.10P4011: 1 1i, 7/ Motorbus
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World.
G.E.R. Services Discontinued.
Notices have been issued by the Great Eastern Railway Company, to the effect that the motorbus services between Colchester and West Mersea, Bury and Stanton, Bury and Horning-sheath, and between Beetles and Loddon, will be discontinued on and from 1st March next.
Tramways and Motor Traffic.
On Monday, the 22nd instant, the Motor Union received a notification from the Local Government Board, with regard to the former's representations on the subject of the passing of tramcars by motor vehicles, that it has carefully considered the matter, and is disposed to think that the best course to adopt will be to rescind the paragraphs of the Motor Cars Order, 1904, upon which the recent decision at Bradford was based. An order will be issued by the Board to this effect in due course. This, in effect, means that, when necessity arises in future, motor vehicles may legally overtake tramcars on the near side.
"Dolly Reforming Herself" by Motorbus.
On Monday, the 22nd instant, a complete theatrical touring company left London for an extended tour of the provinces by means of. a small fleet of motor vehicles. In 36 working days the cavalcade is booked to visit 43 towns, to travel 3,000 miles, and to give so performances of "Dolly Reforming Herself." The first day's work included a matinee at Watford and an evening performance at St. Albans. The pioneer in this direction is Mr. Ernest Leg-h, who took his company and its "Bijou Plays" round the country in a " Commer Car " double-decker last fall. We illustrated his departure from London in our issue of the 24th September, reo8.
A Territorial Motorbus Trip.
On Sunday, the 2/51 instant, a party of 30 Territorials belonging to the 3rd City of London Royal Fusiliers made a trip by motorbus from the headquarters at Regent's Park to Westcliffe-on-Sea. A three-speed de Dion inotorbus from the General yard at Mortlake was used for the occasion.
Road " Up " for Eight Months.
An inquest was held at Battersea, on the 15th instant, upon the body of a labourer who had stepped from behind a tramcar in front of a motorbus and was knocked down by the vehicle; the victim suffered injuries from which he subsequently died. It was stated by witnesses that since the middle of December last the north side of Clapham Common had been " up" for repaving, that the work was stopped for want of wooden blocks, and that it might be six months before the paving was completed. As a result of this closure of the thoroughfare, the Herne Hill-Wormwood Scrubs motorbuses have to run through Old Town, Clapham, into Wandsworth Road, at a point where the thoroughfare is very narrow. London and:South Coast Motor. Service, Limited.
The annual report of the above company for 1908 reveals a gross profit of ,2,453; the administrative and sundry expenses amount to £1,591, thus leaving a net profit of .41465. The rotal available balance of La89, which includes ,4;24 brought forward after the payment of last year's dividend, is to be distributed as a 6 per cent. dividend on the Preference shares, with a small balance carried forward. At the third annual general meeting of this company, which was held on the /6th instant at the Westminster Palace Hotel, the Chairman stated that, in spite of the fact that a number of additional vehicles, which it had been intended to place in service in time for the summer season, had not been delivered until it was too late for this programme to be carried out, the total receipts showed an improvement of 57i per cent, on the previous year. Only I3a out of a total of 2,856 working days were lost during the year, owing to "defective machinery." One coach in one week during the last summer took ,4;6o /6s. 6d., or nearly ,Z*9 per day.
At present, this company owns 12 motor coaches, and in view of the successful management of the services during the past few years, it is proposed shortly to increase the fleet to 24 vehicles. Mr. J. W. Cann is the managing director for the company, and it is largely owing to the efforts of this gentleman that such satisfactory results have been achieved. In our issue of /8th June last year, we published a fully-illustrated account of the Folkestone fleet belonging to the London and South Coast Motor Service, Limited. On that occasion Mr. Cann largely ascribed the success of his vehicles to the employment of driving wheels of 52i inches in diameter.
Tramcars Not Wanted.
An influential meeting of Putney ratepayers was held, at the Cromwell Hall, recently, when a resolution was carried, by a large majority, to the effect that the ratepayers and in-. habitants of Putney protested in the strongest possible manner against the proposals of the London County Council for the extension of tramway lines in the parish, on the ground that they were detrimental to the trading interests thereof, and tended greatly to depreciate the value of Putney as a residential suburb.
R A,C. Official Tests.
On Thursday last, the 18th instant, official side-slip trials were carried out by the Technical Committee of the Royal Automobile Club at the Cricklewood garage of the London General Omnibus Company. Kempshall tires and Allen-Liversedge front brakes were the devices subjected to tests. A large portion of the floor of the garage was covered with a thick preparation of clay and soft soap, and a number of vehicles, which included a Lacre van, a taxicab, and several pleasure cars, was driven at speeds of about f5m.p.h., under various conditions of braking, through the mire. As we go to press we learn that the certificates have not yet received their full complement of signatures, and therefore we must regard the results obtained as still sub judice. We understand that the Kempshall tire entirely fulfilled the requireme.nts of a non-skid all-rubber tire, and, with regard to the Allen-Liversedge front brake, it is no breach of cenfidence to state that this interesting arrangement was found to be efficient as a brake, to be a pre
ventive of side-slip, and to have no detrimental effect on the steering.
White City, 1909.
From May to October next, at Shepherd's Bush, Mr. Kiralfy will run a second exhibition. The success of this " Imperial International Exhibition," which is under the direction of an influential General Commitee, with Lord Strathcona as President, means much for London omnibus companies : it should open early in May and last until the end of October. The main out-door attractions of last year's Franco-British Exhibition are to be repeated, and news ones are to be provided ; every effort, for example, will be made to get together representative engineering and technical sections.
London's passenger-carrying interests cannot but benefit, and motorbus owners will again share in a traffic which was mainly responsible, during the second half of tgoS, in bringing about an increase of no less than 5150,003 passengers on the Central London Railway.