Albion Buses Working at 9,000 ft.

1st May 1953, Page 101

1st May 1953

Page 101

Page 101, 1st May 1953 — Albion Buses Working at 9,000 ft.

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Operating Under Arduous Conditions Over Scheduled Routes of up to 230 Miles a Day BUS services operated by the Overseas Touring Co.. (East Africa), Ltd., include routes running from sea level at Mombasa to Mau Summit, on the road between Nairobi and Kisumu, which rises to a height of 8,613 ft.

On over 600 miles of this company's routes Albion FT39 chassis are employed. With the exception of a 29-seat body built by Scottish Aviation, Ltd., the vehicles are equipped with locally built bodies, all being 32-seaters.

On less than half of the routes the roads are covered with tarmacadam, and on the remainder the surfaces are composed of gravel or earth. During the two rainy seasons, the earth roads become particularly treacherous and high praise is given to the Albions for the way in which they handle on the slippery surfaces.

Occasionally, the vehicles get into difficulties in the black-cotton-soil areas, but the engines provide adequate power to extricate them from the morass.

Dust a Bugbear

In the long, dry periods the roads become extremely dusty and whilst the company have not, so far, acquired any experience of running underfloorengined vehicles, it is thought that the dust might militate against their satisfactory operation.

Although there is no racial discrimination in East Africa, the differing economic standards make it necessary to cater for first-, secondand third-class passengers. Some vehicles, therefore, carry first-class passengers exclusively, whilst others deal with secondand third-class fares.

At the present time the Albion buses are being operated for the two lower classes, but later it is proposed to employ them for first-class passengers.

The fares vary considerably, as the first-class passenger pays 3d. per mile, second-class between lid. and 2d. per mile, and third-class between id. and Id. per mile.

Distances of a minimum of 170 miles are covered by the Albions in a day. This is the length of the journey between Nairobi and Arusha. The greatest distance at present scheduled is that between Nairobi and Kisumu230 miles.

Because oil fuel is not used extensively in East Africa, the few settling tanks which exist are in the main centres. The oil fuel obtainable in the small provincial towns is taken from 44-gallon drums and is liable to have a high water content and contain other impurities. In these circumstances, it is the policy of the operators to increase the capacity of the fuel tank on the Albion FT39 chassis to 50 gallons.

Fuel-consumption returns show that, on the routes operated from Nairobi, with altitudes ranging from 5,000 ft. to 9,000 ft., 13.15 m.p.g. is obtained. Experiments have been carried out with injection-pump calibration to meet highaltitude conditions and a fuel consumption at the rate of at least 14.1 m.p.g. is expected.

Lubricating-oil consumption during the months of August, September and October of last year worked out at 339 m.p.g., 283 m.p.g. and 374 m.p.g. respectively. The approximate monthly mileage per vehicle is 4,000, and engine oil is renewed every 1,000 miles. The grade used is S.A.E.30.

Tyres represent the largest individual operating cost, new tyres lasting for only 10,000 miles and retreads for about 8,000 miles. The reason for this is, of course, the nature of the roads.