PRI; GRESS IN PASSENGER TRAVEL.
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and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.
The Latest Doings Services from Bridport.
Where the Motor Coach Scores over the Railway.
WE REPRODUCE on this page an illustration of three of the passenger vehicles run on services instituted by Butler Brothers (Bridport), Ltd., of Bridport. As is well known' the country around Bridport, is of very hilly nature, and as a result reliable vehicles and careful maintenance of them are imperative, in order to maintain a regular service. Two of the company's machines are Thornyerofts, the other machine being a Daimler, two of three vehicles being fitted with saloon-type bodies, whilst one of the Thornycrofts is an ordinary open-type char-a-banes. In a letter to us the company state " we would not liko to discriminate between our Daimler and our Thornycroft machines as regards efficiency in very hard circumstances, as both give most excellent results, but what is most gratifying is that both makes are English."
Three distinct services are run by the company, these being Bridport-Axminster on each week day, Bridport-Dorchester on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, and Bridport-Lyme Regis, Aminstar, Colyston and Seaton on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. The Axminster-Bridport service is particularly useful to travellers, as -it saves about three hours Oil the train journey, and, moreover, the fare is only about half that charged by the railway. The rail journey between the two places is roundabout, which only emphasizes the advantage of the road journey, more especially as Axminster is for Bridport, (which, by the way, is an important net manufacturing centre) the gateway to the
west. • _ .
A Mammoth Outing.
IN OUR LAST week's issue we re ferred briefly to a mammoth outing by motor coach organized by the County of Middlesex Education Society for the benefit of 700 of its members. The outing, which took place on June 18th, is an annual affair, but this is the first occasion on which a road tour has been arranged. The trip had for its destination some of the beauty spots of Surrey, and we understand that it was an unqualified success. A start was made by the coaches shortly after 9.30 a.m., previous to which some members had been conveyed by coach to join other members at the point of departure. From the commencement there was evidence of the meticulous care which had been paid to detail by the outing sub-committee, and especially by the secretary, Mr. Sydney Mears, of Twickenham. The convoy of coaches was piloted by a Crossley car, whilst a fast runabout containing two skilled mechanics kept touch with the whole string of machines. The latter car was of the greatest assistance throughout, and on one Occasion the mechanics were able to remedy on the spot a defect which developed in the petrol pipe of one of the coaches.
The route taken Ted through the Chestnut Avenue, Bushey Park, and here three more coaches with members from Hounslow fell into the procession, whilst the linking up of three others from Ashford outside Hampton Court Palace Gates completed the party of 26 coaches and 700 passengers, The whole course traversed from Richmond was nearly 100 miles, and the itinerary included Cobham, Ripley, Guildford, Godalming, Hindhead, Hog's Back, Gomshall, Dorking, Leatherhead, etc.
The coaches were supplied by several concerns, these being the B.L.R. Engineering Co., the Vineyard Co., of Richmond, Messrs. Bradbury (Twickenham).; Morgan. (Hounslow); Johnson.(Harrow), Small (Golder's Green), .11arper (Sunbury), Newton (Merton), whilst the Central Motor Co., of Bexley Heath, supplied four machines through Mr. Carey, of Edgware Woad. One and all sent first, rate drivers, who contributed to the efficiency of the tour.
A Motor Coach ABC.
A Handy Business and Pleasure Guide.
FOR MANY months past The British Road Traffic Association, of 54, George Street, Portman Square, London, W., has been working steadily for the advancement of road traffic both as regards the transport of good; and passengers. The object of the Association is to supplement the work of the commercialvehicle owner in every way possible. Thus it co-ordinates road transport for goods by the establishment of freight exchanges in all parts of the country, linked together by central headquarters in London, and by the publication of a daily journal issued to its members, giving particulars of loads available in every part of the country. It has still further extended its activities recently by the publication of a comprehensive guide of motor coach se,rvices.
The Motor Coach ABC is, in fact, the time-table of the road throughout England and Wales, and the information contained in the first edition now on sale will be revised month by month in accordance with the alterations of the numerous companies' running. The prin.cipal coach services to and from the chief centres of activity are clearly detailed, together with times of starting and single booking fees, whilst coach tours (as distinct from services), both extended and short trips, are clearly arranged. A section of the guide is devoted to a classification of daily omnibus services in London and the provinces, the times of the first and last buses being given.
For those on pleasure bent the guide offers greater attractions, for in addition to the information given the Association is offering prizes_ for photographs taken by passengers on the trios advertised in the -ABC, and also forsate best descriptive account of any outing made by motor coach during the season. This little book, of which the cost is only 6d., is indispensable for anyone who wants to get from place to place either-for pleasure or business. Long-distance Daily Service.
Fr HE BIRMINGHAM and Midland Motor Omnibus Co. have just inaugurated a new daily service (designated Service No. 201) between Birmingham
and Llandudno via Rhyl and Colwyn Bay. • The motors will run on Sundays as well as on week-days, and time-table arrangements have been made which provide for stops being made en mute for meals and sightseeing.
Passengers can join the coaches at any of the intermediate places, and the departure times daily are as follow:— Birmingham Bull Ring, 9.30 a.m. ; Wolverhampton, 10.30 a.m.; Newport, 12
noon ; W hitchurch, 1.15 p.m. ; sham, 2.45 p.m.; Rhyl, 5 p.m. ; Colwyn Bay, 5.45 p.m. ; arrive Llandudno, 6.10. On the return iourney the coaches leave Llandudno one hour later, e.g., at. 10.50 a.m., each day. Single fares are quoted Birmingham to Rhyl, 14s.; Birmingham to Colwyn Bay, 15s.; Birmingham
Llandudno, 16s., and there are booking offices at Llandudno, Rhyl, and Colwyn Bay, as well, of course, as at Birmingham.
Another long-distance. daily service which is being maintained by the same enterprising company Is 'between Birmingham and Weston-super-Mare, for
which a fare of 15s. is charged. The motors leave BirMirighane at 10 a.m..; Worcester, 11.50 a.m. ; Tewkesbury, 12.45 p.m.; Gloucester, 2 p.m.; Bristol; 4 p.m.; and arrive at Weston at 5:30 p.m. The return journey commences at 11.30 a.m. each day. Long-distance coach and bus services ire achieving a great popularity.
14 Years of Motor Coaching.
The Activities of a Pioneer Concern.
WED RAN the first motor coach ser vice? One would scarcely expect to find a pioneer of the motor coach industry in a quiet old-world town in the Yorkshire Dales, but a representafive of The Commercial. Motor recently had an interesting chat about the early days of motor coaching with Mr. G. Chapman, of C. Chapman, Ltd., of Grassington, and Mr. Chapman described runs with motor coaches which took place so long ago as 1907, and attracted crowds on the route scarcely equalled by the passing of Royalty.
Mr. Chapman took delivery of the third machine turned out by the Commer Car Co., and with this he made many memorable journeys. The Chapmans had . been country carriers for generations, and the present Mr. Chapman's father was village' carrier at Buckderi, one of the villages in Upper Wharfedale. Up to 1907 Air. C. Chapman ran wagonettes, carriages, and other vehicles, and kept in use 48 hciises. He saw the advantage of the newly introduced motor vehicles, however, and in that year took delivery of the Commer Car shown in One of the accompanying illustrations. This was used for the carriage of mails and passengers 'from Skipton to Grassington and Buckden, displacing nine horses. The adoption of mechanical transport was undertaken in the nature of an experiment, but it was immediately successful; and Messrs. Chapman ordered another vehicle for the following year. In the third and fourth succeeding years they took delivery of two others, making four, in four years. Truly Messrs. Chapman knew a good thitig when they saw it, and were not afraid of initial difficulties.
' The first coach ran its ordinary journeys, with-the mails on week-davs, and on Sundays did long trips to all parts of the North of England, much as the present,day motor coaches .do. The first excursion took a . party td Morecambe;
tia Kirkby Lonsdale, and Mr. Chapman .ecalled how the crowd gathered wheniver the party made a halt, and the imusernent it gave to the party to see mople come screaming out of the houee is the strange vehicle passed. Weather motection for the passengers was not hought of then, and the seats were little nore than padded forms running across he vehicle.
"We stopped at the Ebbing and Flaw
ng Well at Giggleswick," recalled Mr. hapman," and there a party of cyclists vas much amused at the coach. They tad a good look at us, and then at off o the top of Buckhaw Brow to see us ,oine up,' he said, " They seemed to ,hink we should never climb the hill," aid Mr. Chapman, "but we had the augh at seeing their amazement when we eat up without the least difficulty."
Buckha.w Brow, it may be mentioned, e a mile-long incline, whieh finishes with single-figure gradient, but Mr. Chapnen remarked that. they climbed it en ins style. "In fact that old Commer 'lar would climb almost anything, and vs never had a bitch with it," be added.
When the second motor vehicle was .ecured a new route was opened. The irst vehicle ran up Wharfedale to Bucklen, but the second ran from Bolton tbbey to Grassington. In the first seaiCII1 with the motor coach the route to 3uckden had become more popular than ever it was with the horse buses, and there was no wonder the Bolton Abbey route was instantly successful, fur the road runs through some of the most magnificent scenery in the Yorkshire dales. Even the railway company, not usually amenable to influence been outside, issued excursion tickets by which passengers could return from Bolton Abbey or Grassington with tickets issued to 'either place. Messrs. Chapman recorded steady progress untilthe out break of war. The bettm facilities which could be offered by motor coaches as against horse vehicles increased the number of passen gers. Gra,ssingten and the Dales generally bad -been growiug inpopularity with visitors, -and •" Chapman's Coaches" became a . recog-, nized institution for seeing the sights. — The mails have always been carried into this district by road, and Mr. Chapman has held the contract for 37 -or 38 years. Grassing-ton is kept in touch with Skiptore the nearest town of any size, by motor coach, mid mails, parcels, and passengers are carried to and from the remote country hamlets by . the coaches. The trains are met with passengers from the. districts, but, in addition to the holiday makers and residents who use the coaches in a utilitarian way to get to and from the centres of population, many holiday makers use them for pleasure only, and uee the organized service, which works to a time-table, simply for a day's outing. .
On the outbreak of war, Messrs. Chapman's fleet was reduced to its barest limit through the di maims of the Army for transport vehicles. The original vehicles were kept in service up to 1914, and the War Office made inquiries concerning them, but came to the conclusion that they were too old for -active service. One was eventually re-sold to the makers of Commer Cars.
The' present fleet, comprises . two A.E.C.s and one 'Churchill and a Maudslay for 26 to 30 passengers each, and a Daimler and two Fiats for 14 passengers. In addition, a taxicab business is carried on, and an extensive -garaging • and repair business is being .organized. For the mail contract, work a separate compartment has to be provided on the coaches, and this occupies the place of the rear seats of the vehicle, as shown in one of the illustrations. ! The hood is attached to the front of this compartment, and with one of the vehicles a square compartment with seats round the, sides give accommodation for a greater number of passengers than would be the case if transverse seats only were used.
In the development of the Yorkshire dales, industrially and as a holiday resort, the Chapman service of coaches has played an important part, and to transport men it gives an excellent example of the manner in which improved travelling facilities increase the' number of travellers, There must be many country districts in which great developments would be possible provided the means of transport could be improved, and for the improvement of these radii. ties all that is necessary is that some enterprise should be shown by one or two individuals, as has been the case with Messrs., Chapman
The Pioneer Swiss Tout.
AMONGthe pieneere tn• the motor coach Movement, one may with cotatidence count Chapman and Sons,of Eastbourne. Their horsed-coach, trips we knew 25 years ago----tia.e,30 years, so rapidly, does time fly ! Although frommemory we could not name the year when they introduced • their first motor vehicle, we can recall the great amount of Meal interest created by the innovation, and we well remember the comments of elle less progressive-among the onlookers: • " People don't .want, speed when they go out for a day's drive; they want, to see the country ! " " Exactly," retorted the • farrseeing;
they want, to see more of the country than the old horse chars-a-banes will let, them." And then the-remarks about people's love for horses and the reply that the people hated to see the horses toiling up the hills and being stressed almost as much holding hi the vehicle down every gradient.
From that first motor coach trip Messrs. ,Chapman and Sons -have never _wavered in their conviction, but have gone on increasing their fleet and widening their ramifications until to-day their vehicles and their parties are to be seen all over the country and on the Continent, and, moreover, the Chapman parties are always persoree grates with the propiietors' of the best hotels— and this fact makes a lot of difference, because the latter are absolutely right in picking and choosing the patrons for whom they shall cater.
In the course of a chat the , other day. with Mr. George, Chapman,, we were interested to learn that he himself formed one of the party of 18 who went on the pioneer tour through France and Switzerland organized by his firm., The party foregathered, at the boatside at Folkestone on May-2nd, a 28.-seater Dennis motor coach haying been sent over,to Boulogne the day previous ill charge of a Swiss driver, who had come over to Eastbourne for . the vehicle. Mr. Chapman realized that on Swiss 1,r-tads a driver with intimate local knowledge would be helpful. And so it turned out, because at one poiut of the journey information was received to the effect that the road would not be passable for the Dennis coach, but the driver knew differently, and the difficult stretch of road was safely passed. But, for this ic detour of 120 miles would have been necessi
tated. • The journey to Paris was covered in two stages, and after a day spent. in the city, four days were spent on the
way to Geneva. Lausanne, Montreux, a day there ;Berne, Interlaken, where also a day was spent; Lucerne, where two were given up to local sightseeing, and then the bonnet was again turned westward to Basel, Strassburg, Metz, Rheims, Compiegne, Amiens, and -Boulogne, each place-name representing the end of a day's journey. On the 25th day the afternoon boat was taken to Folkestone, and some at the party went on to Fastboarne by the coach.
There was a very nice ,party of people, as might have been expected, for the fare was 55 guineas, inclusive of boat and hotel accommodation, tips, etc. One section of the party were Australians, who were so keen on this method of travel that they have since gone off on a three-weeks' coach trip through Scotland.
The total length of the journey was about 2,000 miles, and as the accommodation was first-class right through and -only 18 people were on the coach, it will be seen that not only was there the acme of comfort, but that good value was given.
Mr. Chapman is a 'believer in the solid tyre, provided the springing of the vehicle is suited to it He does not believe in the converted W.D. 3-tonner as being likely to give the same comfort. lie is watching the development of the pneumatic tyre with a view to reporting to his partners thereon, but at present he is not at all convinced that the net results Justify the expense.
With regard to luggage accommodation, Mr. Chapman is 's firm believer in the luggage accompanying the party in
the coach. It removes all cause for anxiety on the part of the passenger; he (or she) knows that it cannot be left behind, or be misdirected, or, in the case of a deviation from the printed itinerary, that the luggage will not be in one place and the dwners in another. Hence the development of the boot and the designing of the seats to provide space below them for attache cases and similar small bags.
Many of the Chapman parties are -complete family groups, whilst th F
majority of the passengers take their tickets as the result of recommendations from friends, who have discoveredfrom personal experience how well-managed and enjoyable is a Chapman motor tour.