PASSENGER TRAVEL NEWS.
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The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.
ALL-WEATHER BUSES ON SERVICE IN WALES.
A Special Type of Sliding Roof Used on Some of the Vehicles Run by an Enterp ising South Wales Company.
AN ALL-WEATHER type of bus body of striking appearance and giving passengers comfort almost equal to that of a private car has just been built on a standard Lancia chassis by the Northern, Counties Motor and Engineering Co., Ltd., Wigan, for the South Wales' Commercial Motors, Ltd., of Cardiff and Bridgend. The vehicle was demonstrated with success at the Blackpool Carnival recently, having been driven to the North from Cardiff for that special purpose, and it has also made a successful demonstration tour through South Wales and West Wales.
The singularly attractive appearance of the bus has been favourably commented upon everywhere the vehicle has travelled. The type of sliding roof with which the bus is equipped was recently referred to in an article in our columns on all-weather types of bus. .
It is that, type which is particular to the South Wales Commercial Motors, Ltd.'s vehicles, and was originally designed by Mr. A. Gray, joint managing director of that company. Its chief features are ease of manipulation and simplicity of construction, and the covering may be drawn to the open or closed position in just the time that it takes to walk the length of the saloon. The application and use of this type of roof were detailed in our issue of June 26th. The cover is now made of khaki duck instead of twill, the former having been adopted by virtue of the extra durability which a material without graining gives. • The seating accommodation a the new Lancia bus is for 18 passengers inside and for two people in the driver's compartment. The seats are of the double bucket type, the greater number of them
being disposed transversely, although several are placed longitudinally in order to avoid inconvenience to passengers through the intrusion of the wheel arches, which in many vehicles considerably restrict the leg-room.
The whole of the seating space is uphelstered in blue antique leather, the inside panelling being furnished in the same material, thus giving an effective and neat appearance no the interior, which is added to by the fluted rubber flooring.
To the front of the vehicle and behind the driver's compartment spring-operated drop windows are located. The side windows are fixed. for it is deemed unneces sary to employ drop, down side lights with an open roof, ventilators and drop windows at the front Adjoining the driver's position is a door with windows similar to that behind the driver, and to the bottom of this panel are attached two tip-up seats: It is notable that the upholstering of this compartment is on lines similar to the body interior, even to the upholstering of the panelling. Passengers in the driver's compartment thus have the same conveniences as those inside; and also, if needed, the protection of a full-width windscreen, which makes the compartment completely enclosed.
The rear entrance door is of the twopiece folding type. The general appearance of the exterior of the body, which is painted red, with the name of the company in gold lettering, is very striking, and the lines conform with those of the usual saloon • bus, for the roof is so designed that from the outside the fact that a sliding roof is incorporated would not be known.
The exterior panelling of the body is of steel. The company own two buses of this type.
The management of the South Wales Commercial "Motors, Ltd., seems determined to spare no expense in an endeavour to find the type of vehicle which is best suited to the travelling public's requirements; and which gives the maximum comfort and convenience to passengers.