At one time, Liverpool s landing stage was so busy that ships would be literally queuing in the Mersey to discharge and embark passengers. However, the period from the late 1940s saw both the golden age of Liverpool shipping as well as the decline of its passenger trade. From the early 1960s, though, Liverpool s passenger trade entered a decline that was unstoppable. The Jet Age had seen the loss of much of its trade and shipping line after shipping line moved away from the port or stopped its ships sailing and sold them for scrap or service with foreign lines. John Shephard tells the story, using the memories of those who sailed in them, of the last liners to use Liverpool."