NEW PLYMOUTH GARAGE
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FINISHING touches are being applied at Laira Bridge, Plymouth, to a new bus garage of the Western National Omnibus Co., Ltd. The building incorporates many modern features. There are six heated and illuminated inspection pits, and automatic bus washers have been installed. with the Commer van, the pick-up is the heavier by about 1 cwt., weighing approximately a ton when ready for the road.
The test vehicle was collected from Central London and carried a nominal load of 51 cwt., which represented a slight overload with a crew of two. Even so, its acceleration rate was good and the journey to the cross-country test ground at Keston, Kent, passed quickly. In cutting across a major road I had to stop at the foot of Hayes Common and start away on a steep gradient with the independently to the full-bump position.
After a short but gruelling trial the engine stalled because of fuel shortage, a blow on the temporary tank fitted on the front bumper bar having disturbed the feed pipe and carried some loose scale through to the main jet. Operations were resumed within a few minutes and attempts were made to climb some steep banks which were thickly coated with decayed vegetation.
The Commer stalled part-way up the first slope, but gained ground at each successive attempt, after packing down the surface with its tyres. There was no reasonable ground for a fast approach and, although the vehicle put up a commendable performance, a 50-yd.-long soft bank of about 1 in 5 average gradient proved just outside its capabilities with full load.
Soft Ground in two hours' work on the estate, the Commer showed good performance and the only other involuntary stop came when attempting to ford a soft mud patch at the bottom of a shallow ditch. Just as success was in sight, the rear wheels started to spin and the back slid dangerously near a tree. To prevent possible damage to the body it was pulled clear of the obstacle and then completed the hazardous estate course.. I do not think any owner would , contemplate giving such merciless treatment to a pick-up and I was satisfied from its behaviour that it would fulfil all normal and many abnormal requirements. There was no lack of skirt, front or rear clearance in the cross-country work.
On the road 'I considered the performance in the nominal role as an estate car, and by mentally adding 1 cwt. to the payload, extended the results which would be obtained with the lighter delivery van. The Commer can attain the maximum speed of the Hinman Minx car, but the acceleration rate is governed according to the payload.
Traffic Stops Initial fuel trials were made on the Hastings road between Farnborough and the top of Poll Hill, the course being a 10-mile circuit with a turn on a roundabout on the outward run. Continuous-rtinning trials were impeded by a traffic control mid-way along the course where the road is being widened, and the average speed was rather below the 40 m.p.h.