The Motor Omnibus World.
Page 3
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Motor buses will take the place of horse buses on May 1st on Fifth Avenue; New York. This will mean removing the last of the horse-drawn buses used in the city.
A service was inaugurated on the 19th inst. between Tunbridge Wells and Southborough. These are two of the most picturesque districts in Kent, and a long-standing want of quiLk accommodation will now be adequately met.
A company has been formed called the Sutherland Motor Traffic Co., Ltd., for working buses and lorries in Scotland. The vehicles required have been ordered for the Albion Motor Car, Ltd., of South Street, Scois-toun, Glasgow.
The London and Suburban Motor Omnibus Co., Ltd., has opened up a service between Kew Bridge and Surbiton, via Richmond, Ham Common and Kingston. Railway fare From Richmond to Kingston is sd., whilst the motor bus fare is only 3d., a reduction which is appreciated.
In connection with the opening of the Isle of Wight service (see pages 126 and 127 of last week's issue), a funny incident occurred as the vehicles proceeded round the Canoe Lake at Ryde. The preceding vehicle happened to be a onehorse bus bearing the appropriate legend " New Times."
The Birmingham Motor Express Co., Ltd., have organised a very complete system of business arrangements for their offices and garage. A large number of parts are being turned out by the company with their own tool equipment, and two special staffs of repair engines are employed for day and night work.
A proposal is afoot to run a service from the Danghulme boundary of Urmston to the Stretford boundary and thus connect a suggested line of trolley trams at either end of the district. An arrangement with the Manchester Corporation had been nearly completed to lay lines in Urmston and run the tram service, but the tram service will possibly be dropped in favour of the more modern vehicle.
A correspondent of "The Times " points out that the recent statement of the manager of the Central London Railway (the Tube) as to time occupied from Oxford Circus to Shepherd's Bush is minutes, only gives the time from platform to platform. Adding the time taken in securing a ticket and reaching the platform, and the gaining the street level at the other end, would make an average total of 224 minutes, as against the average time of the buses of 24 minutes.
Messrs. Clarkson, Ltd., of Chelmsford, now include in their excellent organisation a training class or school at Moulsham Works. The candidates are carefully selected, and spend a certain time in the various departments where they learn the necessary points of erecting, testing, and driving. Lectures are given on the construction, use, and maintenance of the cars, whilst a written examination is held and a practical test in driving and mancauvringis also made. Certificates of competency are issued on the results of the examinations combined with the reports from the respective departmental foremen. Bournemouth ratepayers are asking the Council to provide buses for certain parts of the town, such as Sea Road.
Two companies are competing for the traffic in Cambridge, and as there exists a tram service, the public will be able pretty well to choose their own conveyance.
We last week referred to Crouch End as a likely centre for up-to-date locomotion. Our short note has brought along complaints from other North London suburbs as to the difficulty of reaching one from the other. Connections between Highgate and Hampstead are badly wanted ; also between Highgate and Enfield, Crouch End and Tottenham. All will shortly be served by mechanical power.
Oxford is a town which should well serve as a bus centre. It possesses horsed trams which have passed the prime of life and deserve a well-earned rest. A syndicate has a scheme in hand for the town, and has already given a trial trip to some members of the Town Council, but no decision as to granting a running license will be given until after Easter. /Esthetic considerations also weigh in the University city, as may easily be gathered from a visit.
Sonic members of the Wolverhampton Corporation (which owns the electric tram system) had a trial trip on a Wolseley bus on the i9th inst., and as the Tramways Committee have an open mind on the subject, we may expect definite arrange. merits to be concluded very shortly for a regular service in the Lea Road district. As we go to press we learn that three Wolseleys are to be purchased at an estimated cost of .4.3,000. Delivery of one will be made in July, and the other two in the following month.