A Little Bit of Levelling
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THE first of the Continental-type half-barriers for level crossings in this country are to come into use on February 6. They will be installed at Spath level crossing, between Uttoxeter and Rocester, on the London Midland Region.
They promise to be more efficient than the gated, manually operated crossings with which we have been inflicted for so many years. One of the few fruits of rail modernization to fall into road transport's lap, this, so it is welcome. Even more welcome would be the use of a bulldozer to really level some of these level crossings in built-up areas, so that they can be bridged and stop holding up road vehicles.
Reminiscences
CC A LL things to all men" was a principle long ago tested by the Apostle Paul. It is not a bad one for the modern overseas salesman. But how many are as practised in it as Major R. M. (Bon) Cole became in Milan when he was there working with the Italian Resistance? Germans were everywhere in the Milan of those days—especially in the recherche restaurants and bars frequented by the M.C.W. managing director, then an army officer. So this blond British officer in elegant disguise was a German to Italians. But what, not knowing the German language any too well, was he to Germans he encountered by chance? Swedish, of course, on the sound theory that nobody outside Sweden really understands the Swedish tongue!
B18 Do not "tut tut!'" when I say that it was, after all, drink which finally ensnared him. Repairing one night to his favourite bar for his usual whisky arid soda, the Resistance bartender told him to get out as quickly as possible—a Gestapo' raid was imminent. "Oh," said Cole in his airy way, " there's time for one !" But there wasn't. The Gestapo grabbed him and discussed for a day or two whether he should be shot or not.
That they decided not to is something p,s.v. operators, M.C.W., and everyone else in the industry is very grateful for.
Television Trials
OH,the trials of being a television star! When, the other day, Mr. G. E. Beharrell, the Dunlop chairman, proudly received the Ferodo Trophy for the part Dunlop has played in motor racing, he spoke a few words of thanks. 13.B.C. Television was there to film the occasion, including Ir. Beharrell's speech. But they were not satisfied with what ley had done. They made poor Mr. Beharrell stand up again, fter the ceremony was all over, and play the part out for levision once again. He did it-with far more charm and grace tan many men would muster. With far more grace, I fear, tan one Hawk would have displayed.
lasing Pints
ATHILE driving along Piccadilly last week fighting my way If V in and out of the traffic, I happened to come up behind ne of those vast bulk liquid beer tankers which, to my misirtune, was fitted with air brakes. To my surprise, the driver plied these rather sharply and I was left with virtually the ttire front of my sports car underneath the tank.
It was while waiting to move off, that I noticed the outlet )ck on the tanker neatly deposit a large drop of beer on the 3nnet of my car. 1 wonder how many good pints went astray iring that tanker's journey?
rang ! Bang !
k REPORT published in the U.S.A. states that an average of 73 lamp-bulb replacements are niade per vehicle per :at-, according to a field survey. Who made the survey? n automotive lamp-bulb manufacturer.
That means, even for a fully lit American goods vehicle ith perhaps 18 or more lights on. about four replacements year. I wonder where the cause of all those potentially :pensive failures lies?