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Leicester's Mystery Tour
MUNICIPAL bus operators seeking to increase their revenue may well take note of Leicester Transport Department's Easter venture in running double-deckers on a mystery tour around the city. The tour lasted an hour and the fare was Is. per head, half-price for children. During the afternoon of the first day that the tour was run, more than SO buses left the terminus and a long queue of waiting passengers formed.
This proved the popularity of the experiment, and other mystery tours may be run at Whitsuntide and at August.
Highways From Tram Tracks
THE towns of Santa Monica and Sierra Madre, in the U.S.A., have been suffering from ever-growing congestion of traffic. It so happens, however, that alongside some of the major highways were electric tram tracks, and to the delight of the respective municipal authorities, the company owning the tramways offered these tricks free, if they could be paved at the public expense, the company agreeing to remove rails, wires and poles.
A26 The reason for this generous gesture was that the company, which already operated coaches, wished to complete the changeover; and, of course, expected to have the privilege of running its coach lines over the new highways thus made. The offer was accepted and much of the work has already been done. The parallel roads are now being employed for slowmoving traffic.
A Well-organized Canteen
CARE for the employees has always been a major factor with the Austin Motor Co., Ltd.. At its L,ongbridge works a new canteen for Over 1,000 has been built, the main contractor for canteen equipment being the General Electric Co., Ltd. The canteen has been designed to use the ample process steam available at the works, which is employed for hot cupboards, water boilers at the service counter,. steaming ovens, etc., whilst the main electrical equipment, of standard G.E.C. design, comprises roasting and pastry ovens, fish fryers, grillers, etc.
There are sections in the kitchen for the various processes, including baking and dish washing, whilst the counters are arranged for self-service and for the senior-staff waitress service. The main canteen also has a soda fountain and there is even a small laundry.
An Advocate of Electric Bases
SPEAKING recently to the members of the Birmingham and Five Counties Architectural Association, its president, Mr. G. B. Cox, suggested the use of single-deck battery-electric buses on the city's inner ring road to provide a service to the shopping and business areas. He thought that these would fit in with the development plan in respect of traffic.
The vehicles envisaged would be similar to the "toast racks" formerly used at some of our seaside resorts and still in service on the Continent. He described them humorously as a cross between Birmingham refuse carts and beer-delivery vehicles. They would be much smaller than the normal bus. The main object was to arrest the circulation of ordinary buses in the centre and particularly to free °Amore Row. .
Electric buses were in use in England many years ago, Derby being one of the cities which was the last to abandon them. Their main advantages are quiet running and freedom from fumes, but the mileage between charges is short, particularly on hilly routes. The mileage could be increased by a rapid replacement of batteries at convenient points.
Jobs for the Engineering "Boys"
THE. annual report for 1951 of the Professional Engineers' Appointment Bureau, 9, Victoria Street, London, S.W.1, shows considerable progress in the work of this body and draws attention to the general shortage of qualified engineers. It is also interesting to note that over 10 per cent. of• those placed in new positions were over 50 years of age.
The total vacancies were 1,070, of which 314 were for civil engineers, 503 for mechanical and 253 for electrical. Overseas vacancies amounted to about 30 per cent., the majority being in the Middle East, West and East Africa, India and 'Pakistan. For • these, 7,276 nominations were made. At the end of the year, enrolments numbered 1,679 compared with 1,947 in 1950, and 1,981 in 1949.
Two factors which discourage changes are the obtaining of suitable living accommodation and whether or not educational facilities for children are available. Income from fees did not cover outgoings, but a number of employers made donations. The appointments ranged from practical training for students to executive posts for senior corporate members of the recognized institutions.