TRAIN COULD NOT CARRY EXTRA SIX TONS!
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That the facilities of the L.N.E. Railway Co. were sometimes insufficient for the carrying of goods by passenger train was suggested at a sitting of Mr. H. Riches, Northern Scotland Licensing Authority. Messrs. M'Kechnie and Buchan, West End Garage, Elgin, applied for an additional licence for a 2i--ton vehicle.
Their present fleet, it was stated, included a 4-ton lorry—which had covered 150,000 miles in 15 months— a 21 tonner and a 2-tonner for local work, also a 30-cwt. lorry for collection and delivery from the Aberdeen depot.
Particulars of the number of goods carriers in Elgin and Aberdeen were given ay a representative of the L.N.E.R., which, together with the L.M.S. Railway Co., objected.
Mr. W. D. Connichie, for the applicants, asked whether it were correct that on January 20 the L.N.E.R. refused to take a consignment of goods from Aberdeen to Edinburgh by passenger train. It was admitted that 6 tons of goods were offered at 7 o'clock and that the train left at 7.35. The reason why the goods were refused was that the train had not sufficient power.
New Morrison " Electric" Horse.
An interesting new product of A. E. Morrison and Sons, Ltd., Leicester, is a three-wheeled battery-electric vehicle for 10-15-cwt. loads, described as the electric horse.
Although it employs front-wheel drive, only the front wheel and its supporting member, are unsprung. The motor and transmission mechanism are carried on the head, and turn with it for steering purposes. A laminated spring comprises the main part of the suspension system. The two rear wheels simply support the weight of the load, whilst a sturdy tubular backbone ensures 'rigidity between the back axle and the steering head. The price is about E180.
Shipping Guide for Hauliers.
The following is the number of ships arriving at the London docks, wharves and jetties named, from February 21-29 inclusive :—Docks: King George V. 6; Royal Albert, 7; Royal Victoria, 5; Surrey Commercial, 5; West India, 2; East India, 1; SouthWest India, 2; Tilbury, 8; Tilbury Stage, 2; Millwall, 4; London, 1. Wharves : Hays, 6; Middleton's, 1; Regents Canal, 1. Tilbury Jetty, Z.
Sir W. Hart Impressed by Road Service.
Strong railway opposition was offered, in Manchester, to an application by Miss M. V. Bullock, of Hope Mere, Northwich, Cheshire, for a B licence for a horsebox, which she admitted she had used during the past 12 months for her own, her father's and customers' horses, not .having appreciated that a horsebox came under rte category of goods vehicle.
Mr. H. Backhouse, for the applicant, pointed to the difficulty of delicate 1122 creatures, such as racehorses, being lcd along arterial roads and mentioned that they were shod for soft ground.
Sir William Hart, North Western Deputy Licensing Authority, said he was rather impressed by the fact that motor vehicles took the horses direct from the stable to the racecourse. Mr. Philip Kersham, for the L.M.S. Railway Co., said it was a question as to what extent people could be choosers. -Sir William reservedhis decision.
Company Responsible for Employee's Servant.
A carious position was revealed during a " records" prosecution at Doncaster. Glickman and Schneider, Ltd., Charlotte Street, London, W.1, was fined El for failing to cause a driver to keep a record of time spent in driving a vehicle operating under a C liCente.
The vehicle in question was a car which the company supplied to one of its travellers, and the traveller himself engaged the man to drive it. The company had no control over the driver, yet, in law, as the holder of the C licence, it was responsible for seeing that the records were kept. The driver was fined 5s.
Mr. Stirk's Severe Warning.
I cannot accept any explanation whatever," Mr. J. H. Stirk, East Midland Licensing Authority, told the director of a large Leicester coal and corn concern of 98 years' standing, owning a fleet of upwards of 50 vehicles, at a sitting, me Monday, when calling attention to the condition of some of the vehicles. The company had applied for six B licences in respect of vehicles at Leicester, Hinckley and Coalville depots.
Mr. Stirk asked the director who appeared to make the application, why it should be necessary for prohibition -notices to have to be served on a concern of that calibre.
The director: " We have always carried out repairs when notices have been issued,"
Mr. Stick: "Why should it be necessary to issue notices? "
The witness: " We do some very rough work."
Mr. Stirk: " It is a very serious matter. Records are on the file and, when you come up next year, I shall have something very serious to say if the vehicles are not in good order."
Transport Interest at B.I.F.
The heavy industries and hardware section of the British Industries Fair, at Castle Bromwich, has an interest for commercial-vehicle users, for the exhibits include a number of industrial trucks and electric vehicles. There are also many road-making machines of different types and a variety of materials used in road construction. -Accessories of all kinds are there, of course, together with machine tools used in the manufacture of motor vehicles, and many materials that find their way into bodies and chassis.
The Fair is open daily from February 17-28 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. APPEAL AGAINST " HOURS " CONVICTION.
After the imBosition of fines of ae10 each, with five guineas costs, on two summonses in respect of drivers' hours, , brought against Howard Robinson, Ltd.,. at Brighton, last week, the defendant concern intimated its intention to appeal. The summonses were for permitting a driver to drive for a continuous period exceeding 11 hours on nine occasions, and for a period exceeding 5 hours on 14 occasions.
The driver said that he had not worked continuously for periods exceeding 5i hours, and that the times shown in the records were not necessarily accurate, as he had neither a watch nor a clock.
Mr. C. J. T. Pensotti, for the defendant, submitted that the prosecution had failed to make a case. All that had been done was to submit records which were admitted to be inaccurate.
Girling Brake Developments.
The Girling Consolidated air brake, introduced recently by G. D. Peters and Co., Ltd., Slough, in conjunction with New Hudson, Ltd., Birmingham, the maker of the Girling equipment,has been installed on one of Nottingham Corporation's trolleybuses. Besides' resulting in a weight reduction of lt cwt., this brake system, we are informed, has given great' Satisfaction on test, with a lower consumption of compressed air.
In this connection, it is appropriate to note that Ferodo, Ltd., Chapel-enle-Frith, has taken over the distribution of Girling brake parts, including faced shoes.
L.N.E.R. Objects to B Licence and Suggests A Licence!
A point of law of general interest arose at the Morpeth sitting . of the Northern Licensing Authority. Mr. R. Clark, of Bebside, applied for a renewal, without modification, of his B licence. It transpired that he had temporarily allowed that part of his business as a coal, coke and scrap-metal merchant to lapse.
Mr. Boothroyd, for the L.N.E. Railway Co. : "My submission is that there can be no 13 licence in this case." He quoted the 1933 Act in support of his contention that where a man employs his vehicles solely for hire or reward, he must have an A licence or nothiag at all.
Mr. Hunter, of Associated Road Operators, held that there was nothing' in the Act which said that because Mr. Clark had gone temporarily out of business, he should be deprived of his other business. He was holding a B licence, which was a combination of an A and a C licence. Immediately the Clicence part of the business was released, Mr. Clark fell back on general haulage and was entitled to carry for hire or reward on the conditions laid down by the Licensing Authority.
Sir John Maxwell, the Authority, said it was the first time that the point had been raised in his court, and he adjourned the case for consideration.