PROGRESS IN PASSENGER TRAVEL.
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The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.
A Saurer in Surrey.
An Account of a Demonstration Run, and a Description of a Vehicle to be iked by Messrs. Pickfords for Tours in. Switzerland.
IN OUR SPECIAL motor coach issue, / dated March 29th, we referred, at some lengthe to the motor coach tours to France, Belgium, and Switzerland, organized by Pickfords, Ltd., and on that occasion we made mention of the fact that, for the comprehensive tours to the Alpine Republic, which, by the way, are the first of their kind to be organized from this country, the company had favoured the Sewer chassis
chas.sis of Swiss manufacture, which, front both the design and cerretructisan,al. points of view, rariks amongst the foremost commercial vehicle products of the -world.
The chassis in question was recently shipped to England to be fitted with a British-built body, and on the occasion of the completion of this operation Messrs. Pickfords arranged for a. deaiionstration run to be made when the vehicle was subjected to a searching test on some of the famous hills in Surrey.
-Before proceeding to a description of the body, we may fittingly refer to some of the outstanding features of the chassis. The model used for this particular coach is similar to the two-ten chassis used for ordinary goods haulage, with the exception that a more powerful engine is employed. The four-cylinder engine is a monobloc casting, the bare and stroke being 110 mm. and 180 ram. respectively. A. patented device enables this casting to be readily removed and replaced by cue man. The inlet and exhaust valves are arranged on one side, the whole of the valve gear being protected by two covers. The piston pins are f;eoured by an expansion fixing deviee, which as protected by a patent. The water pump and magneto are driven by a shaft, fitted with ball bearings, opposite to the camshaft. This shaft carries the governing mechanism, consisting of the centrifugal governor, the auxiliary speed governor, and the spark adjastinent. All these parts are mounted in a small sealed casing. We .would draw attention here to the fact that, although a governor may be a very useful fitting when a vehicle. ia 'engaged on pedinary commercial 'haulage, ww. are not eure that it is an essential device when the vehicle is employed for coach service, and the demonstration run rather endorsed thiseexpressioti of opinion, In addition to th. hand-lever control, an automatic control -retards the ignition to the maximum as the starting handle is engaged. and 3nethis manner backfires are avoided. The carburetter is, automatic and is provided with twe .spray nozzles. A pedal-operated device, permits of the carburetter being heated by the exhaust gases. The Saucer engine brake is operated by a. throttle lever, which converts the engine into a four-stroke comprea.sor.. The governor controls the engine speed at A normal -rate, ot LOCO T, p.m.
Cooling is by centrifugal pump.' The suspension of the radiator has hem designed in such a manner that any -torque of the chassis cannot. be. transmitted to this component.
The engine lubrication is effected by two pumps, assembled together, which are arranged inside the crankcase. One of them circulates the lubricant mad the other delivers in =all but • wellregulated quantities` fresh oil drawn from a reservoir to replace the oil consumed by the engine. Stauffer lubrica
tors are utilized for other parts of the Chassis, only two sizes being .employed, for the sake of simplicity.
The clutch is of the leather-faced cone type, and it convoys the drive to a fearspeed-and-reverse gearbox, which forms a three-point euspended unit with the engine, and thence to the rear axle, the final ilrive being by bevel. There are many other interesting points in the design of the Saucer chassis, which we hope to be able to refer to at greater length in an early issue. Limitation of space prevents us from adequately deafihg with many outstanding features.
e Messrs. Pickforcle have undoubtedly pursued a wise policy in selecting a chassis of Swiss origin for their tours in Switzerland, for, apart from the fact that they have chosen a vehicle of acknowledged merit, they are right on the spot should any replacements or repairs be required.
It is, perhaps, round the body that our chief interest centres, for it represents what must be considered to be one of the most luxurious and well-appointed equipments constructed for coach service. In its construction the primary point which has heeii kept in view is that of passengers' -comfort, and to effect this end it is alatudantiv clear that every detail has hero carefully thought out.
In broad principles the body elosely resembles that which has been standardized for tours in Great Britain, which, by the way, is Messrs. Pickford'e registered design, although the seating arrangement differs in one or two respecte. Far instance, the new body seats 20, exclusive of driver and guide, whereas the original type was provided with accommadation for 23 passengers. It is provided with armchair seats, the frames of which are of ash. The first row of seats has accommodation for two passengers in one seat to the left of the elriver,-the guide being seated on the latter's right. This seat for two does not extend to. the body side, but allows a short gap for the driver and passengers to gain access through the.. 'first of the two doers on the near side. The second row has two single armchair seats on the outsides, and a long seat which is slightly staggered for-three connecta them" together: The third and
fourth rows follow the company's usual practice, the seats being constructed in pairs, with a. central gangway running between them to the rear row -of seats, which accommodates four people. The inner seat of each. of these pairs is staggered a few inches in order to provide armrests for the inside passenger. A small seat for a child can be erected in the gangway just ahead of the fourth row of seats. The second door, which is situated just behind the second row of seats, enables passengers to gain access to the whole of the interior of the body behind this.row.
The provision of accommodation for passengers' luggage has received special attention. Although the small compartment for personal belongings incorporated on the coaches used in this country has been dispensed with, the capacious locker at the rear should adequately meet all requirements in this direction.
Utilizing Full Legal Width.
To enable the fell width of the body allowed by law, i.e., 7 ft. 6 ins., to be utilized in the design of the body itself, the coachwork has been stepped in a few inches to the rear of the fourth row of seats in order to accommodate the hood around the rearmost seats, -whilst the two running boards on the near side are cut in two and hinged, so that, when all the passengers are aboard the coach, the hinged part can be turned back on the part secured to the body, and fixed in position without projecting beyond the body side.
In order to obviate the hood projecting beyond the height of the back seats, a well, equivalent to the hood depth, is cut right round the body at the back. When not in -use the hood is •protected by a covering, held. down by turnbuckles. In one of our illustrations published on this page the hoed arrangement will be clearly seen, whilst the rug rails provided at intervals along the body sides will also be observed. At the point where the back is stepped in space is provided for the reception of umbrellas and sticks, which are held. in position by a curved brass rail, which screens off the corner.
On the off side of the body a tool cabinet is provided, which consists of a series of sliding shelves, into which tools and certain replacements are fitted (this
is shown in the picture already referred to, with one of the shelves withdrawn), whilst other compartments for the accommodation of cil and fuel are also ranged along -this side of the body. Among other features which afford an Indication of the thought displayed in the design are the match strikers on the back of each seat, the seat numbers (which correspond to the ticket numbers held by the passenger)) the foot, mats, the Pyrene fire extinguisher, whilst last, but by no means least, is the electric buzzer, which is fitted on the near side, in front . of the back row of seats, and enables ee indication of the presence of an overtala
jug vehicle to be communicated to the driver. This is fitted on. the-near side, because the rule of the road in Switzerland is "Keep to the right." The windscreen is a four-piece fitting, and it is taken well round to the sides of the vehicles, thus protecting passengers on the outside seats from the discomfort of high wind. currents. The section immediately in front of the driver is divided in two, the upper section being movable outwards. On the top framing, above the driver's head, an oblong mirror is fitted, which provides an excellent view of the road behind: As we said earlier on, the body is most luxuriously appointed in every respect, and it is evident that no pains have been spared to provide the maximum of comfort for those passengers who are participating in the Swiss tours organized by the company, and, in this connection we must not fall to mention the ample leg room provided, which is particularly noticeable in the seat to hold three in the second row. The body reflects commendable credit on Messrs. Pickfords and also upon Thomas Tilling, Ltd., who arc the builders of it.
The demonstration run took place on Tuesday of last week, and, after a tour via Epsom, Leatherhead, Box Hill, Dorking, Leith Hill, Abinger, Shere, Ripley, Wisley, etc., which totalled between 60 and 70 miles and included numerous stiff gradients, we have nothing but praise for the &surer coach. The vehicle ran throughout the day without a hitch of any description, and, in this connection, features which were particularly. noticeable were the excellent springing, the engine's power of acceleration, and the ease of control. The manner in which the vehicle held the road at speed on some of the sharpest turns was almost uncanny.
The seats, which are upholstered with antique leather, are exceptionally well sprung; in fact the comfort which they provide is ahead of that afforded by many touring cars.
Itinerary of the Swiss Tour.
We cannot fittingly conclude this article without a reference to the Swiss tour ori which the vehicle is to run. The route selected is one of the most beautiful, and includes visits to Paris, Berne, Lucerne, Engelberg, Interlaken, .-GrimMialp, Chateau d'tEx, Montreux, and Lausanne. The motor coach part off this tour, which occupies 12 days, is confined to S-witzerland, the journey to and from London, Paris, and Berne being carried out by rail and sea. The first of the Swiss tours starts on Malt 14th and the last on September 26th, tire interval between these dates being covered by 15 similar tours. The hotels which have been chosen by Messrs. Pickfords for their patrons include some of the finest in Switzerland. On the first tour, the road journey will commence at Dieppe, as the coach has got to be taken to the starting-point for the remaining tours. A tour of this description should provide a restful and worry-free holiday, for the tourist is spared all those little incidentals (such as obtaining passports and securing the necessary visa) which are usual i
ly nseparable from a holiday abroad. The inclusive charge for this tour is 29 guineas, hot, if the shorter sea, passage is preferred, an extra two guineas is charged, both of these figures including all meals and first-class rail and heat accommodation.