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PLEASURE TRAVEL BY ROAD.

7th March 1922, Page 23
7th March 1922
Page 23
Page 24
Page 23, 7th March 1922 — PLEASURE TRAVEL BY ROAD.
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The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.

CONTINUING our comments in last issue, on the plans and intentions of the principal motor coach proprietors operating from that popular holiday centre Bournemouth and Boacombo, few visitors to Bournemouth have not seen "Charlie's Car," run by Mr. Chas. Pounds. This proprietor has four vehicles—three 28-seaters of Dennis and Daimler makeand a new Unic 14-seater with an all-weather detachable top provided with roll-down side curtains and glass windows. Mr. Pounds said that the small coach is satisfactory when worked in conjunction with the large vehicles and also for long runs with small parties. Rugs are provided on all the coaches and also rails for carrying them, whilst the seats are raised so that passengers can put their feet -under them and so obtain more space. For Winter work all the open coaches are provided with side curtains.

The programme during the winter consists chiefly of running with parties instead of plying for hire, but the latter will be resumed in the Square during the coming season. There will also be special tripe, such as that run to the Isle of Wight, for which the fare is 30s.

Messrs. R. W. Symes and Son are the owners of a fleet of coaches known as the " Enterprise." Trus consists of five • Dennis 28-seaters and one 14-seater Unic, all provided with side curtains having windows. The ordinary type of hood, is employed on these coaches. -and a brass rail running along each side takes the weight of the hoop sticks.

They are extremely satisfied with the behaviour of the Dennis vehicles, and .mentioned that during the whole of last season only one involuntary stop Occurred, this being due to the breakage of a make-and-break spring.

The " Bournemouth Rambler" coaches are very popular. They are owned by Mr. A. E. Ransom, of East Cliff Garage. Three vehicles, all 40 h.p. Leylands. are at present in service, and it is hoped to add to these for the forthcoming season. They seat 28 passengers each, and Mr. Ransom stated. that he was more than satisfied with the way in which they had done their work. All three have been converted into all-weather vehicles by fitting waternroof side screens with cellu bid windows, and a novelty is the fitting of an interior light, fixed to the central hoop stick. Apart from the ordinary trips from the Square, he hopes to run tours to Devon and Cornwall, and arrangements' for these are now being made. He strongly recommends bulk storage of petrol, and has a Pratt's 1,000-gallon tank, which, he states, has practically paid for itself in 14 months. He mentioned that his Leylands are reconstructed vehicles, and that one ran 15,CCO miles last season, and all the repairs required were the cylinders lifting once and the valves touching up now and again.

Newcomers to the Trade.

A Fleet of 28-seater Thornycrofts and 14-seater Fiats.

MESSRS. A. E. Lavis and Son were newcomers to the trade last year, when they purchased two 45 h.p. Daimler 28-seaters on reconstructed chassis. This year they have bought two 14-seater Fiats, on pneumatic tyres, but they do

not believe in these tyres for the larger vehicles. Their programme consists entirely of short trips, and these will probably be continued in the spring.

Amongst the special day excursions run by them are those to Cheddar Gorge and Caves and Bath Abbey, whilst trips to Southsea and Portsmouth will be run on Sundays.

One of the most handsome of the smaller coaches in the town is the 18seater Lancia run by the Maple Leaf Carriage Co., owned by Messrs. Rattew and Marks, who also have a 28-seater J type Thornycroft in service. This smaller vehicle is of particular interest, as the body was built by the company. They said that they would add at least one, and probably two, new vehicles this season. If so, these will be 23-seaters, on pneumatic tyres. They are certain that pneumatics will beat solids for the smaller coaches. With the Lancia they have done 10,000 miles on twin Michelin tyres, with only one punci

At their garage they have ample room to park 50 coaches, and propose to use this space as an open coach station.

Most of the work for the coming season will consist of short trips, the longest of these being to Cheddar Caves, but special excursions will also be run to Ascot, Goodwood, etc.

A fine 15-seater Sunbeam coach with tumble-home sides is owned by Mr. A. Es Taylor, of the Railway Hotel Ga-rage, whilst he has another 15-seater—in this case on a six-cylindered Napier ahassison order.

With regard to its pneumatic tyre equipment, MT. Taylor mentioned that

these tyres are somewhat expensive, but form a capital talking point, and make a vital difference on long runs. Owing to them he is able to make return trips to London in the one day. The vehicle is fitted with hood and rug rails, and mention was made of the fact that the curve of the sides assists in keeping the passengers dry during wet weather, as the hood projects some 6 ins. over the inner edges. Accommodation , for luggage is provided under the seats, whilst the spareWheel is carried by irons under the back of the body,

c Winter work oonsists almost entirely of private parties, although on fine days the vehicle sometimes visits the Square. A very full programme 13 being arranged for the coming season, and amongst the most interesting drives will be those to the New Forest and Lulworth Cove, and whole-day tours to the Isle of Wight, Exeter via Lyme Regis,-etc. The "Bournemouth Sunbeam" may also be hired by special arrangement for longdistance trips occupying any period.

The unladen weight of this coach is under 2 tons, and thus its legal speed is not restricted to 12 m.p.h.

An Owner-driven Coach.

Catering for Private Parties from

• Hotels and Boarding Establishments.

II 7 E had a most interesting chat with VV Mr. E. T. Gates, who runs the " Greyhound" coach, a reconstructed Leyland 28-seater, which was purchased a year ago. Mr. Gates referred to the fact that there is much more profit in 'running the bigger type of coach when it is possible to obtain the passengers. He also mentioned that, at the fares 'charged, it is possible to run a 28-seater with 14 passengers and to cover expenses. In order to cope with small parties, he is, however, purchasing a 14seater coach for the coming season. He mentioned that the great difficulty with pneumatics is that the coach has to run to a time-table, and if trouble Occurs on the road the opportunity is lost for picking up a fresh load in the Square. In this respect the small coach proves of benefit, as the trade is all " oateh" bust. ness. The first coach away is usually the first back, and, apart from the morning and afternoon runs, is often able to pay its way better still by doing evening trips.

Mr, Gat-es is an owner-driver and thus experiences what he provides for his fares. Owing to this, he has had fitted an Auger double windscreen, which gives goad ventilation to both driver and passengers, whilst each row of seats is fitted with inclined footrests. The Beets also are now being inclined to give increased leg-room and comfort.

He considers that the licensing of further coaches should be restricted to the present proprietors, as there are sufficient of them in the town to meet. present needs.

Last season the vehicle had 12,000 miles to its credit, the petrol consumption working out at 6i m.p.g. This owner is a strong believer in catering for private parties from hotels, etc., and on many days does not need to i visit the Square n order to obtain his passengers': In certain hotels he has provided boards, suitably decorated and provided with removable slips, showing the runs arranged, the slips being changed each day.

During our peregrinations We discovered only. one example of a coach body on a lord chassis. This is owned by Mr. Southgate, and is called the "Favourite." It. has a 14-seater body and pneumatic tyres the spare tyre being carried between ;he rear and front wheels

by special brackets. The body is. arranged with a gangway through the penultimate row of seats, and a box is provided at the rear for carrying small. luggage. A hoed and side curtains, the latter provided with celluloid panels, keep the passengers dry in wet weather. At present the vehicle is employed chiefly on private hire work, but during the season it will make the usual trips to places of interest in the neighbourhood, and special tours of the town, em bracing 13ranksome Chine, Canford Cliffs and Sandbanks. The fuel consumption of this Ford is 13 m.p.g.

An 18-seater Fiat has been purchased and will be available for work at Easter.

Messrs. Logan and Courtier run the "Parma Violet" coaches, which operate from Fisherman's Walk and Bosoombe. There are two vehicles, one a Thornycroft 28-seater and the other a 14-seater on a Crossley tender. At the time of our arrival the Thornycroft Was undergoing overhaul by Mr. Courtier.

This gentleman mentioned that he would net think of utilizing pneumatics on the big coach, although he is satisfied with the. results obtained from them on the Crossley. The bodies on both vehicles were built by Messrs. Steenes, of Bournemouth, and accommodation is provided under the seats for small luggage. Mr. J. Sheppard is another owner of coaches running from Bosecnnbe. He has put his vehicles aside for the winter, but is stanting late in March: The coaches are a 22 h.p. Daimler 23-seater on solid tyres, and a 14-seater Unic on Michelin pneumatics, both vehicles being fitted with the ordinary type of hoed. No special accom i

modation s provided for luggage, but when it is necessary to carry any on long-distance journeys, one of the rows of seats is given up for the purpose.

The programme for the coming season will consist of the usual trips to the New Forest, Stonehenee, Cheddar Gorges and Caves, etc., starting from Bosoomlao or Fisherman's Walk. 'These coaches do not visit the Square.


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