Prototype Sought for Indian Service
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THE prototype M.C.W. bodied Arcadian coach, which was exhibited at the 1956 Commercial Motor Show, is being sought by an operator who is starting a London-Calcutta coach service next month. Mr. D. G. H. Bissell, London, N.W.3, is so keen to buy the 18,000 model that he has offered to collect it from Barcelona, where it is now on display. it was described in The Commercial Motor on September 28, 1956.
Built on a Leyland Worldmaster Mark II chassis, the air-conditioned vehicle would be too big for operation Britain, so Mr. Bissell plans to use it only on the Continent if the owners agree to the. sale.
A licence for the 8,400-mile Calcutta rim was granted last month, and the first coach will leave London on March 1. This will be followed by coaches on the first of every month, and return journeys from Calcutta will begin on the same dates.
Six countries are crossed on the 30-day trip, but no coach will travel More than 2,000 miles. Four bases are being set up en route, where passengers will trans fer to fresh vehicles to reduce the risk of breakdowns.
Mr. Bissell has already received more than 100 requests for seal* at £103 19s. single and £199 10s. return. When he surveyed the route in December, using an Austin A152 Omnicoach, he looked for eight passengers and was flooded with 120 applications.
Although about three-quarters of the 'journey was over unmade roads, the vehicle needed only two slight repairs, and it arrived in Calcutta on schedule. Five nights were spent camping, but rearrangement of the timetable should obviate this in future. The Ornnicoach was left in Calcutta to operate a feeder service for the larger vehicles.
Next year, Mr. Bissell hopes to take delivery of several Commer TS3 coaches with specially modified chassis, but he will probably pioneer the service with an A.E.C. 9.6-litre vertical-engined vehicle. All coaches will have a driver and drivercourier, and not more than 250 miles will be covered each day. There will also be stops for sight-seeing at the major tourist centres.