The Smaller Undertakings Escape
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First Bus System Owned by Urban District Still Growing After 46 Years By a Special Correspondent
THE small passenger transport undertaking seems less likely to suffer from labour difficulties than its nigger brothers. At least that is the view of Mr. L. C. Harrison, general manager of West Bridgford Transport Department, a small undertaking just outside Nottingham.
Whilst most undertakings have been suffering from labour troubles in recent years, West Bridgford, with only 109 employees, has escaped. Maybe the solution lies in the progressive policy which the undertaking has followed since its inception 46 years ago.
It is significant that a locality so close to Nottingham should have its own independent bus organization. The department's origin was unique, for West Bridgford had the distinction of being the first urban district council to apply to Parliament for power to operate motorbus services.
On August 23, 1912, a meeting was called in West Bridgford to discuss the introduction of services. The proposal was so momentous, and involved such great expense, for the period, that it was decided to call a public meeting. This was held on January 16, 1913, when the proposition received full support. A Bill was duly presented and, following agreement with Nottingham Corporation and the county council, finally became an Act on July 14.
The new department began modestly in 1914 with the purchase of four vehicles. The first routes were limited, but today the undertaking, with its 28 doubledeckers, serves the whole of West 4ridgford, which has a population of 26,000, as well as the rapidly expanding Clifton estate with its population of 25,000. All services go into Nottingham, crossing the Trent Bridge, which separates the two areas and has been a source of controversy in passenger, transport.
Fitt The enterprise received a severe jolt in its infancy, for early in the 1914-18 war the entire new fleet was commandeered for war service. Later one or two other vehicles were acquired, which enabled a token service to be operated.
The end of the war saw West Bridgford with undiminished faith in its transport department. They bought two StrakerSquires and seven AlIday open-topped double-deckers which served them well for several years.
From 1914-27, services ran to and from the boundary at Trent Bridge, where all passengers had to change vehicles. In 1927 an agreement was signed with the Nottingham Corporation to allow joint through services from West Bridgford, along Arkwright Street in the city of Nottingham to Walter Fountain, approxi mately a third of a mile from the city centre. In 1930 a further agreement extended the terminus into the centre of Nottingham.
Of the department's present doubledeckers, 25 have A.E.C. chassis and three have Daimler chassis with A.E.C. engines. Park Royal bodywork is fitted to 20 vehicles, two have Willowbrook, two Duple, three Reading and pne Brush.
In addition to the passenger fleet, the undertaking owns four S.D. and threeKarrier CK3 refuse collectors. The S.D. models are fitted with "fore and aft" tipping bodies. A Leyland Albion gullyemptier, with Yorkshire equipment, a Bedford-Lacre road sweeper, two mechanical shovels, tWo 10-cwt. Morris
vans, four highway lorries and a Land Rover, for breakdown purposes, complete the fleet. The department are responsible for purchasing and maintaining these units, but they are operated through the surveyor's department.
Passengers are carried on 13 routes, all operating into the centre of Nottingham. Total route mileage is 28.7 and last year the total mileage covered was 794,324. Six other undertakings operate through the West 13ridgford area hut, they are not allowed to pick-up or set-down within it.
Fares charged by the West Bridgford organization,determined on a slidingscale mileage 'basis, range from 2d. to 7d. Children's fares are approximately half the adult fare. but as there are no Id. fares they are taken up to the. nearest penny. The range means that 0.7 mile can be covered for 2d., 1.3 miles for 3d., 1.9 miles for 4d., 2.5 miles for 5d., 3.2 miles for 6d. and distances of over four miles for 7d.
A complex ticket arrangement deals with the distribution of money collected from the public. The area served by West Bridgford vehicles is divided into three sections, and a machine which issues three kinds of ticket is used. Fares for a short journey, within the West Bridgford area. go entirely to the undertaking.
If a passenger is picked up and set down in the city, the fare goes . to Nottingham Corporation. Alternatively, if a passenger is picked up in West Bridgford and set down in Nottingham, the revenue is divided between the two undertakings. A Gibson machine auto
matically issues the three varieties of ticket, and the conductor decides which type is required.
The revenue of each undertaking is related to the joint services in each area, and is in proportion to the mileage run in the city, and vice versa. West Bridgford's average expenditure per bus mile is 29.64d. and the average income 29.85d. per mile.
Main function of the vehicles is to take passengers to work in Nottingham in the morning and bring them home again in the evening. Peak-hour conditions arc experienced only from 8.10-8.50 a.m, and from 5-6 p.m. daily.
All vehicles are centralized at the headquarters in Abbey Road, approximately in the middle of the area, and it is here that all the department's vehicles, incIdding those of the surveyor's fleet, are garaged, cleaned and maintained. Administration is also directed from Abbey Road.
Mr. Harrison told me that he has found female conducting, staff as efficient as men. At present a quarter of the platform staff are women. He employs 31 male conductors. I 1 conductresses, 42 drivers. 14 maintenance stall. five cleaners and six administrative office staff.
Unlike most transport organizations, maintenance of the West Bridgford fleet is not worked on a regular basis. No major attenilion is given to the vehicles unless they really need it.
At 70.000 miles all buses are given a thorough inspection, all components are tested and. if the vehicle is in satisfactory condition. it goes back on the roacrwithout modifications. If breakdowns occur the fault is rectified immediately.
Vehicles are cleaned inside and out daily, by hand. Water is never used; mud is brushed off and liquid polish applied. "The rest is elbow grease." summed up Mr. Harrison. who then showed me three vehicles which had just been fitted with Formica ceilings and interior panels to facilitate cleaning and in time it is hoped that the whole fleet will be fitted out in this manner.