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West Ham Favours Standardization
Page 111
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Thornycroft Vehicles of Different Types Figure Largely in the Fleet of a Progressive London Borough
T11E County Borough df West Ham operates'a large fleet of motors for refuse collection, scavenging, gully and cesspool emptying and in connection with its highways, works and electricity departments. These vehicles are garaged and serviced at extensive premises situated in Abbey Road.
For most of these duties, Thornycroft vehicles have been standardized to the extent of GO per cent. of the fleet, and at the present time there are, under the direction of the borough engineer, 27 lorries and special-utility vehicles of this ,make, with a further four machines to be delivered shortly.
The following table shows the type, age and work of these vehicles:— Alternative makes of vehicle are employed for refuse collection and these serve a population of approximately 276,000. During the past four years the population has decreased to the extent of about 20,000, owing to the building of several large factories in the Becontree district and elsewhere, these having attracted many workers from the borough. Despite this factor, the amount of refuse collected has increased, due, it is considered, to present-day marketing of foodstuffs, with the additional wrappings and cartons. etc.
Amongst the Thornycroft vehicles employed are several 2-tonners with fixed-sided bodies and hinged extensions and
canopies, the first vehicle of this type having been put into commission in July, 1930, to replace several horsed vans. As a result of this, a saving of 45 per cent. in •haulage • costs on a collection-per-ton basis has been effected.' It is of interest to mention that, in the Ministry's most recent.. return, the gross cost of collection per ton for the borough, including overhead charges was only 7s. 3d., and 2s. 3d. for disposal, controlled tipping being employed in the latter case.
Incidentally, this system of controlled tipping has enabled a new sports ground to be added to the district.
About 5 per cent, of the refuse collected_ is trade refuse, the balance being domestic, of a_ fairly consistent bulk and weight, except in the winter months, when the weight goes up with the increase of the ash content.
Scavenging duties are carried out entirely by Thornycroft vehicles, working during the night on the main roads and in the markets. . The first three vehicles were put into commission during May, 1935, and replaced high-loading, solid-tyred vehicles of large capacity. In spite of their smaller loads they have shown a considerable saving in running costs, due to their easier loading and mobility, whilst taxa tion is less. Four further Thornycroft vehicles of 2 tons and 3-tons capacity, with power-operated end-tipping bodies are on order for this particular work.
To date 19 Thornycroft vehicles have been supplied to meet the special requirements of the highways; works and electricity departments, but most of them are capable of being used for any class of service. They comprise a number of 30-cwt. and 2-ton tipping vehicles, varying in age
from 5 months to 7 years 11 months, the latest addition
being a 250 cubic ft. boxvanjor the electricity department. Two gully-emptiers with Fowler-Major equipment, mounted on Thornycroft Trusty heavy-duty chassis, have recently been delivered to replace manual work in connec
tion with gully and cesspool emptying. Each tank has separate compartments for 705 gallons of sludge and 8.50 gallons of clean water. The cab has two compartments, one accommodating the driver and attendant, and the other enclosing a small petrol engine used for driving an exhauster which creates a vacuum in a separate chamber above the sludge tank.
All service work, including completeppverhauls, but excluding cylinder grinding, is carried out on the premises, a well
equipped machine shop with inspection pits, together with wheelwrights, smith's shop and a paint shop, enabling these repairs to be carried out in an efficient manner. A com
prehensive stock of spare parts is kept in a well-arranged store, also two complete Thornycroft engine units for use if it is not found possible to effect a repair overnight.
Standardization of chassis types has greatly simplified servicing operations and is, in the council's opinion, a desirable feature in fleet operation. Every driver, at the end of his day's work, is required to state on a report sheet any, adjustment which he considers, should be made
to his vehicle, and these are carried out by the night staff. This system has proved most successful in practice, as records show that 98.95 per cent. of the possible working lorry days have been completed to schedule during the past 12 months: