During the 1920s excursions by charabanc were a popular form of day-trip. Charabancs, with their open-topped coaches and rows of full-width seats, were the first tour bus. A charabanc journey would be uncomfortable as the early vehicles had solid tyres and poor springs, however they could travel to places which could not be reached by train.
The Thornycroft charabanc in this photograph belonged to the Scottish Motor Traction Company (SMT) The bus driver and conductor are pictured in the photograph dressed in SMT uniform. The conductor was responsible for collecting the fares and punching the tickets. There were no restrictions on the number of passengers. On busy routes exrtra passengers were squeezed onto the steps.
Roslin has been a busy tourist destination since at least the 1700s. Its three main attractions were the Chapel, Castle and Roslin Glen. The scenery and romance of Roslin made it a popular location for writers and artists. Sir Walter Scott was a frequent visitor and introduced his readers to the Castle and Chapel in 'The Lay of the Last Minstrel'. The popularity of Scott's writings helped make Roslin one of Scotland's most frequently visited tourist attractions in the 19th century.
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