The Motor Omnibus World.
Page 6
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The two Thornycroft buses running at Cambridge are giving satisfaction La the local company.
Westbury, a suburb of Bristol, is badly in need of communication with the centre of the city. There is room here for a well-managed service.
Our old and esteemed friend " A Ratepayer" has made his presence known in York, where a proposal is afoot to run a service. The local Press has received a letter from this ubiquitous gentleman, couched in the approved flowery language, and pointing out the pains and penalties the town will suffer if the Town Council gives its sanction to the scheme. But it is carrying gross mis-statements of facts perilously near wilful perversions of the truth to say that cars have four times the carrying capacity of buses and that only the latter are ever responsible for accidents, Some parts of Birkenhead seem to be in the nature of a shuttlecock in the hands of the Tramways Committee of the town. The tradesmen in the thoroughfare known as Charing Cross have petitioned several times for rails to be laid down, and thus link up Bebington, New Ferry, Rock Ferry, and Higher Tranmere, via Whetstone Lane, with Charing Cross and the Deeside railway. As, for some reason unknown, the committee treats the appeals of the tradesmen with contempt, a suggestion has been mooted that a company be formed locally to run motor buses. Perhaps sonic of our enterprising manufacturers will get in touch with this neighbourhood, as there is an enormous traffic that can be immediately developed,
The Municipal Tramways Association is in a state of what is popularly known as funk with respect to the opposition that is feared from motor buses. We recently referred to the action taken upon the N.E. Railway Bill before the Select Committee of the House of Commons, and the clause that the Committee inserted. But the M.T.A. is not satisfied that the clause is stringent enough to satisfy the requirements of corporations owning tramways, and at a meeting of the association on 3oth ult. it was resolved to endeavour to get yet another clause inserted when the Bill was set down for consideration upon report. This was the proposed clause : "That, notwithstanding the powers granted by section 54 of the Bill, nothing contained in that section shall authorise a company to run any railway omnibuses in a borough or urban district provided with a system of tramways otherwise than for the conveyance of railway passengers, passengers' luggage, and mails to or from a station or hotel of the company without the consent in writing of the local authority for such a period as may be therein specified "; now rejected.
The London General Omnibus Company, Ltd., is intendbig to devote most of its newest vehicles to the Crieklewood-Marble Arch route.
A syndicate with the expressive title " Irish Motor Service" is about to institute a line of passenger vehicles between the Pavilion, Kingstown, and Bray. These places are well-known seaside resorts near Dublin.
Clarkson, Limited, of Chelmsford, has received an order from the New South Wales Government for four Chelmsford steam buses. These will be fitted with Colonial-built bodies. A repeat order for two Chelmsford buses has also been received from the Victorian Railways.
Commencing last Thursday, a line of buses connects Chagford and district with the main line of the L. and S.W. Railway at Exeter. Chagford is a picturesque neighbourhood on the borders of Dartmoor and will reap immediate advantage in a larger increase of tourist traffic.
Up to May 24th seventy-five mechanically propelled buses had been licensed by the police to run for hire upon roads in London. If all those folks who have been, and are still placing orders for urgent delivery, secure what they want, there will be more than ten times that number within the next few months.
The motor omnibus service instituted by the Great North of Scotland Railway Company between Culter, Echt, and Midmar commenced yesterday. The first bus left Midinar at 7.30 a.m., arriving at Culter at 8.50 a.m. The first car from Culler left at 9.25 a.m. One car is being run on the route, and is of the same type as those running between Ballater and Braemer.
Persons who are prejudiced against motors or more interested in horses are endeavouring to arrest progress by raising ingenious side issues. The latest of such attempts comes from the Isle of Wight. The Rural District Council has referred to a committee the question as to whether the use of the roads by motor buses does not constitute extraordinary traffic!
The Directors of the Great North of Scotland Railway, appreciating the assistance motor buses will give as feeders to the line, and for the greater convenience of passengers, brought forward the question at a special meeting of the proprietors last week. It was decided to secure Parliamentary sanction for the purpose in view. Sir David Stewart (Chairman of the Company) said that the experience of the experimental service which had been running for twelve months between Ballater and Braemar had been of so satisfactory a nature as to induce the Board to extend similar facilities to many other parts of their system, and thus encourage additional travelling by railway.
Although 75 buses have been licensed by the Commissioner of Police for use in London, these are not yet all in service. At the moment of going to press the actual number on the road is 62, distributed as follows :--London Power Omnibus Co., nine; Tillings, Ltd., eleven; Birch Brothers, two; London General Omnibus Co., four; London Road Car Co., fourteen ; London Motor Omnibus Co., thirteen; Star Omnibus Co., two; London Suburban Omnibus Co., two; Henry Turner, two; French, Ltd., one; Associated Omnibus Co., one; London and County Omnibus Co., one. It must be understood that these will be added to daily, as the large orders already placed are executed.
We venture to endorse the suggestion of our oontemporary "The Daily Chronicle" that the designers and builders of motor bus bodies ought to depart from the type associated with the antiquated " Shillibeer " bus. Just for the present, manufacturers have to contend with the desire of buyers to utilise their old bodies by transferring them to the motor frames, a penny wise and pound foolish policy, which will defeat its own object for initial economy. There is wide scope for designs suitable for types of bodies for varied work and to suit local conditions. The ancient herring box pattern has had its day and must give way to something more comfortable, lighter, and which will afford the interior occupants as much fresh air on a summer's day as the more fortunate outside passengers.