RHYL.
Page 19
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An Account of the Operations ol Two Popular Local Fleets.
Rhyl is situated on the L.N.W.Rly. main line to Holyhead, about 209 miles from Euston, and is patronized mostly by the manufacturing districts of Lancashire and the Midlands, being, in fact, often known as "Birmingham-by-the l.Sea." The normal population is about 10,000, but during the summer season this figure is trebled, and tile daylight population often rises to 50,000.
No fewer than 19 different tours are offered by Rhyl owners, with mileages varying from 10 to 75 for the half-day, and from 80 to 145 for the full day. The former are usually run up the valley or along the coast, and are patronized by the day trippers, while the latter, which are more popular with visitors, run roond Snowdon, Bettws-y-Cned, Llangollen and as far afield as Bala Lake. The services are well advertised, both by bills and by neatly printed and illustrated booklets, which are distributed free. Fares are very moderate, seldom exceeding a penny a mile, and individual seats may be booked in advance at various offices.
Though perhaps lather late in taking up motor chars-hbanes, Rhyl now possesses twovery smart and im-to-date fleets. The first company to operate was the Rhyl and Potteries Motors, Ltd., which started in 1911, as Southworths Motors, Ltd., with two Durham-Churchill 28 h.p. chars-a-banes. In the following year this company added four 40 h.p. machines of the same make, and ran two exTilling, Milnes-Daimler, double-deck buses in the town. This year they have the same six chars-h-bancs and four Daimler chain-driven chassis fitted with ten-seated and fourteen.
seated bodies. One of the Tilling chassis carries an open. sided char-h-banes body, and is used as a spare for rescuing parties in the almost unknown event of their being stranded through a breakdown.
The Durham-Churchill chassis are of 28 h.p. and 40 h.p., ith ball-hearing, four-speed gearboxes and roller-chain final drives. The clutches are of the maker's well-known "Champion " type. The bodies of all vehicles, except the Tilling, are torpedo shape, painted grey, with basket-work moulding. In addition to the chars-h-bancs the company also hires out private touring cars, and has a large garage of about eight-car capacity in a prominent position on the front.
The, other undertaking running a fleet in Rhyl is Messrs. Brookes Bros., who own the "White Rose" motor coaches. They started last year with a twenty-eight-seated Lacre, and have added this year one fourteen-seated and two thirty seated Leylands. All have torpedo bodies painted white, lined out in crimson, and upholstered in the mine eqlour.
The Lacre vehicle is of 40 h.p. with three speeds and a chain drive. The smaller Leyland is carried on a 2i-ton chassis with a 30 h.p. engine, four-speed gearbox and wormdriven back axle, while the larger ones of the same make are 40 h.p., 4-ton vehicles with bevel drive.
Ir. passing, it is of interest to note that Messrs. Brookes are now running a motor-mail van between Ruthin and Rhyl, a distance of about 17 miles each way. with a 24 h.p. Leyland. Originally this was made up of two horse services, one between Ruthin and Mold and a second between Denbigh and Rhyl. The former ran across the mountains, and it was no uncommon occurrence for it to be held up for a day or two by snow, but there is little fear of that now, besides which the inhabitants have the advantage of later posting owing to the accelerated service.
One other char-h-banes is operated in Rhyl. This is a, converted FLAT. run by Messrs. Heathcote, and is perhaps remarkable, as it is fitted with pneumatic tires, singla in front and twin at the rear.
The Rhyl and Potterie-s Motors, Ltd., only works for an eight weeks season at Rhyl, and returns the heavier machines to the Potteries, where they are kept fairly busy and are also overhauled. During their Majesties' recent visit to that district they were used for transporting sections of police from
point to point. C.F.C.