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PROGRESSIN PASSENGER TRAVEL.

5th July 1921, Page 18
5th July 1921
Page 18
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Page 18, 5th July 1921 — PROGRESSIN PASSENGER TRAVEL.
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The Latest Doings A New Coach Hood. and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.

A Design which Incorporates Several New Features and which is being Adopted as Standard by a Big London Coaching Concern.

THE PROBLEM of devising a simple and easily manipulated hood for motor coaches has occupied the attention of inventors and designers for some time past, but without discrediting the worth of any particular types of hoods which are at present available (some of Which possess undoubted "Petit), we think that the all-efficient howl, which can be raised or lowered in a few minutes without—laborious effort, has yet to see the light ryf day.

There. are certain types of so-called oneman hoods on the market, but it is doubtful if any of them have, under actual working conditions, given an indication of being able to support the claims made for their ease of manipulation by one pair of hands. The Bartle sectional hood came as near approaching this ideal as anything put on the market, but in the case of this type of hood tho high initial cost militated against its general adoption.

Messrs. Bartle have given considerable thought to the hood problem, and they have recently introduced a new design, which has been fully protected by Patent No. 14239, and for which -nuineroas claims are made. The general arrangement of the hood will be gathered from the group of illustrations, which we publish on this page, showing various phases in the course of erecting the hood.

The new Bartle hoed has been primarily designed to eliminate entirely the usual cumbersome arrangement of a heavy pile of hood bows folded deem at the rear of the body, where they throw a groat strain on the framework at a part where it should be particularly avoided. Apart from this factor, the seperate arrangement of the hood rods and the twill covering enable the hood to be raised with the maximum of ease and the minimum of effort.

As we have said, the hood consists of a separate bow to each row of seats, and, except for the rear row, each is made of a solid drawn brass tube, so that not only is there no chance of any rusting taking place, -but, moreover, the general appearance of the vehicle is maintained by the brass finish. The bows are bent to shape in a similar fashion to those of the ordinary wooden variety, and they are mounted on ingeniously shaped link plates, which are, in turn, riveted to the body irons, with tho centres so arranged. that the necessary amount of foreshortening takes place to enable each bow to lie on the elbow and back of each seat when not in use, without encroaching on the gangway, or interfering with the comfort of passengers.

Each how, when erected, can be locked in position vertically by the insertion of a small snap pin. The waterproof twill is fastened to the front and hind sticks only, and te the intermediate sticks by means of neat straps, which engage with brass staples brazed to the bows. The front and rear bows are of channel brass filled with hardwood to facilitate the attachment of the twill.

Th,e front stick immediately above and forward of the windscreen is held in position by a pair of upright brass rods, the bottom ends of which are pivoted to a lug forged on the windscreen stanchions. This construction takes the strain off the -windscreen supports.

The usual stout straps are fastened to the front stick, so that the hood may be strained forward and fastened to the staples which are fixed to the front wing stays. When not in use, the front :Stick supports are pushed back against the windscreen stanchions, and held in place by spring clips.

In order to lower the hood, the straps which hold the twill to the intermediate sticks a-e loosened and the front straining straps released. The twill may then be rolled up from the front to the back by stages, or the whole covering may be drawn right over the back of the vehicle and rolled op at the rear, care being taken in each case to fold inwards the -side flaps of the twill.

When the hood is rolled up, it. is accommodated in a neat metal tray which is provided at the rear of the body. This tray is curved in shape, and provided with holes so that it does not detract in any way from the appearance of the vehicle, whilst at the same time there is no danger of any dampness rotting the rolled-up twill. As only the front stick it; rolled up with the hood, and this in the centre of it, there is no danger of any metalwork chafing the twill. It is well known that some hoods usually wear out owing to the conditions under which they remain folded, but this factor is obviated in the Bartle hood. •

The final operation is to lower the brass hoop sticks by the extraction of the snap pin until they lie. on the backs a the seats, in which position they are accommodated without disturbing the .passengers' comfort.

It is worthy of mention that the Samuelson 'rraesport Co., Ltd.,. the largest coach proprietors in London, have adopted the new Bartle hood as standard.

Official Encouragement for the Motor Coach.

NOTFIING has been more remarkable than the way in which all the objections to motor coaching have been " lived down," and complaints against the services, against drivers, or against the parties have, been extremely rare of late. In place of these. objections there is a growing tendency to give every encouragement to motor coaching, and a noteworthy instance of the way the advantage of motor coach traffic has been realized is instanced in the way the Bridlington Business Men's Association and the Bridlington Corporation are seeking to organize and develop a regular road service between Leeds and Bridlington.

Writing to Mr. R. Barr, a well-known proprietor of motor coaches in Leeds, the secretary of the Bridlington Business Men's Association explains the movement, and says ;—" We are out to launch —with the help of the corporation—a motor coach service from Leeds and district to Bridlington. We are prepared at this (the Bridlington) end to open a hooking office so that the charas will be able to make a return load. The corporation are prepared to advertise this service in leading Yorkshire papers and to find suitable ground for garages"

The matter is being taken up by the Leeds owners of coaches, and, naturally, the proposal is looked upon with favour. Official and semi-official support to the motor coach movement marks a new era in the industry, which can only be encouraging to those concerned, and it can safely be said that once one enterprising resort demonstrates the advantages of encouraging coach parties, others will follow.

Holiday centres conduct their affairs in a much more .businesslike manner than most municipal centres, and follow each other's activities very closely.

Cheap Fares at Blackpool. Cheap Fares at Blackpool. ONE-would surmise, on visiting Blackpool, that the Queen of Lancashire watering-places off era the cheapest motor coach outings in the country. The usual holiday crowds have net yet made their appearance, and probably this accounts for the slump in fares.

Res quite a common thing to see tours. advertised at .1d. per passenger-mile---and even less—but even at these low prices full loads are not very common. There are evening motor tours covering 20 miles to he had for a nimble 1s. One can book a return journey from Blackpool to Windermere for 9s. The

distance is about 120 miles. This be actually leas. than the 1914 fare, which, was 10s., and compares with 17e. 6d. Which was charged last, year.

The run to Southport and back is generally announced at 5s., but it is possible to book trips at as low as 4s. 6d. and 4s.Probably, when Lancashire's teeming thousands begin to pour into

Blackpool, the .fares will be raised to a higher level.

Many of the Blackpool coach proprietors—single owners especially—are paying more 'attention to the extended tours than to day trips, for the reason, one assumes, that existing competitive rates leave no margin for business eventualities.

It would appear, taking a bird's-eye view of the Blackpool motor coach industry, that conditions are far from being to the liking of the owners.

Coach traffic on the Blackpool-Preston roads, however, seems as great as ever.

A Semi-enclosed 18-seater,

THE TYPE -of motor coach which possesses all the advantages, of the open type of vehicle coupled with the benefits of protection which are afforded by the saloon type is that wherein the body top is fixed and the sides are open. This design of coach is destined to become very popular with the coaching public, who are not slow to appreciate the advantages which the semi-saloon type of vehicle offers. A fixed root and a serviceable windscreen offer protection from high winds, dust, and the glaring sun without in any way disturbing the plea

sure of an apeipair ride, whilst to prevent passengers being subjected to discomfort during wet weather, removable side curtains can be fitted.

The vehicle with a fixed top solves the, troublesome hood problem, and although a section of the road-travelling public will always favour the open type of vehicle the majority, who are bound to have had some experiences of the playful. vageries•of tlie English climate, will prefer to use the vehicle which gives them a roof over their heads on every occasion that there is a doubt as to fine weather conditions remaining stable.

, It is the small type of semi-enclosed eehicle which will find its way into popular favour—such a type as that which is illustrated on this page, and which was built by the Chelsea Motor Building Co., Ltd., of 164, King's Road, Chelsea., London, S.W., to the order of the Arrow Motor Transport Coe. ofFinsbury Park, Landon, N.

The framework of the body is constructed throughout of well-seasoned timber strengthened by the provision of ample steel forged plates. and angle pieces, and the whole is mounted on two oak runners throng/unit it full length.

The body is designed to accommodate 1E) passengers as well as two alongside the driver. The' seating arrangement will be clearly seen from the line drawings which we reproduze herewith, which chow that three pairs of seats with a central gangway between them, face for.

wards, whilst a seat which seats five people extending the full width of the body is provided at the rear. A tip-up seat backing on to the driver's eompartmeet faces the central gangway. A door is fitted on each side of the driver's compartment, whilst the only other door is fitted imniediately behind that on the near side and permits of access to the whole of the body interior. The driver's compartment is quite distinct and it is separated from the main body compartment by a division which has three windows 18 ins, deep, the upper half of the centre light being hinged to permit of its opening. The seat cushions are well sprung, are padded with horse hair and covered with a good grade leather cloth.

The sides are normally open, but should weather conditions be unfavourable, side curtains with celluloid windows, which are rolled up and secured to the roof line, can be dropped ana secured by turn-buttons along the waistline rail.

The sides and and of the body below the waistline are panelled in sheet metal, whilst the roof is composed of 2 in. match-boards, tongued and grooved, and covered with waterproof •canvas. Two glass windows are fitted in the back or the body.

The floorboards are covered with lino, those over the rear axle being made removable so as to.enable inspection of the transmission to he made.

As no provision is made for carrying luggage on the running boards or in the usual compartment at the rear of the vehicle, a luggage. xrdi 12 ins, deep is fitted on the roof.

One-day Tours in the North.

The Northern General Transport Co., Ltd., of Picktrce Lane, Chester-le-Street, have organised a splendidly-thought-out programme of one-day tours from Newcastle to various popular holiday places in Northumberland and Durham, and, as a result, the motorbus, as an inexpensive and comfortable method of enjving a day's outing, is rapidly surpassing all other means of transit in the estimatien of the inhabitants of the northern city.

Amongst the most popular Reginations are Alnmouth and Alnwick, which are frequently catered for, at 9, charge of 8s% 6d., and Wark worth, a. delightful little town, possessing all the pleasures of the seaside and country, is reached for 8s. Equally popular is the Whitley Bay tour, which continues to Seaton Sluice by the coast road, the cost. for the journey being on/y 4s.06d. Other celebrated places which are the venue of runs are Thanchland, Mlendale, Iiexham, Rothbury, and Bamburgh. Each run begins at 9 a.m, and terminates about 9 p.m.

Another northern company which eaters largely for pleasure trips are Galley's Garages, Ltd., who have also inaugurated an exhaustive series of single day tours, the destinations of which emhrace the following :—Newbiggin, Ainmouth, Alnwick, Allendale, Rothbury, Morpeth, Hexhain, Barnard Castle, Seahouses, Bamburgh, etc.

Coach Passengers and Fruit Orchards.

ALREADY the cry seems to have been started again, which last year obtained a great deal of publicity,

for supposed damage done by motor coach passengers to orchards. The Per shore Fruit Growers' Association and the Evesham and District Market Gardeners' and Fruit Growers Association have been considering very seriously the nuisance and loss caused to fruit growers and market gardeners through depredations by passengers of motor chars-à-bancs.

Correspondence from these associations has been received by the Genera/ Purposes Committee of the Worcester shire County Council, as reported at a meeting the other day. We are told that a. copy of the correspondence was sent to the Secretary of State for his views on the subject, and he was asked whether he would be prepared to con sider a draft by-law compelling the owners of motor vehicles carrying pri vate parties to see that the driver or conductor had in his possession a list ofthe names and addresses of the passen gers. The Secretary of State replied that, as at present advised, -he did not think a by-law on this subject could properly be made under the Municipal Corporations Act, 1882.

It is also understood that at a recent meeting of the County. Council Associa

tion the same question was referred to, and one member made the ridiculous proposal that a by-law should be made directing that.chirs-h-banes should stop at certain defined places, and that those places should not be hear an orchard.

The fact is that, in regard to these so-called orchard depredations, very little damage has been done. A motor

coach unloading. by the side of an orchard is not a difficult thing to see,

and if its passengers take upon themselves to trespass in an orchard, they can be dealt with in a proper manner. This resulted last year in a number of prosecutions being made, when heavy tines were inflicted.

We can safely take it for granted that orchard depredations are not half so serious as most of us are led to believe, hut there is another side to the question. It is a fact that some motor coach passengers from towns have broken into fruit orchards, have stolen fruit and damaged the trees, and we deplore it; and it is with a view to pre venting its recurrence that an appeal is made on this page to all owners, drivers and conductors of motor-coach parties to ant very stringently toward their passengers in regard to these matters. We know that, for the most part, members of motor-coach parties are of such a character and so self-respecting that they would never think of doing to another man's property what they would not like done to their own, but unfortunately there are a few people who do not know how to conduct themselves, whether at. home or away from home.

A few of these people are bound to find their way at different times into motor-coach parties, and it is hero that those responsible should be very particular in warning any passengers who nfay seem inclined; from entering fruit plantations, or even picking fruit or darnag; ing trees by the side of the road, because it muSt be remembered that the owner, whoever he may be, has to pay rent for the ground upon which the trees grow. He has to spend a good deal of money upon labour, on manures and spraying materials, and in pruning, in order to keep the trees in bearing order, and it is very unjust, if the season has not deprived him of a crop, for travellers by road either to damage his trees or steal his fruit.

Trees require a lot of attention, and it is with great pains and tremendous expense that most of our wonderful orchards have been built up to be paying propositions.

Farmers and fruit growers in certain areas would appear to be particularly prejudiced against certain classes of motor-coach parties.

If the motor-coach owners arid their servants do their part in protecting orchards against any attempt at depredation, the orchard owners and other country people must act fairly towards the motor-coach passenger by prosecuting where he is caught red-handed at mischief, and not by bringing against the whole motor-coach travelling public wholesale charges that cannot be preyed.

The Bridlington Town Council, in collaboration with the Leeds and County Motor Transport Organization, have inaugurated a regular service of chars-hbanes between Leeds and Bridlington. The service started yesterday, And arrangements have been made for setting down and picking up passengers in the centre of the town.

Coaching Items.

The surveyor to the Southampton Town Council suggests making application for certain district roads to be closed to char-a-basics traffic.

Lone Urban Council, a few days ago, expressed a hope that char-a-bancs traffic through the narrower streets of the town will be discountenanced so far as possible, and decided to collect fees from the drivers of the chara-h-banerm and motor vehicles parking at Church End.

Writing to some of the local councils the Somerset County Council intimates that it has passed the necessary resolutions for orders closing several roads in the county to char-a-bancs traffic, but that the matter had been delayed pending the issue of certain regulations by the Ministry of Transport.

There is now arm-organized motor coach service between' Sheffield and Blackpool each week-end. The fare is 25s. return or 12s. brl. single, and luggage is conveyed free in separate vehicles. The Lancashire 'United Tramways Co. is running a daily service from Blackpool, leaving at 6.50 p.m. for Preston, Bolton, and Manchester.

Bury chn rs-a-banes owners have this week sought to create a monopoly for themselves in the town. They have forvsarded'to the Watch Committee of the Bury Town Council a protest against the 'granting of licences f or chars-a-bancs plying for hire in the borough, except to owners who are ratepayers or whose business places are in the borough. They ask the committee to refuse such licences.

The 'Watch Committee replied that they have no power to grant the request. to the chars-h-bancs owners. , Race-goers realized th6 utility of the motor coach on the occasion of the Carlisle race meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday last, June 28th and 29th, and, in consequence of the depleted railroad facilities, large crowds were conveyed to the course by road, some coming from as far distant places as over the Border, Newcastle, the outlying districts of WeStrnorland and Cumberland, and even Lancashire. In addition to specially augmented services by the companies operating in the Carlisle neighbourhood, private motor coach owners were kept constantly engaged, and several hundred vehicles were employed.


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