Coaling Stations for Steam Wagons.
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Establishing Roadside Depots at which Drivers can Always Obtain a Good Class of Coal for their Machines.
Whilst the various aspects of the problem of adequate liquid-fuel supplies are just now receiving considerable attention, and while• every facility in respect of wayside replenishment is made available for the petrol vehicle, it should afford a considerable amount of satisfaction to owners of motor vehicles consuming coal, to realize that their requirements in respect of fuel are at last being studied on a considerable scale.
In a coal-bearing country like England it would, at first sight, appear that no difficulties whatever could possibly present themselves in connection with the supplying of a satisfactory and uniform grade of steaming coal to machines, no matter in what part of the country they might be working. But this is not the case. Wayside supplies have hitherto been but poorly organized. One of the principal difficulties, however, which does exist, is that many of the countryside merchants do ngt appreciate, or are not cognisant of, the essential difference between, say, Admiralty coal-and the ordinary grades of " steams " as used for stationary boilers.
So long as a driver is able to obtain a satisfactory class of coal for his machine, he will generally endeavour to get every ounce of steam possible for each shovelful fired, simply because he realizes the capabilities of a, good grade of fuel. On the other hand, an indifferent quality of coal not only tends to hsster an indifference to economy, but also has a deleterious effect on the boiler itself.
Large consumers of long-standing experience, as a rule, insist upon having Admiralty Welsh coal for their boilers whenever possible ; they fully realize that this means a saving in the end. Here is presented another difficulty in that, when their drivers are working on long journeys or stationed in outlying districts, this desirable class of coal is not always obtainable, and a cheap " steam" or "kitchen" fuel has to be hunkered.
The Commercial Motor Users Association has studied this question very fully, with the result that it has formulated a scheme by which members, in addition to other advantages, such as securing night shelters for their machines when away from headquarters, may obtain fuel up and down the country front specially-established coaling depots. Up to the present time the following main routes are being dealt with : —The Great North Road, Holyhead and. °ranch roads to Lancashire towns, Bath Road, Portsmouth and Bournemouth Road, Maidstone and Dover Read, and the Chelmsford and Colchester Road.
In so far as the fuel supply is concerned, the schema is being developed on an extensive scale by one of the principal coal owners and contractors in the country, Bradbury, Son and Co., Ltd., 7, Victoria Street, London, S.W., this undertaking having co-operated with the C:M.U.A. in regard to the scheme.
We are naturally interested in this development and therefore decided, if possible, to became more acquainted with its working to enable us to place the details before our readers. For this purpose we paid a visit to the eoncern's offices in Victoria Street, last week, where the management cordially responded to our inquiries. During the interview we had strong evidence that developments of the scheme. are taking place on such a basis as to show that the commercial aspect of supplying coal to the industry in general is by no means the sole ne..reve of the contractors. Several factors are being taken into consideration which will be for the interest and general convenience of the owners of machines calling at the various depots to which we refer.
The trading speciality of this contractor is •` Dowlais Merthyr Admiralty Welsh Smokeless Large," which coal, we understand, is a high-grade fuel particularly suitable for steam-wagon use, and from tha earliest days of heavy steam-haulage this concern has held, and indeed still maintains, contracts to supply its particular grade. Throughout all the stages of remarkable developments which have taken place in mechanical road-transport, the requirements of an ever-increasing class of consumer have been studied, in that the concern always systematicallv picks and dresses the coal to ensure supplying fuel of a reliable and consistent quality to its customers. The vast deposits of good Welsh coal which a-re at its command, and the intimate keowledge possesses in this important matter of suitably handling, dressing and distributing the commodity ready for immediate use, places it in a position to be able to supply the present-day consnmer with that particalar quality best suited to his machine when and wherever required. Based upon these satisfactory existing conditions, all that remains, itwould appear, is for coaling depots to be established in districts and on routes other than those already c-onsidered. This is just what the concern of Bradbury, Son and Co., Ltd., is doing. It has already equipped a number of stations, and it will -continue to do so until not only are the routes we have mentioned completed, but every important main road in England will have upon it specially-established coaling depots. The fuel is sent direct from the mine to these stations and there stored ready for sale to drivers on application ; it is picked and dressed for steam-wagon use : thus risks of drivers' being supplied with an unsuitable gra-de are totally eliminated. Letters of appreciation have already been received from repre sentative -users wherever the scheme has bete taken advantage of.
We noted with peculiar interest that -as far north as Durham, the undertaking is sending " Dowlms Merthyr Admiralty Welsh " to be used en vehicles for which coke had been specially recommended as a fuel, so satisfied was the consumer.
Upon our making inquiries as to the benefits derived from using this -class of coal on steam wagons, we were informed that it burns particularly clean, no undue amount of either ash or clinker being formed ; moreover, a point which will be appreciated by the driver is that constant attention to the cleaning of firebars is not necessary as is often the case with many classes of poor steaming eiaal. Being smokeless, it is admirably suited for town use. That the general results are most satisfactory is evidenced by the fact that most of the principal concerns running fleets of steam \ Aides exclusively use Welsh coal in their boilers.
For the guidance of consumers a booklet is issued by the undertaking containing a list of depots already established. As the scheme is elaborated, brochures will be published containing road maps and route guides, these, however, will be compiled by the C.M.U.A. The coal depots notified in these guides will of course correspond with those established by this concern, which will also issue its own revised
lists as the scheme extends. An important point which should be emphasized is that. the company is working closely in conjunction with the C.M.U.A. in the development of the schema.
When considering further possible demands of consumers who aresituated in outlying districts, responsible representatives are sent to make direct inquiries as to the advisability of opening a new depot. The constant -developments in this direction which are taking place prove at once that users' interests are being well looked after.
This it raleartaking has branch offices at Southampton, Ca.rdiff, Exeter and Swansea, where local details of the-scheme are attended to, but inquiries can be dealt with at any of the depots mentioned in the list issued from the London office. The development of the scheme should prove anew source of revenue to enterprising coal-merchants situated in towns in which coaling stations are not already established. Customers whose names are on the concern's books are supplied with a credit-order form ; with this, drivers are enabled to secure a class of fuel which is particularly suited to their steamers upon applying at any of the depots.
We understand that Dowlais Merthyr Welsh smokeless is particularly suited for the following makes of steamers : Allchin ; Aveling and Porter ; Burrell ; Foden ; Garrett: Leyland ; Marshall; Mann ; Sentinel ; and Wallis and Steevens. The bookletcontaining a list of upwards of GO depots, already established by arrangement throlighout the country, can be obtained from Bradbury, Son and Co., Ltd.