THE L.G.O. Co.'s 1929 COACHING PROGRAMME.
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A 'Large Fleet of New-type 32-seater All-weather Coaches Brought Into Service.
Fsome years past Londoners or those staying in the metropolis have been provided with opportunities for enjoying pleasant motor-coach trips from London by reason of the enterprise of the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd. The company's 1929 programme of tours was put into operation at Whitsun, and this year's activities are particularly noteworthy in view of the fact that the company is operating a fleet of 20 semi-salodn coaches of a new design. These vehicles have more powerful engines than those hitherto used for coaching seraice by the company, and their basis consists of the well-known A.E.C. Reliance forward-control chassis which is growing in popularity.
The bodies of the new vehicles have been constructed at the Chiswick works of the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., and several interesting features have been introduced into the design. For example, the company has reverted to the use of aluminium panels and, as with the 28-seater all-weather coaches placed in service in the 1928 season, the latest vehicles (which are built to seat 32 people) have been designed to provide the utmost comfort on both long and short journeys conducted in any kind of weather.
Although, in general, the new class of body is similar in design to that used for last season's coaches, there are one or two new features to which reference can be made. Apart from the use of four extra seats, which has been made possible by a rearrangement of the general seating plan, the seats themselves have been designed to give even greater comfort than in the past. They have not only a good pitch in the 3342 fraction in the windscreen. So that the view ahead of the passengers sitting on the near side shall not be impaired, a wiper is provided for the front window. One of our detail pictures shows the folding step for the entrance at the front of the off-side, this being lowered when the door is opened.
From the illustration which we publish showing a side view of the new type of coach, it will be seen that the body has fixed sections at the front and the rear, the centre portion being protected by a covering which, in 'good weather, can be folded back. The overall length of the coach is 26 ft. and its overall width 7 ft. 6 ins., whilst its overall height when loaded is 8 ft. 6 ins. The wheelbase of the chassis is 16 ft., and the overhang of the body is 7 ft. 3 ins.
With these Vehicles added to the
cmupants fleet 64 machines will be used on L.G.O.C. coaching service. duriag the 1929 season: We understand that the company's coaching prospects for the summer are particularlybright.
Starting from convenient points in suburban districts, the company will operate a series of afternoon tours throughout the summer, these being run to places of scenic attraction and historic interest. average distances (in miles) which can be travelled for definite charges ; these are as follow :-1d.—.743; 2d.—L521; 20,-2.149 ; 3d.-2.638; 3id.-3.180; 4d.-3.511. In the case of workmen's lid, tickets and children's id. tickets a distance of 3.396 miles can be travelled by bus.
The average fare charged per mile under the different headings is as follows :—Ordinary, 1.278d.; workmen, .45d.; children .30d.—all these charges being less than those in force on the corporation's tramcars. The gross capital expenditure on the Burton-upon-Trent bus system up to the end of March last was £33,478, of which sum £3,855 represented the contribution for the year under review.
Mr. A. B. Slater, M.Inst.T., is the manager of the corporation's motorbus and tramways system.