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THE BUS FLEET OF READING CORPORATION.

22nd May 1928, Page 148
22nd May 1928
Page 148
Page 148, 22nd May 1928 — THE BUS FLEET OF READING CORPORATION.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

The Organization of a Small Fleet Showing a Substantial Profit.

TN view of the recent report by Mr. J. M. Calder, the general manager and engineer of the tramways and motors department of Reading Corporation, on the working during the year ended March 31st, 1928, a description of the motorbus services in this important city will be of interest.

Out of a total departmental revenue of £120,868, showing a net profit of £7,182 for the year, the receipts from the bus services were £39,490, or 14.44 pence per bus mile, against £32,445, or 14.17 pence per bus mile., in the previous twelve months. Motorbus working expenses (including depreciation) were £32,801, or 12.00 pence per bus mile, against 124,424, or 12.85 pence per bus mile in the previous year. On a total route mileage of 49.37 over five routes, the miles run were 656,048, this showing an increase of 106,550 miles on last year, mainly owing to the opening of new services. In the year, 4,036,939 passengers were carried (an increase of 768,748), which means that, on an average, 6.Z passengers were carried per bus mile run, the average fare charged being 2.34d. In comparison, the Reading tramways carried 12,509,334 passengers in the year, the traffic receipts being 20.77th per car mile run and the total mileage 918,918.

The rolling stock on the motorbus side at present comprises the following :—Nine double-deck A.E.C. 46-seaters, one single-deck A.E.C. 26seater, nine single-deck Guy 26seaters, one double-deck Thornycroft (model J13) 46-seater, four o42 double-deck, six-wheeler Guy (model CX) 54-seaters, two single-deck, sixwheeler Karrier (model CL6) 32seaters, two single-deck, six-wheeler Guy (model CX) 32-seaters and one Morris one-ton service van.

The two single-deck Guy sixwheelers are not yet actually on the road. The bodies, which are all designed throughout by the corporation, are comfortableand spacious, the newer ones being extremely handsome. An interesting feature of body design has been employed in the double-deck Guy sixwheelers. These are not of the forward-drive type and, in order not to lose the seating space available beside the driver, the body is carried forward to incorporate the driver's cab, which is partitioned off, and two seats facing rearward are provided for passengers in the space on the near side of the cab. We illustrate this in a photograph of the interior of one of these large vehicles.

The offices, works, power-plant, tramcar sheds and garage are conveniently housed on one site, .simplifying control and supervision. Even the 15 clocks distributed over the premises (including those by which employees' attendance cards are stamped) are electrically controlled by a master clock in the general manager's office, which is checked every morning electrically from Greenwich. Tbe garage is of girder and brick construction, measuring 83 ft. by 98 ft., and accommodates the whole fleet. It is well lighted and is heated by water pipes from a central plant. All chassis work is done in this garage, which is amply provided with pits for the purpose. The equipment includes a portable engine crane, hydraulic tyre press, Harvey Frost vulcanizing plant, Whipple engine starter, electric tyre pump, portable oil container with pump, and an engine-testing frame where overhauled units are turned by electric motor for about 50 hours before starting up.

One machine shop deals with both motorbus and tramcar work and it is well equipped, as our illustration shows. There are six lathes of various sizes, two drills, a power hack-saw, milling machine,planing machine, two thread cutters, a slotting machine and a case-hardening oven. With this outfit and its other plant the department can manage any repairs that are called for.

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Locations: Reading

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