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THE SCOPE OF THE TROLLEY-BUS.

25th September 1923
Page 20
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Page 20, 25th September 1923 — THE SCOPE OF THE TROLLEY-BUS.
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The Views of the General Manager of a Tramways Undertaking, Based Upon a Recent Experiment.

CONSIDERAl3LE controversy has for some time past raged round the question of the best type of vehicle for all-round passenger transport, and at a recent conference of the Municipal Tramways Association Mr. ,Alfred Baker, the general manager of the tramways under

taking of the Birmingham Corporation, made some illuminating remarks on the relative merits of the tramcar and,the trolley-bus. The authorities in Birmingham have of recent months displayed considerable interest in the flexible trolley-bus on account of the fact that they had to oonsider whether they would renew, the _ tramway tracks at considerable expense to the ratepayers or adopt some other method of transport which would not involve such a heavy expenditure.

In order to arrive at a decision the authorities conducted certain experiments, amongst which was the use of 9. 40-seater single-deck A.E.O. trolley-bus, which is shown in the illustration on this page undergoing practical tests. Mr. Baker's conclusions are that the trolley-bus compares favourably with the tramcar in respect of the ease and comfort with which it provides passengers. Moreover, he has found that the route on which this type of vehicle was used, which was thought to have reached the limit of its capacity, immediately began to show improved traffic returns. Isvidently passengers who had not been attracted by the tramcar as a mode of. travel were induced to use the trolleybus by reason of the greater comfort, it provided and the higher average speeds it could attain as a result of the more flexible character of the vehicle. That this increase in earnings was not due to the novelty of the system is proved by the fact that the early returns have been fully maintained.

Mr. Baker did not definitely specify the reasons for the greater popularity of the trolley-bus, although there appears to be good reason to suppose that it is largely due to its flexibility.'

The A.E.C. trolley-bus (which has been described in our columns) has, of course, the advantage of being designed and constructed by a company possessing unique experience in the canstruction of motor omnibuses, and Who have an adequate understanding of the problems associated with chassis and body design and also in connection with operation.

New G.M.C. Buses for Nelson.

Two new G.M.C. motorbuses (of the K series)) to operate over three routes, have just taken up service in the Lancashire town of Nelson. The vehicles, one of which is illustrated on this page, have a saloon type of body mounted on 30-cwt. chassis and each seats 17 persons. The buses f.are,fitte,d with Bowden patent spring seats. An electric se] f-starter and pneumatic cord tyres are noticeable features_ The main-entrance and 'exit is on the near side, but there is an emergency exit at the rear. The bolts for releasing this emergency exit are exposed by removing the centre portion of the rear seat, which

extends the whole width of the bus. • The results of the first week-end's working of the vehicles were as follows ; —Saturday; Passengers carried, 2,124; receipts, £14 13s. Id. Sunday : Passengers carried, 1,476; receipts, £10 4s. 3d. Monday: Passengers carried, 948; receipts, £6 17s. 9d.; making file total number of passengers carried 4.558, and the combined receipts £31 15s. id. These results are considered satisfactory The delivery of other buses, bringing the fleet up to five machines, is due immediately. Requests have been made for the provision of workmen's cheap tickets and school children's fares. The hisses are being supplied through J. and S. Leaver, Ltd., the Lancashire distributors for General Motors, Ltd.

Cleaning London's Passenger Vehicles.

In order to secure sanitary travelling facilities for the 5,290,000 passengers who use London's Underground railways, motorbuses and tramcars every day, exceptional arrangements are made for keeping the vehicles in a clean condition. The majority of the vehicles are in constant service for such a number of hours per day that only a short space of time is left in which they can be made spick and span for the next day's traffic.

So far as the buses are concerned, thorough treatment is meted out to each vehicle at the cud of its day's duties. At most of the company's garages washing machines are new installed, and these spray the buses with water at a high pressure and effectually remove every particle of dirt, After the outside of the vehicle is thus eileansed, the interior is sprayed with a disinfectant which is specially prepared in the company's laboratories. The cushions Sae removed and vacuum-cleaned every night. In addition to this nightly procedure, every bus is taken out of service for a short period for tuning up once in 20 days, on which occasion every part is thoroughly cleaned. Finally, every bus is thoroughly overhauled and reconditioned once a year.

In connection with the cleansing of London's transport vehicles, it is interesting to note that 2,000 cleaners are employed, 5,000 vehicles are cleaned per night, 92,000 bus windows are cleaned per night, and 5 tons of metal polish are used per annum.

Growth of Coach Traffic.

It has been reported to the Newton Abbot Rural Council that the census of traffic which was taken on the Haytor load during seven successive days last month showed that 66 motor coaches passed a given point per day, as against 13 in July, 1921.

Restricting.Competition.

Lyme Regis Town Council, in reply to a complaint of unfair competition of motorbuses, has instructed the town clerk to explain that the touneil was keeping an eye on the bus companies, and that any buses which were deemed superfluous would not be relicensed.


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