Motorbus World.
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Vanguard shareholders are beginning to think that the liquidation lit the Vanguard Motorbus Co. has already lasted too long.
A double-deck motorbus belonging to the Scottish Motor Traction Co., Ltd„ of Edinburgh, was overturned one night last week. It is understood that the steering gear was at fault.
Signs of the Time.
The Ortona Motor Bus Co., Ltd., of Cambridge, recently had to pay the owner of a publicly-displayed clock the sum of £2.-5, because the timepiece in question, which protruded from tln2 front of the shop of Mr. Edwin Charles Selbey, was knocked down by one of the company's motorbuses. It was stated that the clock was only struck by the shoulder of the conductor, who was on top collecting fares. The damage to the conductor is not stated.
A 60-mile Highland Service.
The cross-country service through the great glen from Fort William te Inverness is now running. Messrs. 1). iNlacBrayne, Ltd., whose steamers provide in man;y eases the only means of communication in the western Highlands, is responsible for the venture, which will link up many villages on the beautiful Loch Ness road. The mail contract has been secured, and there will be a daily service in each direction. The schedule time for the 60mile journey is about six hours, including stoppages, and so far the timetable has been found quite easy of performance. The road for the mos
part has a guild skirface, but there are innumerable bends and short but severe gradients.
A Motorbus for M.A.B.
The Metropolitan Asylums Beard is inviting tenders for the supply of one motorbus. Offers must be delivered by 10 a.m. on Monday, the 27th inst., at the office of the Board, the Embankment.
Across-town Service.
A new L.G.O. service (No. 18) between Kensal Green and Camberwell Green was inaugurated on Thursday of last week. For a considerable distance the vehicles serving this route will compete with the L.C.C. trams. It is a useful cross-town service and is likely to become very-well patronized. Service No. 18 will link together the termini of six railways, and it includes several of the longest penny stages in London.
In Anti-motor Andover.
Messrs. H. P. Moore and Sons, of Bridge Street, Andover, have, on behalf of a syndicate that has been formed under the name of " purehased two new 24 h.p. " CommerCar " chassis, fitted with motorbus bodies by E. and H. Hors, Ltd. These vehicles are to maintain a motorbus service between Andover and Tidworth barracks. Each machine has accommodation for 14 passengers inside and two outside, and facilities are also to be provided for the carriage of parcels and luggage. It is proposed to ran a regular service, and it is believed
that this will be of considerable benefit to the neighbourhood. The depot, is at Messrs. Moore's garage, and the service is to be managed by them ; the chairman of the syndicate is Mr. A. J. Nichol, Rothesay, Weyhill, Andover_
For the New Paris Buses.
We reproduce on this page, a sectional drawing of the special form of gearbox that has been adopted on the new type of Schneider motor-omnibus chassis, which is being supplied in large numbers to the Paris General Omnibus Co. Already about a dozen of these machines are running there. It will be remembered that they arc fitted with single-deck bodies, with extensive overhanging back platforms. The bonnets, which are situated beneath the driver's platforms, also protrude considerably in front of the steering wheels.
The gearbox, which we illustrate, is of a special type, known as the " D. and P.," and we are informed that the licence to manufacture gearboxes according to this special arrangement has been secured by the Schneider concern tif Havre. The gears are of the sliding type, and are operated by a gate-change device; four speeds forward and one reverse are provided_ The type of construction, which it will be seen has been embodied in the " D. and P." gearbox, is really a combination of the consta.nt-mesh and of the sliding-gear designs. It will also be noticed that advantage has been taken,. in order to minimize space, of clutching by means of internal-toothed gearrings. This is, of course, an arrangement which is quite well known, but the arrangement of the gears in this instance comprises the principal novelty of the box. We are given to understand that the arrangement described provides a box which may be noiselessly operated, and in service the reports of the running of the new machines confirm this claim. It is unnecessary here to describe in detail, tie various groupings of the gear wheels corresponding with the forward speeds and the reverse. if it be remembered that the drive from the engine is on the right hand of the gearbox as shown in the drawing, and that the primary shaft, i.e., the top one, is castellated, and that the lay shaft,. i.e., the lower one, carries two of the sliding gears on a loose running sleeve, the grouping will be quite evident after the inspection of the drawing.
The top speed is direct. It will be noticed that the two gear sleeves are in motion on all speeds The Charrun single-decker which is in public service au Beckenham is carving a regtdar profit for its owners.
Mr. Pooss, of Bournemouth, is to run a trial motorbus service for two months between West Moors and Bournemouth commencing on the 1st of March next.
A correspondent of a London financial journal pleads for a motor-omnibus service between Hammersmith Broadway and Turnham Green and Gunnersbury. He complains that the tramcars are unable to cope with the existing traffic and that the recentlyabolished horse-bus service, in existence for 30 years, was still useful.
We are informed that police traps are now being worked at night in Grosvenor Place, Grosvenor Road, Victoria Street and Vauxhall Bridge Road. Signalling is effected by electric torch, one flash for a private car, two for a taxi and three for a motorbus. During a recent foggy spell experiments were being made with red flashlights.