Railways Claim Big Gains in Coal S INCE the middle if
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last month, large quantities of coal formerly carried by road have been transferred to the
railways and some coal hauliers are alarmed at the switch. British Railways claimed this victory when they opposed
an application being heard by Mr. 1. H. A. Randolph, Yorkshire Deputy Licensing Authority.
* Mr. Randolph reserved decision on what he termed a difficult case—a request by W. Blackwell and Son, Baslow, near Bakewell, for the return of two A-licence vehicles which were struck off in July (The Commercial Motor, November 21).
Al a hearing in November, Blackwell's explained that they were operating the two vehicles when a man named Rhodes approached them and offered to put two more lorries into the business. They agreed, but operated them while they were Sin Rhodes' name and lost their own licence, Michael and Partners, Chesterfield, who supplied Blackwell's with their traffic, were closely questioned at the resumed hearing by Mr. T. B. Atkinson, for the railways, Mr. G. H. Pegg, their traffic manager, admitted that the man Rhodes was one of their traffic clerks who had recently bought a special A licence.
He added that Michael and Partners had fully employed Blackwell's vehicles, and could do so again if the licence were restored. To this, Mr. Atkinson submitted that as Michael and Partners were a clearing house and not coal factors—the vehicles were wanted to carry coal and pig Iron—their evidence didnot count, A British Railways Witness stated that from December 15 the railways had begun regaining their coal traffic. Some hauliers were alarmed, and it was still not known how many vehicles would be made idle by the change.