The Booking Office Goes to the Passenger
Page 37
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IN an effort to meet coach competition, 1 British Railways have put into service n attractive mobile booking office, which will operate in holidaY resorts on the South Coast and enable -holidaymakers to buy cheap-day and excursion tickets almost on their own doOrsteps.
The booking office, smartly finished in standard B.R. colours of cream, crimson Jake and grey, has been constructed on a normal Hands semi-trailer chassis. of a type much in use for railway haulage. Its overall length is 23 ft., it is 7 ft. 3 ins, wide and 9 ft. 6 ins. _ high. Within these dimensions have been built a waiting-room, a booking office complete with ticket racks, literature cupboards and till, and, in the forward section of the semi-trailer, living quarters for the crew.
• The whole constructional work was completed in 14 working days by James Whitson and Co., Ltd., of Sipson, West Drayton. The, body is of composite construction, reinforced with steel plates and panelled in aluminium-faced plywood. Double walls arc separated by glass-wool sound-proofing and heatresisting material. The interior panels are of hardboard, covered with washable plastic material. The rubber-covered floor is reached from the street by law steps and folding doors. In front of the counter and ticket hatches is a bench seat of comfortable proportions. A Perspex Weathershields sliding roof, in this section, as in the office, adds to the impression of airiness and provides ventilation.
The van, which will be drawn by a Karrier Bantam tractor, is unusual because of the inclusion of living quarters. These have been considered necessary, because of the difficulty of obtaining living accommodation in seaside resorts throughout the months during which the office will operate.. Two-tier bunks for the clerks are flanked by a Calor-gas stove, sink and utensil cupboard.
The driver will sleep on the settee in the general office. Adequate entrances and ventilation are provided and power
for lighting is supplied by storage batteries slung under the chassis and easily accessible. One of the half-drop side windows is also arranged to rise, so that tickets may he served from the side of the vehicle when drawn up to the kerb. The equipment list is completed by an Elsan chemical closet fitted in a small, separate compartment, adjacent to a private entrance and vestibule in the nose of the van.