Buses Improve Living in the Hebrides
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By Ashley Taylor A.I.R.T.E. THE Isle of Lewis, largest of the 100 inhabited islands in the Hebrides, gazes out to the westward osier the wastes of the Atlantic and to the east is separated from the mainland by the Minch, a stretch of water which gives surface travellers tempestuous crossings. From the air, even the island itself seems, in many places, to be as much water as land.
Stornoway, with a population of about 4,000, is the only town of any size on the island. Fishing is the main industry, whilst inland, barley and potatoes are grown. Sheep and cattle are reared by the islanders and the famous Harris tweed is spun in the people's homes. Harris is the name of the southernmost part of the island, which has a total area of 770 square miles, of which 683 square miles belong to Lewis proper. The island is also rich in prehistoric remains.
To this little Gaelic-speaking community of fewer than 30,000 people, in the far north-west of the United Kingdom, the development of modern road transport came late, and it was in substantial measure because of litigation which reached the House of Lords that Mr. John Mitchell, of Stornoway, was inspired to put on a service which offered a new standard in public transport to the islanders.
To-day the Mitchell passenger fleet comprises 22 single-deckers, four of them being Albions and most of the remainder Bedfords. They are mostly 28to 32-seaters, but a pair of 20-seaters is included. On the goods side, the organization holds an A licence for eight vehicles and one B-licensed vehicle.
For many years Mr. John Mitchell worked in a local garage, but in 1932 he decided to start off on his own account. To this end he made arrangements with the Stornoway Trust, the local authority, to acquire a corner site for his garage.
It was six years before the build ing went up. The original option was quickly withdrawn and legal action followed which, after reaching the highest courts in Scotland, was finally carried to the ,House of . Lords, the whole matter extending over four years. Although success was achieved in the end, the difficulties encountered in proceeding with the garage project inspired John Mitchell to run a bus to serve the townspeople.
This was at a time when regular scheduled services operating with the accepted type of passenger vehicle were an exception in the area. The move met with a ready response and the fleet grew steadily, although at the outbreak of war it still numbered only about a dozen goods and passenger vehicles altogether. Actually, until the early 'thirties the country services in Lewis and Harris were largely provided by village vehicle owners, perhaps shop proprietors, who would come in to market bringing in their vans anyone who wished to visit the town and taking them back again whenever the business of the day was complete.
'Periodic " Loops "
The Mitchell organization now covers the full length and breadth of the island, some 70 miles by 25, with the exception of six miles in one direction To give this coverage, the vehicles have to traverse many rough roads and at least half of the mileage is over untarred surfaces, the track width in the majority of cases being . under 10 ft., with periodic "loops" to allow vehicles travelling in opposite directions to pap each other.
To deal with these conditions, straightforward stage-carriage bodywork is required, and those who know the state of the roads will not be surprised to learn that every machine in the fleet has suffered damage because of the rough surfaces..
Apart from body repairs, spring breakages on one or other of the vehicles are liable to be weekly occurrences. Those who know the island well tell me that there is under 15 miles of highway which the mainland operator would regard as passably good. Some of the highways may be likened to motor trials sections, and Mr. Mitchell informed me that on several occasions it has been necessary to send out rescue pasties to buses which while stationary had sunk into the ground.
All the Mitchell services are run to and from Stornoway, three machines, which cover 130 miles a day each, running on routes to the extremities of Lewis. Three more vehicles operate a 32-mile route from Stornoway, whilst others are on a 35-mile run' and ode works a 50-mile circuit: in addition, . there are town operations and a 15-mile route which is given 10 runs daily.
By this means the scattered communities of Lewis and Harris are connected together, being provided with newspapers and many necessities by means of the parcels service. Many consignments of Harris tweed, which is made in both the islands, are transported. Mails are also carried on the Harris route.'
For For obvious reasons, .passenger fares are higher than is usual "On the mainland, but no one could justifiably grumble in view of the operating difficulties involved. For fares collection Setright machines have been used on country runs since before the war, whilst the T.I.M. system is employed on town. routes.
In suminei time the Mitchell fleet rans•day and half-day tours to the various places of interest in the island, Such as Rodel, Ness, North Tolsta, Callanish and Uig. Evening trips are a popular feature with both visitors and the local inhabitants.
Costly Passage
The fleet owner in Lewis has every incentive to carry out all possible maintenance and overhaul work within his own organization for, apart from running costs, the freight charges for taking a vehicle to specialists of any kind on the mainland, are considerable, even the lightest buses .costingover £20 for the single journey by sea from Stornoway.
In view of the arduous conditions with which vehicles have to cope, it is impossible to have a -set mileage system for overhauls, as even on a new vehicle spring renewals may be needed during the first week. Thus ea system of constant inspection and riming maintenance, is employed. Until a quarter a a century ago the situation of manyof the villagers in these Western Isles was inexpressiblyremote, bin with the development of road transport -matters improved, and with the coming of the scheduled services residents in many a tiny scattered community are now in reach of modern life.