AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

'TRANSPORT TO AND FROM A MILITARY CAMP.

22nd September 1925
Page 20
Page 21
Page 20, 22nd September 1925 — 'TRANSPORT TO AND FROM A MILITARY CAMP.
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

By the Maintenance of a Regular Passenger Service into Town during the Period of a Nucleus Occupation, a Good Business has been Created.

w-MIN the 12,000-odd troops of the Regular Army who are due, between the present month and the end of the year, to take up their new permanent quarters at isolated Catterick Camp, which is situated on the rolling North Yorkshire moorlands, they will have reason to feel grateful to the road passenger transport industry in general, and to the local firm of Messrs. Brand's Garages in particular, for it is only by means of motors that this encampment in the _hinterlands is brought into real touch with the outer world. Already, advance parties have arrived at the camp, and it is expected that .occupation will go on steadily for the next few months.

Mr. A. Brand is responsible for the passenger-carrying business of this ente'rprising undertaking, which has its headquarters in Richmond (Yorks.), and the zealous manner in which he has devoted his energies "towards meeting prospective developments at the camp are now about to bear fruit after almost six years. For the major portion of that period the future of the vast war-time camp has been in the balance and, therefore, the subject of acute speculation locally, for it was only about 18 months ago that the military authorities definitely announced their intention of renovating this once important training centre, which, since the termination of hostilities, had been almost de-peopled. Therefore, it will be appreciated that Messrs. Brand had by no means a very reassuring outlook when, just after the end of the war, they started camp transport facilities. Throughout the intervening period, however, they have maintained services sufficient to meet the requirements of The father of the Brand Catterick Camp. A Mau recently taken the few inhabitants, and it is gratifying to find that this assiduous catering for the wants of the few is now to be rewarded by ,the full development of their far-seeing policy.

Incidentally, it supplies a noteworthy example of the value of the careful cultivation of a definite district by a motorbus undertaking where there is a likelihood of growth and expansion of population to recompense the operators for their inauspicious, and probably unremunerative, pioneer efforts. The service between Richmond and Catterick Camp was first started in January, 1919, at which time the depot was in a state of partial disuse, and there was then certainly little reason for hope that Catterick would become a permanent army depot, for everything pointed towards its entire abandonment. The service was opened with a subsidy type 26-seater Mandalay saloon bus and a 28-seater motor coach of the same make, and the proprietors at once decided that, in the event of the camp being reconstructed at some future date, quite the best method of firmly establishing themselves for those better days was by providing facilities in the leantimes. Had Mr. Brand not been convinced that one day, the camp would again become a busy military township, there would to-day be no facilities whatever, for, in no other quarter was Catterick considered likely to produce sufficient business to warrant its cultivation.

The camp is situated roughly about four miles from both Richmond and Catterick Bridge, the two nearest railway stations, and the few residents since 1919 have comprised, in the main, dependents of men on overseas service, and detachments of specialists corps, whilst each summer the population has been temporarily increased by visits from it number of Territorial divisions for annual training purposes. In order to provide accelerated services, the fleet was augmented later in 1919 by a further Maudslay and a 32seater A.E.C., each provided with saloon bodies, and 28 journeys were made daily by these vehicles, a 20-minute service being maintained between Richmond and the centre of the camp, with additional facilities at holiday periods and during the periods covered by visits of the Territorial divisions. By the end of 1920, the fleet had been brought up to eight vehicles by the purchase of one 18seater Selden motor coach, one 14-seater. Vim motor coach, one 32-seater Mandalay and one 14-seater Ford bus.

, The fact that competition

fleet; which operates to might be encountered should dslay subsidy model only developments occur was kept off service duty. well in mind, and to this end the services have been worked for the whole of the time on competitive lines, a fact which was taken into full account and has been keenly appreciated by the military authorities. The value of this was seen a short time ago, when particularly powerful endeavours were made to open up an opposition service. 13earing in mind, however, the regularity of the service provided by the Brand buses over a number of lean years, the authorities declined . to give permission to the intending opponents.

With the knowledge that the camp was definitely intended as a permanent depot to encourage them, the firm last year commenced upon the task of reconstituting their fleet,. in order to ensure their ability to cope thth the increased demands of the future, and as a preliminary step 'a 2-ton Thornycroft passenger chassis was obtained, fitted with a handsome Bartle body capable of accommodating 26 passengers. The object of the purchase was to ascertain the suitability of a vehicle of this weight and capacity over the undulating highways negotiated daily. In all respects the tests were considered to have resulted most satisfactorily, for the vehicle proved itself absolutely reliable in every way. Fuel consumption, too, was a source of gratification, for this remained steady in the vicinity of a gallon per 11 to 12 miles.

Having found 26-seaters economical to operate and suitable for both light and heavy traffic, Messrs. Brand have concentrated upon vehicles of that capacity, and have now replaced the majority of the older and heavier buses. The present fleet still numbers eight units, these being two 30-36seater Maudslays, three 26-seater Maudslays, one 26-seater Thornycroft, one 14-seater Ford and one 14-seater Vim motor coach.

These vehicles are all mounted on Mackintosh and Henley air-cushion tyres, with the exception of the two 14-seaters and the most recent lllaudslay purchase, which are shod with pneumatics. TJp to the present there has not been time to make any accurate comparisons between solids and pneumatics, so far as the heavier units are concerned, but, provided results are sufficiently encouraging, it is expected that the latter class of tyre equipment will be substituted generally throughout the fleet.

Messrs. Brand's Garages have in use a cheap return-fare system, the double-journey fare being 911., as against 5d. for the single trip, and some time ago they made an inter esting departure in the way of tickets at specially reasonable charges for regular passengers. These are issued weekly and enable purchasers of the booklet to make six journeys in each direction for a total sum of 4s., whilst similar facilities have been introduced for the benefit of school children at a charge of 2s. per head per week.

With a fine spirit of reciprocity the military authorities, some time ago, approached Messrs. Brand's Garages with a view to securing a through service between the camp and Darlington, which is the nearest large centre of population providing amusements appealing to the men stationed in the camp. The new service was commenced with commendable promptitude, over a route touching Catterick Bridge, Scotch Corner and Barton, and, in addition to proving of immense benefit to he military, it is, incidentally, now doing much to develop the argricultural neighbourhood traversed. Two buses—a Thornycroft and a Maudslay—are regularly engaged upon the route, which extends some 15 miles, and together they cover a weekly mileage of approximately 500. When one pauses to contemplate the difficulties formerly experienced in travelling between the two places, the great advantage of the service becomes fully apparent, whilst the cost factor is extremely important.

In the first place, residents of the camp were formerly obliged to travel by bus to Richmond, where they entrained, proceeding in the diametrically opposite direction for four miles, and in consequence paying both additional bus and train fares. The present return bus -fare is 3s., which compares most favourably with the existing rail charge of 3s. 10d. from Richmond to Darlington, excluding the bus fare for the double journey between Richmond and the camp, which had to be paid in addition.

Apart from their regular services, Messrs. Brand's Garages now cater extensively for road pleasure travellers during the summer months, and operate attractive tours to all parts of the picturesque Swale valley, and also to a large number of popular seaside resorts on both the east and west coast s, including Scarborough, Morecambe, Whitley Bay, Redcar, Saltbura, etc. Another popular venue is the Lake District.

Yet another source of profitable business is that of meeting parties reaching Richmond by train, and continuing their outing along the celebrated Dale by motor coach. Coach fares are based on a return of id. to 14d. per passenger-mile, according to the length of journey and the nature of the country traversed.


comments powered by Disqus