Motorbus World.
Page 8
Page 9
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Neters contributions are invited : payment will be made on publication.
The Shrapnel Splashguard Co. has notified its removal to 266, South Lam beth Road, S. W .
The British Consul in Bordeaux is of opinion that a service of 20-seated motorbuses might he advantageously established between Bayonne and San Sebastian. The Bath Electric Tramways, Ltd., appears to be seeking " fresh fields and pastures new " for its motorbuses. Apart from its temporary invasion of Gloucester, a service was inaugurated on Sunday last, between the foot of Leckhampton Hill and the George Hotel, Birdlip. The fare each
way has been tentatively fixed at 84.7 but we think it should be put up to one shilling. The route is a hilly one.
Certain complaints have been lodged about the running of the Chorley-Whittle motorbus, but local. opinion is strongly opposed to a discontinuance of so useful and convenient a means of communication.
The Buckley L-.D.C. has resolved to invite the London and North-Western Railway Company to put motorbuses. into service between Buckley and Mold. The existing service by local people is apparently thought to require supplementing.
Eastern London Fares.
Prompted by the belief that it may succeed in arresting a serious decline of its suburban passenger receipts, the Great Eastern Railway Co., from to-day (Thursday), institutes considerable reductions in its seasonticket and individual bookings between Liverpool Street station and stations upon the Walthamstow, Enfield, Palace Gates and Waltham Cross lines.
Mr. Ryder of Croydon. (;;:,
The " Croydon Advertiser" recently published a lengthy communication from a Mr. • Ryder, of 58, Churchill Road, South Croydon, in which the writer excitedly inveighed against the motorbuses which run on the Oxford Circus to Purley route, via Croydon. The whole of the letter is. unintentionally so amusing that we would recommend any interested reader to procure a copy of our contemporary for the 12th June. We have no space to make other quotation from the epistle than the concluding paragraph, which runs: " In conclusion, one cannot help wondering why our Councillors have not shown
more energy . . in losing no opportunity, and in fact go out of their way (sic) to publicly persuade the burgesses to refrain from using the 'buses, which are a menace to our borough." There is no doubt that Mr. Ryder was very cross indeed when he wrote that letter ! Perhaps ho had just heard that, owing to the motorbuses, the tramway earnings had been reduced, on the main line, by 1.44d. per mile. The tramway posts throughout the borough have now been decorated with official notices which beg the ratepayers to use the tramcars, and which terminate with the threat: "11 we lose money, you'll have to pay! "
The London Omnibus Owners' Federation, at its meeting on Tuesday last, appointed Mr. P. Willing Tibbs, of the Associated Oninihm. Cc., Ltd., and Mr. Laurence C. Oldfield, Secretary of the Federation, as its representatives on the TTorseless Sunday Committee.
" Com mer Car' Passenger Vehicles.
Omnibus and char-a-bancs services, with " Commer Oar " vehicles, are being multiplied. A double-deck omnibus left the Luton works, shortly before Whitsuntide, to run between Bideford and Westward Ho, under th control and management of Messrs. R. S. Dymond and Sons, auctioneers and johmast.:Ts, of Bideford. The vehicle is being well patronised, and work at full pressure is anticipated during July and August. A service which was formerly maintained by horse vehicles has been undertaken, and that without any raising of fares.
Another service, with a " Commer Car " char-a-bancs, is being run by Mr. E. West, who was formerly connected with the Stafford Motor Services and Supply Co., Ltd. This,
at the moruent, is between Herne Bay and Canterbury, but other routes will be undertaken later in the season with this 28-seated 36h.p. vehicle. In this case, Air. West both drives and looks after the vehicle himself, and the local press has extended a hearty welcome to the resumption of the servic..% Heavy Damages.
The Lord Chief justice and a common jury, in the King's Bench Division, on the 21st ,lture, awarded I:750 damages to a youth named Frank Cunningham, 16 years of age, and f.:50 special damages to his father for expenses. iO respect of personal injuries sustained by the plaintiff, who sued through his father. The evidence showed Out the youth was riding a cycle behind one of the London General Company's motorbuses in the Edgware Road, in June, 1907, and was proceeding au the off side of the hind wheel of the motorbus. The vehicle suddenly turned at right angles into a side road, its wheel going close to the kerb, with the result that one of the plaintiff's legs had to he amputated. irld the other was rendered practically useless. The defendant company denied negligence, and pleaded contributory negligeoce.
Stanraer and Drummore Service Withdrawn. 26' The service which was instituted, last December, between Stanraer :Led Drummore, has been withdrawn. Thi,, service has been maintained regularly since it was instituted, and by its punctuality proved a great convenience. The -Scottish anti Irish Motor Company finds, however, that the population of the district 18 too sparse to permit of any profit's being made,and to avoid further loss they have decided upon the discontinuance of the service by means of motors.
Tramcar Law.
A fatality, on the 19th ult., in Clerk Street, Edinburgh, when a cyclist was knocked down and killed by a motorbus, which vehicle had gone very nearly to the extreme off side of the street in overtaking it cable tramcar, appears to have caused a local revulsion of feeling in respect of its being left optional to a motor driver to go either side of a moving obstruction such as a tramcar. It is only a few weeks ago that the law obliged a driver to overtake on the off side, and it is possibly now only a matter of a few years before it will he compulsory to overtake on the near side.