Coach Hire in Turn-of-the-Century Tourism
Coach travel in the early days was certainly an experience not for the faint-hearted. With inexperienced drivers, excursions sometimes became longer than they should due to the driver getting lost, the weather hitting hard and the shortage of good quality roads testing vehicles to the limit. At the end of the day, though, even these difficulties would be forgotten as the intrepid travellers of the time enjoyed their day out at the seaside.
A coach trip in those long-gone days usually meant a day out to the seaside, candy floss, kiss me quick hats, fish and chips - all part of the seaside experience. This was particularly true before the 1970s, when air travel became more affordable.
Since the turn of the last century, travelling by coach has been the most effective method of transporting groups of people from one place to another. In the early days, these coaches were open-topped and passengers were completely at the mercy of the elements. The greater problem, however, was the unreliability of early motor vehicles.
As the popularity of this mode of transport increased, new coach companies were springing up all over the country. Early on, no form of public service or coach driving license was required and, unlike modern motorists, many had little or no training. Coach companies then had to contend with unsuitable roads and conditions, garages or facilities for refuelling were few and far between, inadequate navigation aides and any excursion by early coaches usually met with some kind of breakdown or problem.
Every seaside resort had its fair ground, with rides which would make the hair of any modern Health and Safety officer go grey. There were many accidents on these contraptions, sometimes resulting in fatalities, but these were soon forgotten as the throngs of day-trippers, as the became known, wandered through the various side stalls.
These included the 'wheel them in', where the object was to roll an old ‘penny' to either cover something or clear something to win a prize. Naturally, the odds were always in favour of the stall-holder. Stalls in the centre, known as 'round-uns' because of their circular shape, gave 'punters' the opportunity to win a goldfish, budgerigar or some sort of prize every time by hooking a floating duck.
While the fairs still exist, the coach companies have developed significantly since then. They now boast modern, comfortable vehicles with air-conditioning, satellite navigation and trained, professional drivers. Holiday accidents are now a relatively distant memory, allowing groups to enjoy their free time together without wondering which of them would not be coming home. Find out more about the services such companies offer and book yours today.
A coach trip in those long-gone days usually meant a day out to the seaside, candy floss, kiss me quick hats, fish and chips - all part of the seaside experience. This was particularly true before the 1970s, when air travel became more affordable.
Since the turn of the last century, travelling by coach has been the most effective method of transporting groups of people from one place to another. In the early days, these coaches were open-topped and passengers were completely at the mercy of the elements. The greater problem, however, was the unreliability of early motor vehicles.
As the popularity of this mode of transport increased, new coach companies were springing up all over the country. Early on, no form of public service or coach driving license was required and, unlike modern motorists, many had little or no training. Coach companies then had to contend with unsuitable roads and conditions, garages or facilities for refuelling were few and far between, inadequate navigation aides and any excursion by early coaches usually met with some kind of breakdown or problem.
Every seaside resort had its fair ground, with rides which would make the hair of any modern Health and Safety officer go grey. There were many accidents on these contraptions, sometimes resulting in fatalities, but these were soon forgotten as the throngs of day-trippers, as the became known, wandered through the various side stalls.
These included the 'wheel them in', where the object was to roll an old ‘penny' to either cover something or clear something to win a prize. Naturally, the odds were always in favour of the stall-holder. Stalls in the centre, known as 'round-uns' because of their circular shape, gave 'punters' the opportunity to win a goldfish, budgerigar or some sort of prize every time by hooking a floating duck.
While the fairs still exist, the coach companies have developed significantly since then. They now boast modern, comfortable vehicles with air-conditioning, satellite navigation and trained, professional drivers. Holiday accidents are now a relatively distant memory, allowing groups to enjoy their free time together without wondering which of them would not be coming home. Find out more about the services such companies offer and book yours today.
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