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Touring from Torquay.

29th March 1921, Page 21
29th March 1921
Page 21
Page 21, 29th March 1921 — Touring from Torquay.
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OWING TO its central position amid scenes of historical interest and picturesque beauty, Torquay presents excellent facilities for the exploration of the surrounding district for many miles in every direction. Much of the charm. tag country abounding in North and South Devon was unknown to the average tourist until the arrival of the motor coach enabled long journeys to be undertaken in comfort, and in this direction credit must be bestowed upon the Grey Cars, Ltd., for they were first in the field with motor coach tours using Torquay as a centre.

The Grey Car Tours were established early in 1913, hut practically the whole of the fleet which was in use up to Oetoher, 1914, was commandeered for war purposes, although the company managed to maintain a number of their tours by partly replacing these vehieles during 1915 and 1916.

The present fleet nambers 16 vehicles, comprising Daimler, Leyland, and A.E.G. chassis fitted with 18 and 28 seater.bodies in about equal proportions, none of the chassis being medals earlier than 1919. The existing coaches will be supplemented during the 1921 season by several vehicles which are on order.

The I8-seater vehicles are used for the purpose of long tours, whilst the 28-seaters are confined to short tours and special outings. Almost every class of tour is undertaken by the company, including half-day, day, extended, and holiday tours. The season commenced at Easter, although the busy period does not start until July, when it continues to the end of September. The latest type of body employed on the coaches is of the armchair pattern, which is gaining much favour with proprietors generally, a large receptacle being fitted within the body at the:rear end for the accommodation of passengers' luggage, whilst on the off side is a rack for carrying spare tins of petrol. The company base their charges on an average of 2d. per mile per passenger, which, considering the difficult conditiens oF operation pertaining in the district, is a very low rater" The locality is very hilly; and many of the gradients are severe, which, of course, means that operating costs are unusually high. On account of the hilly nature of the district, the company express the opinion that they would like to see an additional rim brake included in the design of char-a-banes chassis.

The Grey Cars, Ltd., have not had any experience of large pneumatics, but after carefully considering the matter, they are of the opinion that their general adoption for passenger use depends on chassis being specially designed for the purpose, and they further add that at present no suitable chassis are available.

The system of • control is very thorough, and a alaily log sheet for each vehicle has to be filled in and signed by the driver, onwhich he has to report any troubles experienced en route or any mechanical detail requiring attention. During the season a day and night shift is run in the works, and the foreman is advised of any matter arising out of the driver's report, and issues his instructions accordingly. The garage foreman enters on the log sheet a report of all work which is carried out. In , addition to • this supervision, each vehicle is withdrawn from service once a fortnight for examintrtion and trial.

The coach traffic is mainly operated from the head booking office in the Strand, which is in direct telephonic communication with the branch booking offices. All the principal records from the various garages and booking offices are sent to the head office, where they are summarized so that a return of traffic receipts, mileages covered, passengers carried., petrol, and oil consumption is able to be prepared. These records enable comparative figures to be extracted, thus providing the means for the exercise of control over every individual unit of the fleet.

Their garage is equipped with all the necessary plant for undertaking the cornylete reconditioning of chassis, and each year their vehicles are stripped down to the chassis frames, all units being disassembled and the vehicle completely rebuilt. This procedure has been found necessary owing to the very severe conditions with regard to roads and gradients in the district. They have a tyre press installed in the garage and an underground storage tank of 3,000 gallon capacity for petrol, as well as a battery of oil tanks. The Grey Cars, Ltd., and the South Devon Garage and Motor Touring Co., Ltd., are amalgamated companies, the former. title applying to the motor coach business and the latter to the garage and sales side of the undertaking.

Fleet Cars, Ltd., whose head office is at 3, Fleet Street, also run tours from Torquay, and they employ for this purpose the latest model Dennis coach, with a seating capacity for s28 persons. A number of day tours and morning, afternoon, and evening tours is scheduled for the 1921 season to most of the beauty spots in Devonshire. The season has just commenced, aorl will continue to the end of October, but as the weather is so mild in Torquay, a modified list of tours has been operated right through. out the winter.

Tours from a Manufacturing Centre.

HUDDERSFIELD is perhaps not a 1 health resort in itself, but much interesting scenery is located around this busy manufacturing centre Fred. H. Beaumont, Ltd., of Par End Garage, Henley,. run three chars:a-banes for public and private hire, half-day and day trips to places of interest within 70.80 miles of Huddersfield being undertaken. The company specialize in long-distauce tours varying from three to ten dayS' duration, running as far north as Aberdeen, and cOvering practically the whole of Englahd and Wales.

It is interesting to note that the company started long-distance tours by motor coach in 1912, and that since that time not a single tour has had to be cancelled through lack of bookings. The best-class hotels are used for the accommodation of patrons of these tours, which naturally appeal. to a select class of people, and tourists participate in the. tours from places as far apart as Hastings, London, Newcastle, Alnwick, Grange-over-Sands, Blackpool, etc. Short-distance trips were started at Easter, whilst long-distance tours will commence at Whitstin.

Three vehicles are operated by the company, these being a 30-seater Palledium, a 25-seater Maudslay, and a 24 seater A.E.C., each coach being fitted with dust and waterproof luggage Ilexes.

Tags

Organisations: Manufacturing Centre
People: Dennis
Locations: Aberdeen, London, Newcastle

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