Cheaper by Rail, But Too Slow
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ACOMPANY who send goods by rail at 71d. a crate from Manchester to London, last week supported a haulier's application for licences to carry similar products at 2s. a crate.
A representative of Venesta, Ltd.. Manchester, told the North Western Deputy Licensing. Authority, Mr. J. R. Lindsay ' that, unless he granted the application, British Railways would lose traffic. He was giving evidence for S. Taylor (Manchester), Ltd., who wanted to add "goods for Venesta, Ltd., when required" to the conditions of two Blicence vehicles.
Mr. Lindsay granted the addition after being told that Venesta would continue to use the railways whenever possible, but would send urgent loads by road. Boxes, barrels and containers often had to be dispatched at short notice, and British Railways could not cope with this work. If orders were not met, trade would suffer, and thus there would be fewer loads to go by rail.
Mr. E. Oswald, for the British Transport Commission, said that in the circumstances they would not try to upset a happy arrangement.
BRITISH TURNTABLE LADDER SHOWN
BASED on a Merryweather-A.E.C. chassis, a turntable ladder of a type claimed to be the only one made in this country was demonstrated by Merryweather and Sons, Ltd., Greenwich High Road, London, S.E.10, on Tuesday.
Ease of control is another feature. A console-type desk unit is mounted on the turntable platform and revolves with the ladder. This unit faces forward and the operator has a clear view of the ladder, which can be extended to 100 ft. • Hydraulic power is supplied by a pump. driven from the vehicle engine and -is transmitted to units actuating elevation, extension, rotation and plumb
ing movements of 'the ladder. All controls compensate for different load conditions of the ladder, and each has independent means for varying speed.
• The cab seats the driver and officer in front, and up to four crew behind, and a cab for driver and officer only is offered as an alternative. Sliding doors are fitted. Main bodywork is panelled in embossed aluminium. The twoway radio equipment incorporates transistors.
THORNYCROFTS ON SHOW TWO of the latest range of Thorny' croft heavy-duty export chassis and cabs will be exhibited at the Argentine Rural Society Show, which opens in Buenos Aires tomorrow. The larger of the two is a Big Ben 6 x 4 normalcontrol chassis, fitted with the maker's 11.3-litre supercharged six-cylindered oil engine. The other is a Trusty .4 x 2 chassis, with a Thornycroft 9.83-litre six-cylindered oil engine.