Stagecoach
A stagecoach is a type of four-wheeled enclosed passenger and/or mail coach, strongly sprung and drawn by four horses, widely-used before the introduction of rail and road transport. A stagecoach would stop periodically at so-called staging posts to take on fresh horses, exchange mail, and to give the passengers and crew food and rest stops.
The stage-coach, with seats outside and in, was a public conveyance which was known in England from the 16th century. Until the railroad systems of Europe drove the stages out of business they had regular routes (stages) all over Britain and the Continent. In Britain their carrying the mails from 1784 generated the term "mail-coach."
Today the most familiar image of the stagecoach is in western movies, but they were also used throughout eastern North America and Europe. The diligence, though not invariably with four horses, was the Continental analogue for public conveyance, with other minor varieties such as the Stellwagen and Eilwagen Stages could compete with canalboats, but they were rendered obsolete as the railroad network expanded.
A constant danger for stagecoach travellers was the threat of robbery by highwaymen or bandits.
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Stagecoach is also the name of a British transport company which operates several bus and rail franchises, and has faced some criticism over its alleged use of anti-competetive practices.