PASSENGER TRAVEL NEWS.
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The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.
1 • BY 'ROAD TO THE GRAND NATIONAL.
I A Vast Invasion of Liverpool by Coaches and Buses on the Occasion of the Aintree Meeting.
"AL11-1013011 'YOU char-a-hancs owners may pride yourselves. on having run the horse off the road, you'll never run 'em off the turf." Thus did a horsy-looking individual assure a coach owner at the Grand National (at Aintree nacecourse) of the perpetuity of the sport of kings. The coach owner, like the Yorkshire man, "said naw't," but probably hoped his cock-sure friend was right, for how much money was spent in muter coach hire to the National can only be conjectured. Race meetings seem to draw motor traffic, as if by magnetic influence, and when huge concourses of vehicles, of all sizes, types, ages and descriptions, hundreds of them, from near and far, -gather.,at an appointed rendezvous, one might truthfully say : "There's a kick in the old horse yet." That, however, is by the way. The invasion of Liverpool began really on a Thursday, when a fGw long-distance coaches arrived in the city-. Some vehicles belonging to Birkenhead and Wallasey owners, in ord= to avoid the
possibility of delays in crossing the river on the Friday morning, garaged in Liverpool over night and started off for the racecourse between 9 a.m. arid 11 a.m, on the Friday from the Pier Head, which is the recognized starting
off place for Aintree racecourse.
The Lancashire United Tramways Co., Ltd., through their Liverpool agents, Avery and Roberts, Ltd., booked up 12 coaches (28-seaters), and the New Brighton Motor Touring Co., Alfred Hardieg (of Birkenhead), Liverpool Motor Touring Co., Barker's Motors, each had full fleet loads, as, in fact, did most of the Merseyside owners, who made arrangements for their vehicles to enter the carriage enclosure at the racecourse, so that the passengers could watch the race from such a coign of advantage as each coach would provide. Coach owners had to pay the racecourse authorities about 3s. per passenger for the privilege of using the carriage enclosure, Some coach companies made arrange ments for catering for their booked passciagers on the course, and by the time the vehicles had been " parked" a hot drink was ready to be served to the big numbers of racegoers, who, true to tradition, were, of course, ready for it. This was merely, the preliminary to a threecourse luncheon served in the coaches. After the principal race was over 'afternoon tea, was served. Arrangements of this description were made by the. New Brighton Motor Coach Co., who earlier on the morning of the race had hot water boilers, crockery, foodstuffs, etc., despatched to Aintree, so that everything would be in readiness by the time the coaches 'began to arrive. Messrs. Alfred Harding, of Birkenhead and Wallasey, had a Maudslay pantechnicon • on the course, and this was laden with good things—food and beverage—for the benefit of their seven or eight coach loads`of passengers.
It was noticeable, this year' that saloon coaches were more numerous than ever. Particularly fine were the Denni 5 vehicles with Strachan and Brown bodywork—roll-top roofs, drop windows and luggage compartment at. the rear. There were two coaches of this description, both owned by the Lancashire 'United Tramways, Ltd.
The fares from Liverpool or the adjoining Merseyside boroughs were lower than last year. Single-seat bookings for the journey (about nme miles return) and nainission to the course were in the vicinity of 10s.,whilst, including meals, 21s., 30s., 35s., according to-the tariff of the coach owner.was charged.
There were many travel-stained, longdistance open and saloon coaches, some having made the journey from the Midlands arid from Yorkshire. All sorts of expedients were resorted to to view the
races, such as haulage lorries with tiers of seats, etc. The "bookies " are showing a, progressive motor interest. Most, of them had cars, The fine weather, which coincided with the Royal visit, attracted a far greater number of coaches and buses than were present last year.