A.E.C. BUSES ON HILLY ROUTES.
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Brief Details of the Latest Purchases of a Bath Company which Runs a Big Fleet of A.E.C. Vehicles.
T" six new A.E.C. Regal buses whia. have recently been put into service by the Bath Tramways Motor Co., Ltd., will be called upon to perform some strenuous work, for almost every one of the company's routes, extending for nearly 20 miles around the city of Bath, involves arduous hillclimbing. In a journey of 100 miles it is not uncommon for neaily two-thirds of the distance to be run On low gears. In this connection it might be mentioned that the two-mile-long liansdown Hill, with its gradient of 1 in 7/, is ascended 20 times daily by the buses which are operated on one of the city
services by the company.
Thelatest type of A.E.C. vehicle put into service is a 32-seater and represents a great improvement on the older types of vehicle of this make in use by the company, and its employment has brought to city passengers a standard of comfortable travel hitherto chiefly available for pleasure seekers on the company's A.E.C. Reliance coaches.
In the new„type of vehicle the seats are of the semi-bucket pattern and are well sprung and upholstered in leather ; those arranged transversely are fitted with grab handles. Access to the interior is through a door at the front, which is operated by special gear under the control of the driver, whilst there is a handle for opening the door in the ordinary way. There is also an emergency exit at the rear.
The windows are of the drop pattern and have Rawlings rod-type lifts; the glass louvres above them have chromium-plated frames. Ventilation is attended to by three Ashanco ventilators. Eight electric lamps hre provided for interior illumination and there is a useful light at the entrance step. There is an unusually large number of bell pushes in the interior, passengers being able to signal to the driver from 13 points in the pillars. For the convenience of standing passengers there are roof poles ; parcels nets are provided.