STRANRAER AND DRUMMORE• To and From the Shortest Sea Passage.
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Mr. A. H. KENNEDY HENRY, Ardwell Stores.—Mr. Henry owns three single-deck motorbuses, which, perhaps, cannot strictly be classified as chars-a-banes, although they are covered vehicles of similar type. One of the machines is a 25 h.p. Argyll with a seating aeommodation for 20 passengers; the second Argyll has accommodation for 26. The third vehicle is a 28 h.p. Dennis carrying 28 passengers.
The first Argyll was put on the road on the 1st January, 1912, and the second in April of the same year. The Dennis was purchased in June, 1913. Mr. Henry's services are of particular interest, in that they are kept on the road between Stranraer and Drummore during the whole of the winter, the vehicles only being withdrawn when the roads are blocked with snow, which, however, does not. often happen in this district. The nature of the service is best described in Mr. Henry's words as follows: "The traffic during the summer of 1913, owing to the good weather and the good trade in the industrial centres, has been heavy, and as the district is becoming better known as a summer resort, there is likely to be a considerable increase in future. There is only one regular route, and that is between Stranraer and Drummore, a distance of 18 miles. The first. morning ser
vice leaves Stranraer at 6.50 a.m. The afternoon service leaves at 3.35 p.m. During the summer, there is a mid-day service, upon which one of the buses leaves Stranraer at. noon, arriving at Drummore at 1.30. The vehicles are carefully timed to meet the trains at Stranraer. This route is a favourite one with pleasure seekers, as well as those with more serious things in view. The whole distance is through a purely agricultural district, and for a considerable portion the road skirts the sandy shores of Luce Bay. The site of Garthland Castle is passed, as is also Ardwell House. Other points of interest along the road are the old castle of Killaser, Logan House, the famous fishpond of Logan, where wild seafish have become so tame, that they take food out of the attendant's hands. Drununore is one of the few places in Scotland in the vicinity of which there is no golf course."
" There are no extended trips taken," Mr. Henry adds, "nor any special runs, unless it be for the convenience of a bowling club to play a friendly match, or something similar. The main purpose of the service is to keep up regular communication between Stranraer and Drummore."
This is an interesting example of a service which is quite relative to that of the seaside char-a-bancs.