Another of the Black Forest Omnibus Routes.
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Great Britain is not alone in developing motor omnibus routes to give improved means of access to favourite tourist resorts, watering places and inland spas. The ToldnauFrieburg service, in the Black Forest, which we described and illustrated in our issue of August loth, is only one of several which are in existence already. The second one, which we illustrate to-day, is in operation between Gernsbach and BadenBaden, via Ehersteinschloss, and is also served by one of the " S.A.F.E." motor omnibuses, constructed by the Sikicleutsch Automobil-Fabrik, o f Gaggenau. This motor omnibus has captured another lovely stretch in the Schwarzwald, and many hundreds of visitors have thus been able "to do" the charming district lying between these towns in the most comfortable manner. The bus starts from the Hotel zum Goldenen Stern, at Gernsbach, winds its way past the Kurgarten and through glorious woods to the Schloss Eberstein, a castle in an excellent state of preservation and built at the beginning of the last century. The Schloss belongs to the Grand Duke of Baden. From this elevation one gets a capital view of the Murgtal below. A further climb along forest-skirted, sinuous roads brings the omnibus to Mtillenbild, which is a stopping-place. Here the road takes a downward sweep to the Kurhaushotel Fischkultur, where another halt is made. The situation of this hotel, bedded in a wood, may be described as positively idyllic, and visitors to Baden-Baden and Gernsbach usually make it the point of their excursions. Another run of ten minutes brings the passengers to Lichtental, where the bus stops at the Hotel zurn Lowen. Between Lichtental and Baden-Baden, which are but a short distance apart, there is no stoppage. Not a few passengers who have " motor At the entrance to EbersteinschI Grand Duke of Baden-Baden. bussed "through the mountainous Black Forest region have spontaneously testified to the smoothness and sureness of running of their conveyance.
The fact that this route includes some very beautiful
scenery naturally means that many of the gradients are exceedingly steep, and we have yet to be advised of a double deck vehicle in use for such heavy roads. Probably the maximum demand will be met by vehicles of the single-deck type, which possess the added convenience of a substantial canopy for supporting luggage and parcels. The plan and elevation of the chassis employed in this system was given on page 497 of No. 26. lit has been designed with particular regard to its employment in hilly districts, and it is interesting to note that one service of these omni buses regularly involves the climb up Germany's highest mountain peak, the Feldberg, and we have in our pussession a card from a party of tourists who were driven to its summit, oss. This castle belongs to the on which they express It was built only 100 years ago. their hearty congratu
lations to the makers
of the vehicle upon its excellent performance. Special attention has been given to the designing of the brakes, those on the back wheel being of the drum type, but thoroughly protected against mud or dust, whilst the drums and bands are interchangeable with the brake on the differential shaft. Three changes of speed only are provided, and the makers have decided to adopt gravity feed for the carburetter instead of pressure feed. In the omnibus, which we illustrate, there is room for postal and other important packets under the passengers' seats, these being reached by special side doors opening outward, so as to avoid any interference with the comfort of the passengers when seated. This service was at once a pronounced financial success.