News of Municipal Activities
Page 37
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A Successful Parcels Service.
Manchester's municipal transport department operates 60 motorvans for the collection and delivery of parcels that are Carried by tram. Parcels are called for on request, or are received at depots, being sent to the nearest tram office and then distributed by the motors. Last year's parcels numbered 2,734,736. The department runs even a C.O.D. service in connection with goods transport, and last year the income from commissions in that section was over 1100,000.
Glasgow's New Halley Fire-engines.
The two Halley fire-engines which have recently been completed to the order of Glasgow Corporation have now passed their official handing-over tests, and some interesting figures of performance were recorded by the fire-department officals. In our next issue we hope to be able to give brief details of the tests, together with a picture of one of the fire-engines. One of the machines is on exhibition in connection with the fire conference at Manchester.
A.E.C. Trolley-buses for Australia.
Several authorities in Australia •are giving increasing attention to the trolleybus, and one of the latest is Sydney Corporation, which has recently placed an order with the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., for two six-wheelers, to carry 34-seater single-deck bodies. In one case only the chassis will be shipped and the body will be built in Australia, but the other will include a body shell. One chassis will have electrical equipment by the English Electric Co., Ltd., whilst in the other the electrical details will be the responsibility of the British Thomson-Houston Co., Ltd.
Oldham's Passenger-transport ° Transformation.
Mr. ;T. F. Richards, general manager of Oldham Corporation's transport department, reports that the profit for the year ended March 31 last, was 118,536, compared with a loss, three years ago, of 115,313. The net result is the more remarkable because last year there were 1,000,040 fewer passengers and a fall of 114,761 in receipts. In an interview, Mr. Richards ascribed the transformation to " reorganization—just reorganization." The wages of employees have not been reduced. The efficiency of the undertaking has been increased, but the working costs have been reduced by 154,000. The oil-engined buses are working well, and 17 similar vehicles are on order.
The Fire Brigades' Conference.
A limited number of our readers will be interested in the 31st annual meeting of the Professional Fire Brigades' Association now being held at Manchester Town Hall, in conjunction with which an exhibition of fire-fighting appliances is being held at the Drill
Stretford Road.
In the course of the proceedings yesterday, the second day of the conference, papers were read by Mr. J. W. Dane, Chief Officer of Croydon Fire Brigade, and Mr. R. A. Denne, representing the Pyrene Co., Ltd. To-day is
• the last day of the conference, and the proceedings will close with a visit to the works of Leyland Motors, Ltd., at Chorley and Leyland.
In addition to the exhibits, to which reference is made elsewhere on this page, we understand that among the fire-fighting appliances on view are Leyland, Merryweather and Bedford machines.
Information on Road Improvements.
The Roads Improvement Association Is taking steps to secure the experiences and opinions of county councils, county borough and metropolitan borough councils upon the valueof systematic road improvement and development. A questionnaire is being circulated.
Municipal Sales Representative.
A former municipal transport manager desires to take up representation in this sphere for any company wishing to push satisfactory products. Letters, addressed to f' Municipal," care of the Editor, will be forwarded.
Dennis Fire-fighters on View.
At the Fire-brigade Conference, which concludes in Manchester to-day, two Dennis fire-engines are taking part. A London-type 80 b.h.p. fire-engine is on .view, as well as a six-cylindered machine, constituting a ninth repeat order from the Croydon Fire Brigade.
The 90 engine of the latter has a bore of 110 rem. and a stroke of 140 mm. and dual ignition is provided. The pump, which is situated at the rear of the machine, has an output of 656 g.p.m. at 120 lb. pressure per sq. in. and up to 800 g.p.m. at lower pressures.
The _80 b.h.p. model may be supplied as an escape tender or as a motor pump. In the latter 'form it will deliver water at the rate of 300 g.p.m. at a pressure of 160 lb. per sq. in., or 800 gallons at 40 lb. pressure.
An order for 23 machines of this type, recently placed by the London County Council, has just been completed, bringing the total number of Dennis fireengines supplied to the London authorities up to 201.