SWITZERLAND an IDEAL ( iNTRE for COACH TOURING
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IF it were not for the motor coach the visitor to Switzerland who did not take his own car would experience considerable difficulty in viewing much of the glorious scenery of that country, unless he had unlimited time at his disposal. It is here that the motor coach is proving such a valuable factor in opening up marvellous panorama to the tourist of moderate means.
The roads are, in most parts, excellent, and attention is constantly being given to them, whilst the way in which they have been built is such that the gradients, although long, are seldom really severe, and the drivers—at least of those coaches of which we had personal . experience— could probably be classed amongst the best in the world. This is not surprising, because whilst the going is, in most places, quite safe, yet, in a few, it would not do to make mistakes, and
accidents with public service vehicles in Switzerland are few and far between.
By the kind cooperation of Thomas Cook and Son, Ltd., Berkeley Street, London, W.1, we participated in several day tours by coach, . the start, in each case, being made from Lucerne, where we were staying at B30 that extremely comfortable and wellsituated venue, the Grand Hotel Europe, facing the famous Mount Pilatus and within a few minutes' walk of the local lido. Here, Thomas Cook and Son, Ltd., reserves a large number of rooms and employs a resident host and hostess.
The coach fleet employed by the company is owned by Kochs Siffine. There are about 12 luxurious vehicles, of Saurer, Arbenz, Lancia and Merced oS make. The Arbenz is of Swiss manufacture with a Maybach Germanbuilt engine; standard and forwardcontrol models are used. We were par (1) The coaches are kept excellent condition and are u. shod. Note the Dunlop Trt Grip pneumatics on the Scat front wheels. (2) Saurer a Arhenz petrol.engined coact at the Bresteriberg Hotel on .1–c Halfwit. (3) A striking vi of the Grindelwald Glaciers seen from the coach terrain
in the village.
ticularly impressed with the power. of the Knorr air-pressure brakes.
Some of these vehicles are kept in a two-storied . garage, so. built on a hill in Lucerne that the coaches can be run .either floor without the use of lifts. We were interested to note that one Sa.urer was equipped with Dunlop TrakGrip tyres on the trent wheels. We were informed that these had been found particularly efficient on bad roads where the snow is just melting.
Apart from the coaches, Kochs. Wine own eight private-hire cars, eight taxis and six self-drive hire cars, also a Fiat breakdown lorry with crane. The circular garage used for the hire and private cars is one of the most up to date we have seen. It has a rotating track around the side and a central turntable, whilst the steel-mesh doors of the cubicles are balanced and can be lifted at a touch. The tables are driven electrically, and the very wide doors at the front are lifted completely by the same means. Another effective idea is that the lift to the repair shop above has a false platform mounted on small wheels running on lines, so that a
vehicle can be straightway rolled from the lift to any part of the shop..
Reverting to the coaches, these are attractively finished in dark blue with a light-blue stripe at the waistline. Each has a sliding roof with a winding handle close to the driver, and rugs are carried. As the result of a law made two years ago there is an inspection yearly by Government officials, during which particular attention is paid to the brakes, steering and electrical equipment.
At present there is no speed limit, and the only limit on dimensions is that of vehicle width, which must not exceed 220 cm. The largest touring vehicles are 30-seaters, being automatically kept within moderate size by the operating conditions, which, on some routes, involve negotiating many
hairpin bends. .
At the time of our visit, one of the best of the tours was, unfortunately, not open. This was to the Rhone Glacier, but we were able to join in one important tour to Zurich, the Rhine Falls at Schaffhausen, and the Black Forest, and in another to
Grindelwald, Interlaken and the famous Triimmelbach Falls. The former is interesting, particularly to chose who wish to study the agricultural conditions of the country, for, at the commencement, the run is through the
plain of Switzerland, and the scenic interest really begins at Schaffhausen; thence, there is a beautiful run over the frontier, through the Black Forest at Baden-Baden, and on to St. l3lasien. where a stop is made for lunch. Here there is a famous church built in circular form with a huge dome. The higheSt point to which the coaches run on this trip is slightly over 3,000 ft.
Switzerland is re-entered at Waldshut, and whilst the German custom officers were fairly lenient when we • entered and left that country, the Swiss officers made a close inspection on our return, even lifting the floorboards at the front of the coach, pulling every article out of the driver's locker, etc., although in neither case were the passengers put to any inconvenience, on giving an assurance that each had not more than 10 Swiss francs and was in possession of his or her passport. On the return journey, tea was taken at a most delightful Swiss hotel, the Brestenberg, by Lake Hallwil.
From start to finish the tour to Grindelwald and Interlaken is a feast of beauty. Leaving Lucerne, the vehicle runs around the lake, passing the funicular railway to Pilatus, and then skirting Lake Sarnen to the Brunig Pass, which involves a climb to a height of over 3,000 ft. Thence it skirts the lovely Lake Brienz to Interlaken, and through the Lauterbrunnen Valley to the Trammelbach Falls, where a long stop is made to view these.
. The Falls are most impressive, but to view them visitors have to traverse winding paths and steps, and even make use of a lift, whilst they must be well protected against the spray.
From Grindelwald can be seen the beautiful Grindelwald Glacier, whilst another fine view obtained near Interlaken is that of The snow-clad Jungfrau, which rises to a height of over 12,000 ft. Tea is provided at the fine casino of Interlaken, and the travellers return to Lucerne in good time for dinner. The total distance travelled is about 130 miles. This compares with the 163 miles covered in theBlack Forest tour.
Perhaps the one objection that visitors could make would be that the trips commence rather early, that -to the Black Forest starts at 7 a.m., and the Grindelwald -tour ,an. hour later, but passengers are picked up at their hotels and adequate arrangements are made for early breakfast.
At one spot we saw a Fordson tractor hauling a trailer laden with flat wooden structures; on inquiry we were informed that these were components from a chalet factory.
Many of the bridges in Switzerland are built of wood, and we were interested to note that these were mostly covered over. This is to protect the floor beams from rotting through expo sure to the weather. At one point where road repairs were being carried out we were interested to see a Barford and Perkins Pioneer motor roller.