COAL-GAS FOR BRISTOL BUSES.
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Country's Second Largest Petrol Consumer Embraces NeIN, Movement.
In the course of a visit to Bristol by a representative of this paper, the opportunity was taken to interview one of. the chief officials of the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co.,' Ltd., on the subject of coal-gas as an alternative fuel for their motor omnibuses. It is 'claimed that this company is the 'second biggest consumer of petrol in England. The idea of using coal-gas in place of petrol has been in mind for some months, and the sticeeiis in so many directions which has been recorded in the columns of THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR has been the deciding factor in connection with the change.
The first bus to be converted has been running successfully on the route to Avonmouth and back. Its usual petrol consumption 13 one gallica per: 5) miles, and as the return journey to Avonmouth runs to about 16 miles, the cost of running with petrol only used to be 7s. 6d. The bus was equipped with a bag having a capacity of 8(X) cubic ft. of coal-gas. As will be seen from the illustration, a deep, vertical-sided tray has been erected above the roof of the omnibus and carried forwardover the canopy to a pair of stanchions rising from the front dumbirons of.-the frame. A flap is attached. to the outside of the bag at a level with the top of the containing tray, and by means of this flap and fillets the bag •is securely held, thus largely reducing the troubles that may arise from rolling of the gas-bag over the side of the containing tray. The Bristol Gas Co.'s charge for gas is 2s. 4d. per WOO cubic ft. The bus will complete
its journey to Avonmouth and back onroad for the purpose of filling the gas-bag, one Charge, carrying 40' passengers over and the process of filling occupies 4:x. . very, hilly country, hence the cost of the minutes. It is effected without any leak
journey is 2s. for coal-gas as against age or wastage, which very often occurs
7s, 6d. for petrol. A gas standard is when the petrol tank is being re•• brought to a shelter by the side of the ptenisheci.