Passenger Transport News
Page 27
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
LONDON TRANSPORT PREPARES FOR ARCTIC NEW YEAR QPECIAL preparations based on ex perience gained last winter have been made by London Transport to keep London buses running if Arctic conditions should again develop.
'Fo double existing stocks, 7,500 radiator covers and radiator blinds have been purchased. Anti-freeze liquid will be used on a large scale in bus radiators for the first time, 6,000 gallons having been laid in. For the first time, supplies of glycerine have been sent to all garages to smear on windscreen-wiper blades and other exposed parts to prevent them from freezing up, whilst stocks of anti-mist compound have been provided for the windscreens of buses and coaches in specially snowy areas, such as the North Downs.
Specially light winter-grade oil is to be used experimethally in one bus in eight, to ascertain whether it aids coldweather running. Pipes on buses, trolleyhuses and coaches, which experience last year showed were specially vulnerable in exti-eme cold, have been protected by 31 miles of asbestos lagging.
Emergency alternative routes, bypassing hills which last year became impassable to traffic after heavy snows, have also been worked out in advance.
40 MEN EXPELLED FROM UNION
A BOUT 40 employees of the 1-1. Economic Bus Co. have been denied re-admittance to the National Union of General and Munieipal Workers for refusing to sign a declaration to abide by the Union ruJes.
The trouble arose in a bus strike last June. The strikers were ordered back to work by their Union and told to sign the declaration to carry out Union instructions. The Economic Bus Company's employees returned •to work, but declined to sign the declaration and were expelled. They appealed to the Union executive, but their expulsion has been upheld.
THE LATEST REO BUS THE well-known American company, Reo Motors, Inc., has produced a new 37-40-seater single-deck bus, known as the Flying Cloud and embodying many interesting features.
Its overhead valve six cylindered engine has a volumetric capacity of 427 cubic ins., developing 163 b.h.p. at 3.000 r.p.m., and is set on its side under the centre of the chassis frame, the drive not being offset.
The body is mainly of aluminium, reinforced with steel. Its undet-floor cross-members are of deep-section channel steel, whilst, except at the centre, there are longitudinal tubes of ins, diameter, which not only strengthen the chassis portion, but absorb shocks from the bumpers. All the cross-members are attached to the steel body pillars, each of which extends in one piece from the centre of the roof to the skirt
The gearbox is a Spicer, giving only
three ratios, and with synchromesh. A Spicer torque converter is optional.
The suspension is exceptional, the rear springs being 5 ft. 4 ins. long and 4 ins. wide, and the front 5 ft. 2 ins, in length.
Operation of the brakes is by compressed air.
The wheelbase is 15 ft. 6 ins., overall width 8 ft., and overall length 31 ft. It% ins. Ready for the road, the weight is about 5 tons 1 cwt. 2 qrs. 12 lb.
WALES LOOKS AFTER THE OLD
SITT1NG at Newport, Mr. Trevor Morgan. K.C., chairman of the South Wales Licensing Authority for Public Service Vehicles, agreed to an application by Gelligaer Urban District Council to grant concessions in fares on stage-carriage servces for the benefit of old-ace pensioners.
The application was to allow pensioners other than persons in employment or in receipt of superannuation, to travel at half the ordinary fare.
We have granted similar applications already to Caerphilly, Aberdare and Merthyr," said Mr. Morgan, "but new points arise here, because we are informed by the operators of the Red and White Services that some of the services in respect of which the application is made extend beyond the area of Gelligaer Council."
"[hat would be a new departure, and in granting the application, the Authority would do so with the modification that the concession operated only within the area of the council.
CHRISTMAS DAY STRIKE
WITH big crowds of visitors, Blackpool's transport service was seriously cut by a Christmas Day stoppage among the majority of employees. A normal Sunday service, operated by volunteers, had. been promised, but pickets turned back many men and women reporting for duty. Consequently, only a skeleton service was provided by 200 employees.
JI,000 MEN WANT "RAISE"
AT a meeting at Newcastle-on-Tyne of representatives of 11,000 motorbus, trolleybus and tram employees in Durham, Northumberland, Cumberland and North Yorkshire. it was decided to press for a substantial wage increase.
ANOTHER 100 REGALS FOR SOUTH AMERICA
AN order for 100 A.E.C. (Ado) Regal Mark Ill single-decker bus chassis has b.2en received by the "Visodated Equipment Co., I.td., front its sub-distributors in Brazil. Auto Diesel Importadora.
A second contract covers the supply of 20 similar machines for work in the state of Sail Paulo. All these chassis will be built with right-hand steering and will have 20-ft. wheelbases.
These contracts follow the delivery of 50 Regals to the city of Sao Paulo.
MANCHESTER FARES: FUTURE PROSPECTS
ri4ANC HESTER Transport Commit1111 tee is to meet on January 26 and wilt consider the effect of the NorthWestern Licensing Authority's decision, briefly announced in "The Commercial Motor" last week, which withheld
sanction for any immediate increase in the city's -bus fares, At the hearing in July, Mr, C. A. Marsh, deputy town clerk, asked for an increase in the minimum fare from Id. to 11d. (children Id.) and in all-day tickets from Is. to Is. 6d. (children 9d.). Further, he said that the corporation fares were based upon two stages for Id., four for 2d., and six for 3d., and the municipality proposed to give two stages for ltd.. three for 2d„ five for 3d., and three stages for each additional Id.
In communicating the decision to the corporation, Mr. Maeve, chairman of Licensing Authority, wrote: "We wish to be kept in close touch with the financial results for the current periods and will be prepared further to consider the matter of increase in the light of the financial results for the current financial year."
OMNIBUS SOCIETY PI.ANS
ON January 16. Mr, Charles E. Lee will deliver his presidential address to the Omnibus Society. Papers will be read on February 20 by Mr. C. S. .A. Wickens. M.Inst.T.. general manager of Luton Corporation's transport department; On March 19 by Mr. J.. C. Gillharn t" A History of Bolton Corporation Transport "I. and on April 16 by Messrs. Charles F. Klapper and John Ninon t" Some London Bus Services which have Disappeared "1
All these meetings will he held at 6.30 p.m. at the Institute of Marine Engineers. 85-88, Minories, E.C.3.