PASSENGER TRAVEL NEWS.
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The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.
REFINED MOTOR COACHING AT HARROGATE.
A Town Where Propr:etors Have to Consider the "Class" and not the "Mass" of Tourists. Municipal Objections to Coaches Lived Down.
I N CONNECTION with the motor coach I movement in Harrogate two facts stand out, and, at first sight, the two, taken in conjunction, would almost ap
pear to present an anomaly. In the first case it cannot but be noticed that the undertakings in existence to-day bear a very close connection with what night be described as the pre-motor coach era."
The Harrogate Road Car Co. and the Harrogate-. Carriage Co. were both in existence long before the present type of motor coach came into existence, whilst several of the smaller owners were in the taxicab and motorcar business before being connected with coaching, and came into the business with the rise in popularity of this new form of travel. But here arises the anomaly. Instead of Harrogate being wedded to old forms of transport, present-day tendencies are more highly developed in Harrogate than in any other centre in the North of England. Ndwhere does the small coach vie with the 22, 24 and 25-seater more than it does in Harrogate. In fact, the feature which strikes the visitor to Harrogate is the remarkable number of very smart 14-seater coaches, for the most part, striking vehicles in white with bold black linings, which are to be seen about the streets going to and from the stand at appointed times.
Harrogate people somewhat resent their town being described as a holiday resort. They prefer to call it a spa rather than a holiday resort. Un
doubtedly the medicinal wells have made Harrogate the town it is to-day, but, coupled with the natural attractions of the town and district, there has been sound business acumen shown in advertising, and a hundred and one other
little ways. Harrogate seto itself out to cater, not for the masses," but for the "classes," and the greatest care has been taken to give the town an atmosphere of a refined and select character.
The whole municipal spirit of Harrogate is set to repress anything blatant, or lacking in taste and propriety, for fear that well-to-do 'visitors should be frightened away to the Continental spas. It was this spirit which severely repressed the visits of motor coach partiis to Harrogate a few years ago. Rowdy parties would ruin the town, it was thought. Happily, as motor coaching has developed from a rowdy infant into a more discreet and considerate youth, the repressive legislation in Harrogate, so far as visiting parties are concerned, is being relaxed, but of this more later.
The same punctilious care which was shown with regard to visiting coaches was taken with coaches plying for hire in Harrogate, and the effect is shown today in the manner in which business is carried out. Coaches stand, or perhaps we should say wait, for • passengers in St. Mary's Walk, but there is no touting, hustling or pestering of passers-by. All the seats are booked at, offices which the companies have near by. The Harrogate Road Car Co. have an office just across the way from the head of the
stand, the Harrogate Carriage Co. have one just round the corner, and one-man concerns have joined forces and opened an office under the style of the Harrogate Motor Owners' Association. The custom of booking seats at the offices instead of passengers going to the coaches has heen formed, and has much to com mend it.
In conversation with a representative of The Commercial Motor, a member of the Harrogate Road Car Co., who have a mixed fleet of 20 vehicles, pointed out that, it is very convenient to the owners to know beforehand how the tours were to be patronized, and this prevented confusion and bustle at the time for starting.
With regard to the position in Harrogate, the Road Car Co.'s representative remarked that the small pneumatictyred coaches were more highly appreciated than the larger vehicles on solid tyres, and that they intended to extend their service of 14-seaters very consider ably next year. For their extensive bus service in the town and to Knaresborough, and for the big coach parties, the company intend to standardize on Karriers, but. the fleet for touring will be materially added to by the purchase of small coaches.
At the present time, it, was stated, the charges for pneumatic-tvred vehicles and for large coaches are the same, and, although the return per mile is not so large for the small coaches, the expenses of running are less, and there is the possibility, when the lighter vehicles come into the position that they can monopolize the market, it was likely that the fares charged would be higher than those which could be obtained in thd' case of large vehicles.
It was pointed out that. Harrogate is in a favoured position with regard to being able to appeal to discriminating passengers who can afford to pay for
something better, and the fact was noticed that coach owners are meeting the wishes of passengers in an unusual direction by running morning trips, from which they return to the town by 12.45 or 1o'clock. Afternoon trips appear to be the most popular, but morning runs are an interesting development. Even ing trips are also arranged. • The prices charged for tours are very reasonable consideringthe number of small coaches in use ranging from 3s. to Brimbarn Rocks, Ss. 6d. to Fountains Abbey, 4s. to Fountains Abbey and Ripon, 5s. 6d. to Bolton Abbey and Ilkley, and 17s. 6d. to Windermere.
Coach owners in Harrogate are feeling the slump, it was stated, and while fares have been reduced to a pre-war level, the complaint is made that other interests have not reduced their charges and that this is having its effect on the movement. "If only the hotels and the doctors wouldreduce their charges we should get along nicely," remarked the representative of the Road Car Co. The association of doctors' charges and coach prices we failed to appreciate, but in explanation it was pointed outthat many visitors to Harrogate were under the doctor, and the doetor's fee was an important item in "the cost of living." Coach owners appreciate that motor coaching is part of the cure.
There axe about 40 coaches in use in Harrogate. The Hilton Motor Co. has in service a /let, of. red Leylands, the Harrogate Carriage Co. red Thoruycrofts, while the Harrogate Road Car Co.'s coaches are heliotrope with a white band.
A rota for position is observed at the lower portion of the stand, and each owner has displayed a board with removable route descriptions and times for starting.
With regard to coaches visiting Harrogate the police are very strict concern ing obstruction. This strictness, and the refusal of the Corporation to provide parking facilities, drove coaches away from Harrogate, and they generally ppsed along to Knaresimrough, three miles away. Knaresborough reaped considerable benefit from this action, and then Ripon came along with the definite intention,. of encouraging coaches. This attitude of other municipal bodies, doubtless, caused the Harrogate officials to reconsider the position, and inquries were made con cerning visiting coaches. The fear of rowdy parties was found to be only a passing phase of the earlier days of the motor coach movement, and now, while no definite steps have been taken to encourage coaches to come to the town, the definite acts of repression have been withdrawn, and, as a matter of fact, steps have been taken to ensure garage accommodation for vehicles visiting the town.
The Harrogate police have supplied a
list of garages as follows which are prepared to park coaches at-a small charge:. Messrs. Mackay and Sons, West Park (30 coaches); Graham Motors, Ltd., Victoria Garage (50 coaches); Barling's Garage, Glebe Road (40 coaches); Oatlands Garage, Leeds Road (12 coaches); and High Harrogate Garage, Regent Parade (6 coaches). In view of the garage accommodation the Corporation has decided not to provide further parking facilities.
POPULAR COACHING FROM NEWCASTLE DISTRICTS.
Why Tours of Several Days' Duration are Proving a Success.
IT IS rather surprising, during a.
1. IS in which day and half-day motor coach trips axe only meeting with, at best, a moderate amount of success, to find that tours extending over periods of from two to four and five days are receiving sufficient patronage to warrant their continuance, and yet such a strange state of affairs pertains this year in the North of England. Of coarse, it must be borne in mind that the class of people who patronize these extended tours are mostly of the business and better class, and another point, which must also be recognized, is that, in most cases, clients are people who have previously made a similar tour and are anxious to renew their experience. Naturally, the circle from which patrons are drawn is a rather restricted one, but, nevertheless, it is encouraging to find the extended tour meeting with so much success.
Not a little of this success is, of course, attributable to the, fact that. passengers, instead of having to make their own arrangements, can, with assurance, leave _everything in the hands of the coach proprietor, who generally acts as host, and leaves rid stone unturned to ensure the safety and general comfort of passengers. Another point, which appeals to the traveller is the constant variation of the scenery through which he is passing, and the unquestionably better facilities the motor coach provides for viewing the landscape than does railway travelling. From the very moment a passenger takes a seat in a coach his holiday begins, and it lasts until he reaches his home town on the return journey, so that he obtains the maximum amount of pleasure for his money.
It is of interest to note the advances made by the Ouseburn TransportCo., of Newcastle, who claim to be the pioneers' of the long-distance tour in that area, and who this year have adopted several innovations which have been responsiblefor _increasing to some measure the popularity of the tours in the district: Last year this company's extended excursions were confined to a few runs to the Lake District and to Scotland, but this year a more elaborate programme was arranged, and quite a fair margin of success has attended the runs so tar operated.
The fleet of the Ouseborn Transport Co. consists of owo 33-seater Leyland*, one large Lacre, and one 14-seater Crossley coach fitted with pneumatic tyres.
The route of the five-day tour to _Oben and the Western Highlands embraces particularly enticing and varied scenery. The total fare, inclusive of first-class hotel accommodation, is £10. Pascengers can, if they choose, make their own arrangements for hotel accommodation, the company quoting special conveyance rates for this purpose.
Not less attractive is the tour to the Lake District. The two-day run covers something like 190 miles, and embraces seven lakes, at. a charge of 55s. inclusive, the overnight stay being made at Bowness on --Windermere; A slightly longer run is made on the three-day Lakeland tour.
• The company make every effort to ensure the complete safety and comfort of passengers on all tours, and in eases where the large vehicles arc used only 28 passengers are carried on the 33:seater vehicles, in order to give plenty of space. Each passenger is allowed to
take 20 lb. of luggage. A representative of the Ouseburn Transport Co. accompanies all. runs made by the large coaches.
A Compact 12-seater Bus.
ALTHOUGH. •there is .a number of one-ton chassis fitted with"coach and bus bodies which are doing service as public passenger-carrying vehicles, there is little doubt in the minds of many who have studied the matter that the types which are most suitable for the transport of a small number of passengers are th6se with a carrying capacity of from 25 cwt. to 30 cwt.
That the 30-cwt. chassis fitted with a bus body possesses a neat and attractive appearance is evidenced by one of the illustrations which we publish on this page, which shows a 30-cwt. Burford chassis fitted with a 12-seater body built by James Bartle and Co., Ltd., of Western Iron Works, Lancaster Road, London, W. 11, The company are specializing on the small bus for light commercial vehicle chassis and they are able to give quick delivery at a very keen price.
The vehicle whieh we illustrate has been supplied „to the Great Western Railway. The body is furnishea with a front entrance and tlie. driver is housed in the interior of the vehicle. The vehicle shown is built to carry 12 passengers, but it is capable of accommodating 14-16 persons. Ordinary garden seats of the transverse type are employed, and the hack seat runs across the full width of the body and seats four persons. The seats are all provided with removable cushions and back squabs upholstered in real leather, Marshall spring frames overlaid with horsehair, being used to give the maximum of riding comfort. The framework of the body can be built of ash or oak, and is strengthened with hand-forged ironwork. The side panels are of steel, the inside panels
being of ply wood or matchboarcling. The roof .boards are of 2-in. matchboarcling and the floorboards of 1-in, tongued and grooved deal, the latter being provided with trap-doors for inspection of mechanical parts. The roof-sticks are of ash and are notched into the cant rail.
There are four lights each side of the body, three being fixed and one made to drop, and two large lights at the rear; 32-oz. best English sheet-glass, bedded in rubber and fixed with hardwood fillets and screwed, 'is used for glazing.
The body is 'mounted on hardwood bearers and is fastened by Ineall2 of hand-forged dups. A ladder is provided at the rear for giving access to the top of the bus, which is protected by a rail and on which luggage can be carried.