PASSENGER TRAVEL NEWS.
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The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.
COMBINED RAIL AND MOTOR TOURS.
How Llandudno Owners Lift Coaching From the Rut of the Commonplace
NOWHERE ELSE in the country do the coach owners apply themselves more assiduously to turning out vehicles in spic-and-span condition, devising new tours, and exploiting the coach to the fullest extent, than at Llandudno. The two principal companies are known as the "Reds" and the "Blues," and their mixed fleets are constituted mainly of 28-seater Thornycroft vehicles. The coach owner flies his colours everywhere—on the, coach, in the booking • office, and on his publicity matter '; on one occasion the writer visited Llandudno and discovered the tours manager of "Reds" sporting a scarlet-coloured vest and a white straw hat with a red band. That is how they do things there:
The Llandudno Motor and Garage Co. run their coaches under the title of the "Reds," and the Llandudno Coaching and Carriage Co., Ltd., own and coritrol the fleet which is called the "Blues." The fleet of coaches belonging to the former company is composed of eight 28-seater Thornycrofts, two 28-seater Dennis, two 23-seater Daimlers, one 23seater Dennis, and a small Thornyeroft. A feature of these coaches—all of them are shod with solid tyres—is that each is fitted with a sprang footboard in front of each row of seats, which, combined with the special attention being given to springing generally and the upholstery work, gives the greatest amount of riding comfort. When the season is over the spring plates of every vehicle are polished and grease bound, and it is claimed that this treatment enables the vehicle to go the whole year through without any loss of spring flexibility.
Solid tyres have given the company who run the " Reds " every satisfaction, in much so that they manifest no desire to change over to pneumatics. One machine, however, which is equipped with Cable tyres on the front wheels and Macintosh-N.A.P. tyres on the rear wheels, has a particularly outstanding record of good service. Little partiality is shown in Llandudno for the smaller coach. "The 28-seaters are as good as they can be," said a representative of the " Reds " ; "and is they are particularly suited to our trade, there is no need for us to rush in for smaller coaches."
Motor coaching is an all-the-yeas
round interest with the Llandudno Motor and Garage Co. The tours department makes its innings last as long in the year as it can, but all the year through the garage and repairs staff is in the field ready to deal with any machine that is not in tip-top condition.
During the winter months a staff of mechanics has been hard at work giving every machine a thorough 'examination and overhaul, so that by the time each vehicle is put on the road it may he cousidered to be in sound mechanical condition to run "lohe whole season through. From the Whitsun holiday of last yekr the " Red ' coaches traversed 81,370 miles (the passengers carried numbered over 30,000), and only two involuntary stops were recorded, one being the result of an accident for which the coach driver was not responsible During midseason about 2,000 passengers per week are transported by • the company's coaches.
The Llandudno Motor and Garage Co. have been running coaches since 1907, and each year they hare effected some improvement to lift motor coaching from the rut of the commonplace. They claim to have been the first company to initiate long-distance touring from Llandudno, when in 1916, they ran a five-day tour to London. Since their long-distance tours have been made a regular feature of holiday programmes. The three main holiday tours are :—Eight days to London ; 14 days to Scotland, and 14 days to Devon (mileage 1,000). All these tours have been extraordinarily well supported. Probably one reason for this is the skilful, manner in which the company Undertake their publicity week. The 14 days' tour to Seetlaud costs £.25, which figure includes breakfast, luncheon, high tea, and first-class hotel accommodation.
A Feature Made of Combined Coach and Rail Tours.
Combined motor and rail excursions are also a speciality of the company who run the 'Reds." One tour—" an en., training ride on one of the most interest. lug railways ih the world' —has been specially organized for holiday makeis. The coach leaves Llandudno for Ffesti. !jag (2a houre' journey), where the passengers disembark, have luncheon, and entrain on the Maentwrog toy railway for Portmadoe (an hour's journey). The easaengere return from Ffestiniog at 4.15 p.m., and journey to Bettws-y-Coed for tea, arriving back at Llandudno at 6.45 p.m. 'The inclusive charge for the day is 18s. 6c1.
Another combined rail and coach tour is described as the " Snowdon Express." Lunch and afternoon, tea are served at Ilanberis, which is reached by motor coach, the remainder of the journey being completed by the Snowdon moantain railway, returning via coach to Llandudno. The inclusive fare is 22s. 6d.
On the long-distance tours the company make a point, when 28-seater coaches are used, of carrying no .more than four passengers in a row. Another vehicle is reserved for the transport of luggage. Before the Whitsun holidays the first of the .company's extended tours will be organized.
The management of the "Reds " is out far traffic all the year round. The company try to start in January and finish in December. Last year coaches were running until well into November. The success of late-season tours depends largely on weather coriditioes. ..„ In mid-season' there are at least 12' different tours each day—at fares arranged to suit all pockets, from 4s. to 20s. The grand finale of the mid-summer tours season is always an outing for the drivers, who must have something like a 'business holiday." Late last year they had a righaroyal time as passengers (with their families) at Lledr Valley, free luncheon and the being pro vided by the firm.' •
Adjoining, the company's head booking effice there is a "motordrome "—a parking ground, owned by them, for use by visiting vehicles. The Llandudno Motor and Garage'Co. have about 30 booking agents located at. Llandudno;' Colwyn_ Bay, Rims-on-Sea, Deganwy, .Llandudno Junction, Conway,Penmaenmawr, Lienfairfecha,n, Tyn-y-Graes. Llaimwste Tree New, and 13ettwkeyeaoed.
Activities of the. Owners of the "Royal The Llandudno Coaching and Carriage Co., Ltd., who run the "Royal Blue" coaches, have a fleet of seven 28-seater Thernyerefts, none of which, however, is ever employed to seat more than four passengers in a row, thus reeking them 22-seaters. This season thete fleet will be supplemented by three 28-seater Dennis coaches on peeumatic tyres, with special hoed fittings and seats arranged two abreast on each side of a central
C24 gangway. Up to the present a number of inquiries has been made for privateparty work, and some very' good contracts have been fixed up for the season.
As yet the coach owners in. Llandudno have come to no decision on rates, which, for single-seat bookings last year, were as low at 11d. per mile. It is hoped that the mid-season fare this year will be about 2d. per mile. For private-party work special rates are quoted.
The difficulty with which all the Llandudno coach owners are faced is that of discovering new tours. The ground is covered so well that, without detracting from the interest of existing outings, it is hardly possible to initiate new excursions. For that reason novelty tours are not popular.
At. the present time the company who run the "Royal Blue 1' coaches also operate four Thereycroft buses—two double-deckers and two single-deckers. The saloon buses run between Llandudno and Colwyn Bay in conjunction with the Services of J. Fred Francis and Sons, Ltd., of Colwyn Bay, there being an interval of about 30 minutes between the departure of each vehicle. Sevea new Thornycroft eingle-d eckers -ate now being built for service this summer, between Llandudno, Conway, Llanrwst, Mochdre and Colwyn Bay. At Llandudno Junction a bus depot and garage is to be built, and it will be from this point that the buses will be adminietered, and operated.
The daily tours programme of the " Royal Blues" is as . fellows ;—Barmonth and Dolgelley via, Bala. Lake, 145 miles, 20s.; Bala Lake via Buthin and Corwen, 120 miles, 16sfe Llangollen. via Berwyn Hills, 115 miles, 14s.; Criccieth and PwIlheli, 115 miles, 14s. ; Isle of Anglesey tour via Menai Bridge, 115 miles, 14s.; Lledr Valley, 105 miles, 4s. ; Aberglaslyn Loop, 96 miles, 14s ; Denbigh Moors, 90 miles, 12s. ; Llanheris and Snowdon, 80 miles, 10s. ; Nant Ffrancon Pass, 60 miles, Sc. Afternoon tours :— Bethesda Loop, 60 miles, 7s, ; New. Alpine tour, 60 miles, 7s. ; Denbigh Castle, 60 miles, 7s. mountain tour, 56 miles, 7s. ; Beeumeris Castle; 56 miles, 7s. St. Asaph, 45 Miles, 6s. ; Bettws-yCoe:el., 45 Miles, 6s. ; Frefriew Spa, Se.; Bodnant Hall, 4s.; and Dwygyfylchi, 45.