Bird's Eye View By The Hawk
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tered by the railway closures of the mid-II-in-ties. Now, I gather, 300 miles of road services are felt to compare very satisfactorily with the old 100 miles of railway, and nobody can think what the argument was all about.
What Next ?
TWO weeks ago I reported the "contest" organized by a French &later who was seeking the English lorry driver with the largest family. Having heard of a round dozen, I suggested our Gallic friend look for a baker's dozen.
I can now report that there are claimants. Mr. F. J. Knight, of S. A. Facey (Transport), Bishop's Stortford, Herts, writes to tell of one of his drivers, Mr. G. Randle, who indeed is the proud papa of 13. I also hear of Mr. I. H. Room, of East Cottingwith, Yorks, with the same proud claim.
Any more?
Jobs For The Boys
WHAT will be the effect of the car-free shopping Centres that our enlightened planners are now plotting for certain cities tip and down thecountry? For a long time past many departmental stores have been engaged in a process of gentle persuasion, reducing their delivery commitments by pressure on shoppers to take their parcels home with them. But most customers are reluctant to do this very thing unless their own cars are available for the purpose.
In the car-free shopping zones of the future 1 foresee more scope for the departmental store dispatch manager.
Pas De Deux
AVAN driver friend of mine was baulked in a narrow Buckinghamshire lane by cars parked on both sides LA the road, at a moment when an eight-wheeler arrived from the opposite direction.
Full of old-world courtesy, both vanand lorry-driver flashed their lights at each other, like Christmas trees, while stalemate prevailed. Eventually, the heavy managed to squeeze past. As the cab drew alongside, a very rugged driver leaned out of his window and remarked coyly: " May I have the last dance with you?"
Twin-Bedded
WE learn from our contemporary, Transport Topics, of Washington, D.C., of a sizeable problem which confronted the E. L. Murphy Trucking Co. It was required to move a steel structure, 17 ft. wide by 130 ft. long, and weighing 200,000 lb. The solution adopted lay in splitting the load into four consignments, 65 ft. long and weighing 50,000 lb. Each was transported on two 38-ft. heavy-duty Dorsey Giant platform trailers, towed by two tractors running side by side.
Rather like skating arm-in-arm with the inside ankles strapped together.