Semi-trailer Outfits on Shuttle Service
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THE well-known tailoring concern of Montague Burton and Co., Ltd., runs a day-and-night shuttle service between Leeds and London, for which it uses Leyland Comet semi-trailer outfits. Of particularly attractive appearance in their black finish, relieved with stainless-steel flashes and writing, the semi-trailer portion is by Carrimore Six Wheelers. Ltd., Finchley, London, N.12, and incorporates that concern's retractable turntable and Quickfit coupling.
The retractable turntable permits the semi-trailer to be close-coupled to the tractive unit, whilst the coupling reduces the turn-round time to a matter of minutes. To each tractive unit there are three semi-trailers, so that no running time is lost in consequence of loading and unloading.
Suits Dried in Transit
On each trip from Leeds a semitrailer carries 1,100 suits and 200 overcoats, all of which are hung on hangers. The reason for this is that they leave the factory in a damp condition, which precludes their being folded and closely packed.
Special arrangements are made to maintain a current of filtered air through the body, and they are perfectly dry and uncreased on arrival at their destination. A Vokes filter in the fore part of the body cleans the air on entry, and two Vent-axia fans at the rear maintain a constant circulation along the body.
The high-roofed cab, also of Carrimore manufacture, has a name plate with neon lighting, and a radio is provided to relieve the monotony which continuous long-distance night-driving is apt to promote.
A point of interest in connection with the coupling gear is that the servo pipeline, and the battery connections for the fans, interior lighting, tail light and stop light, are automatically connected.
Another Carrimore semi-trailer, built for special-purpose operation, is that being supplied to Sanders Bros. Stores, Ltd., a concern of wholesale grocers. Fitted with a Carrimore standard turntable, this series of semi-trailers also has the maker's Quickflt coupling. Of straight-frame design, they are rated as 12-tonners.
As loading is carried out mainly by crane, a portion of the roof at the rear is arranged to slide forward. The back end is provided with a half-depth tailboard; above which there are two doors, hinged so that they can be swung back to lie flat against the body sides With the tailboard lowered to a .horizontal position, and the roof portion moved forward, loading by crane is greatly facilitated.
Access to the load can be gained via two roller-shuttered entrances in the forward part of the body. The spare wheel is accommodated in a vertical position behind the cab in a carrier which can be let down to form a ramp.
In this case there are eight semitrailers to six tractive units, that shown in the illustration being a Foden powered by a Gardner five-cylindered oil engine.