OBJECTIVES OF A TYNESIDE OWNER.
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The Rapid Extension of the Activities of a Gateshead Owner.
WITH AN actual connection with the paeeenger-carrying industry extending over a period of less than a year, it is given to but few firms so far to capture the good-will of the travelling public as to warrant the doubling of
their facilities. Such however, is the
happy experience of Such, and Co.,
Ltd. of the Crescent Garages, Gateshead, the proprietors of the well-known " Crescent" passenger vehicles„ who, since putting their first bus on the road in April last, have built-up their fleet to such an extent that they now have 19 vehicles in service.
a When one is privileged to listen to details of the organization which has made Such a feat possible, as was the facility accorded to a representative of The Commercial Motor, and, further. when one is informed of a few_ of the ultimate ambitions and schemes of this progressive concern, it becomes apparent that only the most assiduous attention to public requirements and intelligent anticipation of coming wants, down to the Veriest details, has enabled the cont.puny to increase their scope on the lines already indicated. Messrs. Walton, it might be mentioned, were, prior to eleven months ago,' solely concerned, with the passenger carrying trade in their capacity of auto. mob;le engineers and coachbuilders, Un
doubtedly their vast inside experience in these directions, however, has been of the most vital importance in enabling them to provide the facilities and additional comforts which the public look for and appreciate.
A User Who Builds His Own Bodies.
Before proceeding to discuss their prospects for the coming season it might be of interest, to outline the advances whielr the company have already made. Their initial venture was the inauguration of a regular passenger service between Gateshead and Chesterle-Street. The bodies of the vehicles engaged upon this service were constructed at their own establishment. They have a single entrance, and the seats are arranged in pairs in a roomy interior on-each &de of a central gangway. The seats themselves are of the garden type, adequately sprueg and with their backs set at the correct, angle to provide 'the maximum comfort. The smart appearance of the buses and the pleasant riding they afforded evoked very favourable comment in the early stages of operation.
With the advent of the1922 coach season the eompany put se'veral motor coaches on the road and thus brought th&r total fleet up to ten vehicles. To-day they are operating almost twice that number, with the prospect of such additions as are warranted being sure plied. So far as buses were concerned, the company were quick to realize the absolute necessity for operating to strict time-table. •
The buses now on the road comprise two Daimler 26-seaters; three Daimler 20-seaters ; six Dennis 26-seaters; three Fiat 14-seaters on giant pneumatics; and one Garford 2O-seater, _ also . shod with giant pneumatics. So far as coachee ire8 concerned, three Daimler `e6-seaters and a 14-seater G.M.C., on pneumatics, are run, whilst additions to this side of the business will be made tefore the opening of the 1923 season. It will be noticed that the largest-capacity coach is a 26-seater, and it is interesting to note that, it is part of the policy of the company not to fit the largest type of body that a chassis will take, but rather to provide roomy interiors, with adequate leg space for passengers and plenty of • clearance between the seats. By adopting this method both buses and coaches give the maximum of comfort and convenience.
All the large-capacitv vehicles are fitted with solid tyres, which, in conjunction with adequate springing, have been found to give every comfort, but the. three Fiats have been the source of a most interesting and successful experiment, Primarily they were shod with twin pneumatics, but as a. result of a certain amount of tyre trouble the management decided to fit the vehicles with giant pneumatics. Some idea of the success of the step can be gleaned from a statement made by an official of the company. " Tyre trouble," he commented, "simply ceased,"
Whilst many newcomers, and indeed not a few of the more seasoned owners, experience great difficulty in securing sufficient winter work, Messrs. Walton have been at no such disadvantage. Indeed, it is in this respect that they are now contemplating one of their most ambitious extensions. This is in the way of catering for dance parties on an elaborate scale. In this connection they have, during the past winter months, obtained a very large amount of business for their small buses.
Messrs. Walton's ultimate object is to build up a fleet of luxurious small saloon buses exclusively for this class of business. They intend fitting these vehicles with comfortable armchair bodies, with well-lighted interiors and with drop curtains and carpeted floors. Similarly a good amount of winter work has been obtained on special services, which have been operated to timetable, between Gateshead and Roker Park on each alternate Saturday, when the Sunderland Football Club has been !engaged before its own spectators. At the return fare of Ls. .8d. these vehiclos receive good patronage. The company are deserving ot commendation for ptoviding special buses at 3 a.m. daily fsr the use of miners working in the collioriet meanie Gateshead, the menwho have finished their night work being brought in by tire returning vehicles. Specially reduced fares are ip force on these services owing to the low wages now being received by the miners. The experience of the company in coachhuilding has been turned to good account so far as the provision of firstclass motor coaching facilities is concerned. Peculiarly enough, whilst the advantages of the small erre are appreciated in the district, there is no great demand for the small coach. The Majority of bookings are for parties varying from 30 to 100 passengers, and the large coach appears likely to retain its popularity in the north-country, whatever might be the tendency in other parts of the country.
As an official of the company pointed . out, the rapid advances made by the small-capacity coach in the south was to some extent due to road restrictions, of which few, if any, have so far been imposed upon Tyneside owners. Nevertheless, for the benefit of the small section of the public who do favour the small coach, Messrs. Walton are patting at least one new 14-seater on the road, either a:"Lisuce. . or a Fiat. The7bodies of the coaches operated by Messrs. Walton are, like the buses, evilstructed upon' the central-corridor ,plan, with a passengeioentrance at the 'near side of the driver's seat, this plan of seating proving most popular and desirable from the standpoint of sociability on long runs.
The improvement of trade in the Tyneside districts is being reflected,in bookings for coach runs, and a noteworthy feature is the fact that orders are this year being placed much earlier than in past seasons. To judge by the orders received to date Messrs. Walton are faced with a busy season, and the bookings for two and three days' tours are particularly encouraging. So far as the question of fares is concerned it it indicated that, as compared with the fares ruling towards the end of last season, when rate cutting was rampant, there will be increases.
Last year Messrs. Walton inaugurated a daily service of motor coaches between Gateshead and the coastal towns of Whitley Bay and Monkseaton, vehicles leaving each terminus hourly. These will be continued this season and are expected to prove extremely popular with residents who desire a day or half-day at the seaside during the summer months