EXPERIENCES OF A WOMAN BUS DRIVER.
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The Activities of a New Cleethorpes Owner Who Has Been Operating Passenger Vehicles For Four Years.
ALTHOUGH there is a number of comparatively small motorbus undertakings in various parts of the country, particularly in the most isolated and • sparsely populated districts, there can be very few instances where the passenger transport facilities are provided by the vehicles run by a woman bus proprietor. Mrs. Morley, of New Cleethorpes, however, has been running buses for several years past, and she has developed her road transport activities to a point of marked success by paying due heed to the public's requirements and to the factors of reliability and general efficiency.
The buses which Mrs. Morley owns are run on what is familiarly known as the "Ada Service." This service was started in September, 1921, by a Mr. Steers., .who employed a secondrhand 1-ton Ford chassis with a canvas-topped body in which the seats were fitted longitudinally. In April, 1922, the undertaking was advertised for sale, and it was then that Mrs. Morley came on the scene and purchased the vehicle, commencing to run it on her own account on the last day of that month.
Only a few days elapsed before the somewhat primitive top WAS removed and a wooden structure with windows at the sides fitted in its place. This vehicle did nine months' constant service for its new oivner and covered over 90 miles per day. Any repairs that -were necessary had to be carried out between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7.30 a.m. by tht driver-mechanic.
With the business growing at steady pace, Mrs. Morley decided that it was incumbent on her to provide better accommodation for the passengers, and it was then—in January, 1923—that she decided on the purchase of a 20 seater Guy bus, after having considered various makes and types, and thus it was that "Ada No. 2" came into existence.
This vehicle was delivered on the 22nd of the month and commissioned for service on the following day. Owing to a misunderstanding on the part of a municipal official, however, it had to be taken out of service on the same day inasmuch as it had not been passed officially by the watch committee. This little formality was adjusted by calling a special meeting of the responsible committee and, after spending a week in the garage, the vehicle was pressed into regular service on the Grimsby and Waltham route.
At this point we can best quote from a letter which Mrs. Morley sent to Guy Motors. Ltd., and from which it is obvious that the vehicle did not plough a lonely furrow. "Then we realized what a guard of honour meant," the owner knowingly observes. "It was buses in front of us and buses at the rear of us. They were sent out five minutes in front, presumably to ' clear ' the way (previously they had run from 15 to 20 minutes in front), and we were usually well escorted on both outward and homeward journeys. But the .Guy will hold its own. Extra runs were added to the time-table and `Ada No. 2' acquired a reputation for comfort and reliability which it holds to-day after more than three years' regular running of 700 miles per week, this not including extra running for dance parties, etc., 'which has been carried out periodically."
In July, 1923, Mrs. Morley deemed it advisable to return the vehicle for slight attention to the brakes, but this matter was quickly put right and the bus lost less than two days on the road. Since that time the vehicle has lost three runs only, this being when a leaf in a rear spring fractured in October last. Better testimony to the Guy bus could hardly be found than in the statement of the owner to the effect that "during the three years we have paid your firm the sum of fill for renewals, although several of these we have found (on taking down the particular parts) were not necessary, and so we have them in stock."
In January last Mrs. Morley decided that it would be to her advantage to return the vehicle to the manufacturers for a general overhaul; it then had a mileage record to its credit of well over 100,000.
"Ada No. 2" has won a good reputation in the districts which are served by reason of the comfort which it gives and its reliable running. The owner is well satisfied with its running costs.
Mrs. Morley has had experience with Ford, Chevrolet and Morris buses— purchased in this order—each of which was used for a period in. conjunction with the Guy vehicle. These buses were all of comparatively small carrying capacity, and at the end of October last year the owner decided that, in view of the popularity of the service, the vehicle seating only 14 people was not large enough for regular-service work. Another Guy bus was therefore purchased, and this was put into service in December last. The basis of this vehicle, which is known as "Ada No. 4," is the Guy low, load-line passenger chassis and the body seats 26 people. "Ada No. 3 "—the Morris 14-seateris retained as a reserve bus or used for private-hire work. The two Guy buses, which are giving such excellent, service, are shown in the accompanying inns= trations.