tickets for use upon its motor omnibuses. The monthly seasons vary in price from 125. (id. to 15s., and the quarterly seasons from 305. to 35s. The cheap books of tickets, which are available on all routes, are issued at the rate of fourteen penny tickets for is.; fourteen twopenny tickets for 2s. ; or fourteen threepenny tickets for 3s. The I2S. 6d. season is available over a 3d. stage, and the 15s. season over a 4d. stage.
We arc Mformcd, by a local correspondent, that only one motorbus is now running in the Isle of Wight. The chassis of this is an Argus, from Berlin, with a char-a-bancs body, and the service is between Ryde and Sea View.
Electrobuses in the Provinces.
It is now stated that the reason why the Southport Town Council declined to license any electrobuses for service was because " it was felt that these would only run in competition with the trains." The Eastbourne Town Council has confirmed the recommendation of its Watch Committee, to refuse the request, on the ground that "the needs of the public are already sufficiently provided for."
The Reason Why.
People are asking why the Glasgow and South Western Railway Company did not continue to run its MilnesDaimler single-deck omnibuses this year. In the Autumn of 1907, when the railway company's object had been achieved, i.e., the securing of the abandonment of a certain tramway scheme, we understand that it was decided not to be necessary to run the omnibuses any longer.
What Becomes of Old Omnibuses?
Two De Dion-Bouton omnibuses, of the old 1511.p. two-cylinder type, after many Years of service on French roads, have been adapted for the purposes of a travelling cinematograph show. The illustration at the foot of this page shows the outfit ready for an exhibition in the market-place of a French country town. Electric light, both for the tent and the cinematograph lantern, is provided by dynamos, and these are driven by the motors on the omnibuses, whilst the transport of all the owner's stock-in-trade is conveniently done on the tops of the vehicles.
G.W.R. Services.
The "Great Western Railway Magazine " states: " A notable feature of the present summer has been the large number of American visitors conyeyed by the company's cars to Stoke Poges and Windsor. Special parties have been dealt with almost daily, and they have much appreciated the speed and comfort of the vehicles."
Vanguard Liquidation.
An extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the Vanguard Motorbus Company, Limited, was held on Saturday last, when Mr. A. M. H. Walrond presided. The chairman moved that, following upon the amalgamation with the London General Omnibus Company, Limited, the company be put into voluntary liquidation, and Sir Charles Allen seconded the motion. Colonel A. Mayhew and Mr. D. D. Coath spoke against the proposal, and supported an amendment for the compulsory liquidation of the company. Mr. Coath stated that the to per cent. dividend of October, 19°6, had never been earned, and had been paid out of capital. The directors had given them annual amalgamations instead of accounts. He thought they ought to proceed no further until they got their accounts, and compulsory liquidation would let the shareholders know what had become of their money. Another shareholder suggested that it would be wiser to let the valuation of the company's assets proceed, and Mr. Coath then withdrew his previous amendment, and substituted for it another to adjourn the meeting until the valuation had been completed and presented to the shareholders, but this amendment was defeated on a show of hands, and the resolution for the appointment of Mr. W. B. Peat as liquidator was carried. The company will therefore be wound up voluntarily.
In Shakespeare's Country.
The Leamington and Warwick Electrical Company, Limited, of Emscote, Warwick, is running daily services between Leamington and Shipston-onStour, via Warwick and Stratford-onAvon, with 35h.p. omnibuses supplied by the British Automobile Development Company, Limited.
The Newest Leyland Buses.
The accompanying illustration of one of the " Central " motorbuses, which run between Chalk Farm and Camberwell Green, is the sixteenth Leyland now owned by the Central -Lundon Motor Omnibus Company, Limited. The 35h.p. chassis, on whichthis busis mounted; is the identical one that was exhibited at the last Olympia show of commercial vehicles. It has a pressed nickel-steel frame, composite wheels (the rear ones being fitted with external discs of sheet steel, in order to protect the wheel-brake gear); the transmission shafts are mounted on ball bearings.
The Traffic Department.
The following changes of motorbus routes have been made in London during the past week :— GREAT EASTERN.—On Sunday, the 13th instant, the Upton Park and Charing Cross route was extended to Victoria Station; at present, this is a " Sundays only" service.
VANGUARD.--Vanguard De Dions are now running—in conjunction with the " Generals" of the same make—on the Liverpool Street to Barnes route. " Vanguards " are also now running—in conjunction with the Union Jack motorbuses—on the Road Car "L ". route, between Shepherd's Bush and Shoreditch.
Service " 7" now works the old service " 9 " route, on Sundays only, between Richmond and Charing Cross via Putney.
Service " 3," between South Croydon and Oxford Circus, was extended, on the t4th instant, to Shepherd's Bush, at its northern end. Mr. F. W. Goodeve, of Cannon Street, Birmingham, on Tuesday and Wednesday last, at the Ladywood Road depot of the Birmingham and Midland Tramways Joint Committee, offered for sale in complete motorbuses, two chassis, two chars-à-bancs, one lorry, to omnibus bodies, and surplus machinery, with a varied lot of parts and stores. This sale became necessary, in consequence of the refusal of the Birmingham Watch Committee to renew licenses.
At Morec ambe.
We illustrate herewith the 4oh.p. Dennis char-a-banes which is owned by Messrs. Fahy Brothers, of the Central Garage, Morecambe, and to which an earlier reference appeared in our issue of the 27th August. Daily excursions are run from Morecambe, to Windermere and to Blackpool, with this and ether vehicles, and the hills in the Lake district are ascended and descended without difficulty. We are advised by Messrs. Fahy Brothers that the driver
has only to change down from top to second gear three times on the run to Windermere, with a load of 28 passengers throughout.
London General v. Great Eastern.
A motorbus driver in the employ of the London General Omnibus Company, Limit-,d, was recently charged by the police, at the North London court, with driving to the common danger, in the Lea Bridge Road, on the 19th August. The constable deposed to having witnessed the defendant "cross" the Great Eastern bus at a time when the latter was stopping to set down passengers. He did so in a manner conducive to serious results, and which would undoubtedly have caused a collision between the vehicles were it not for the promptitude with which the Great Eastern driver stopped his vehicle, the defendant having stopped his when he got in front.
Defendant : When you took my name and address, you told me I would be summoned for obstruction, not for wanton driving. The driver and conductor of • the Great Eastern bus were then called, and supported the constable's evidence.
The magistrate remarked that he was at a loss to understand what motive the defendant driver had in driving as he had done, until the witness explained that" Generals " were running in opposition to the " Great Easterns "on that route.
The defendant alleged that the Great Eastern driver had " fouled " him previously. They (the Great Eastern drivers) had the better buses, and waited for the " Generals," and passed them Out at the points. They waited for them at one point, let them pass out in front, and then raced after them, and got in front again at the next point.
The magistrate : Your defence is that your buses are not so fast as theirs, and, not taking passengers yourself, evidently you fouled the other man, and tried to prevent him from getting passengers also.
A fine of 20S., with 25. costs, was imposed by the magistrate.