DESERT TRANSPORT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23691, 24 December 1938, Page 12

DESERT TRANSPORT

BAGDAD TO DAMASCUS NAIRN BROTHERS' SERVICE ROAD VERSUS AIRWAYS <Fer United Press Association? AUCKLAND, Dec. 23. The latest developments in the desert passenger service from Bagdad to Damascus pioneered and still maintained by the two New Zealand brothers, Messrs G. and N. Nairn, were described by Mr G. Nairn, who arrived by the Monterey. Mr Nairn, who is accompanied by his wife, has come to see his sons, who are being educated in New Zealand. It is his first visit for five years. The principal vehicles now in the desert service are stainless steel 18passenger Pullman trailer and tractor units. They are air-conditioned, and cover the 550-mile journey between Damascus and Bagdad in 16 hours. They cost £IO,OOO each. While in America, Mr Nairn ordered engines for two Dieseldriven 12-seater vehicles for night service. The bodies are being built in France. The company is now using exclusively Diesel-driven vehicles, as it has been found that recent improvements in engines of this type make them by far the best power-unit for the service. It is planned to introduce, in 1940, airconditioned sleepers to accommdate 28 persons in 12 sleeping berths and 16 Pullman chairs. They will contain dressing rooms and a buffet, and will carry one ton and a-half of luggage. Mr Nairn said that, although the air service competition over the route was very keen, traffic had not been adversely affected owing to the introduction of the air-condi-tioned, dust-proof cars. First-class traffic had been fully held and, last year, 16,000 passengers were transported. The development of oil in Arabia had meant increased business. Although the company sends four services a week to Palestine, no trouble has been experienced as a result of the disturbances in that country. Mr Nairn said the route had been altered to run from Damascus along the coast through Beirut and Haifa to avoid the more troubled area through Tiberias and Nazareth. Cars making the trips were not armed, but protection was provided by British armoured cars which patrolled the route. The run from Bagdad to Damascus was now perfectly safe, and raids by Arabs and similar difficulties with which thev had to contend in the early days of the service were now things of the past.