Passing Comments
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SOIVIE of the foreign railways are in a far worse state than those in Britain, and without the excuse of road competition. As an example of this, the Danish State Railways last year made a loss of £2,317,000, against a previous year's loss of £1,939,000.
A NOVELTY in the production of non-skid treads for pneumatic tyres is the use of fine sand mixed with the rubber. This roughened surface adds to the grip, and when the particles are torn loose the fine holes remaining act as suckers. Experimental tyres of this type are said to be giving excellent mileages.
RUBBER is being increasingly used in the motor vehicle and, in the future, may possibly be employed for parts not hitherto considered practicable to be so constructed. For instance, patents have been taken out for the use of rubber for covering bodies and for door and window frames.
TRANSPORT managers, speaking at the T.L.R.T.A. Congress, were emphatic regarding the progress of the oil engine. This is, in fact, slightly disadvantageous, because such improvements have been effected during the past year that some potential users are hesitating to buy because they expect further advances in the early future. IN these days the word " economy " is bandied about until it has become synonymous with cheeseparing. It is interesting to note that, during a detailed tour of the Gardner works, the word was used only in connection with the rate of fuel use and operating costs. The men in the works talked of nothing else but quality.
THE C.M.U.A., always alert in its endeavours to redress the grievances of road users, is urging the Minister of Transport to remove the anomaly regarding the legal maximum speed of articulated vehicles fitted with pneumatic tyres, this being, at present, 16 m.p.h., and it suggests that those vehicles not exceeding 2/ tons unladen should be permitted 30 m.p.h., and if over this weight, 20 m.p.h.
COACH operators with a keen eye to business should make a note of the Tidworth Tattoo, which is being held on Salisbury Plain on August 5 and from August 8 to 12, in aid of military charities. Those who may doubt the value of the event from a coach-business point of view will be interested to learn that, last year, 111,000 persons attended, about 55,400 visitors being carried,iin some 2,770 coaches. The organizers assist orators in the matter of publicity for the event. IT is surprising how often otherwise excellent coach bodies are spoiled by inadequate legroom, No matter how comfortable the seat itself may be, legroom has an important influence on the passenger's enjoyment of a journey. In view of the fact that long-distance coaches are seldom loaded to full capacity, it would appear that two seats might easily be sacrificed to give greater freedom.
AS an example of the boon of wireless equipment on aircraft, it is interesting to record that the Imperial Airways liner "Hannibal," when flying over desert land along the section of the India route between Baghdad and Basra, picked up the result of the Derby within a minute or so of the winner passing the post. Needless to say, passengers were delighted at being able to establish this link with the home country.
IN connection with the clause in the Road and Rail Traffic Bill to the effect that licences may he revoked or suspended for breaches of the conditions, it was suggested to the Minister that the licence holder might be penalized because of the action of his employees, but the Minister held that employers should be responsible for their men. After all, the Bill refers to frequent breaches, and the licence holder could, surely, prevent repetition.