RAILWAY RECORD

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19162, 19 November 1927, Page 7

RAILWAY RECORD

300 MILES NON-STOP RUN. FROM CARLISLE TO EUSTON. (rEOM OtJB OWH COBBISPOHDENT.) LONDON, September SO. Straight from their •world's record run of 300 miles without a stop, Driver W. J. Scott, Fireman C. J. Chambers, and Pilot Driver H. Wardle, of the L.M.S. Railway, went to the Euston Hotel one night this week to be toasted and feasted by directors of the company. They had brought the Royal Scot, a 420-ton train, from Carlisle to Euston in 5} hours, and kept on perfect running time the whole way until just outside London, when they put on a final spurt and arrived two minutes beforo scheduled time. A crowd of several hundred people were waiting for them, and as Mr J. H. Follows, vice-president of the company, greeted them, a cheer was given for the blackened and oily heroes. Engine Drew Entertained. A few minutes later they were ushered into the hotel, and told to prepare for the banquet in their honour. A hurried scrub, which changed their faces from black to red, but left little noticeable effect on their hands, and they took their places at the principal table in company with Mr Follows, Mr R. C. Irwin, secretary of the company, Mr Ashton Davies, general superintndent, and other leading officials. It was the first time in the history of the company that an engine crew had sat down in their overalls to dine in company with their principals, and Fireman Chambers facetiously remarked: "Cabaret shows were nothing in his line." Later, when pressed to speak, he blushingly declared, "All thi3 iB a bit beyond me, and when I get to the shops to-morrow I shall start singing 'Now the Labourer's Task is O'er.'" Driver Scott, chief hero of the great run, told the company he had been working since he was 12 years old, and broko down under the emotion of the moment when he added, "I have tried to do my duty all my life." He is 62, and has been on the railway since lie was 17. Previous Record. Until this week the longest non-stop ! run on the L.M.S. system was between Euston and Carnforth, 236 miles. By adding another 54 the record for the world is easily obtained, but, Mr Follows stated, the object is to convenience the public, not merely to establish records. For this reason a margin of time is allowed which ensures the train's arrival on time even after such a long run. The previous world's nonstop record was held by the L.N.E.R., between King's Cross and Newcastle, 268 miles. Fifteen new engines have been specially designed for the service, which continues on to Glasgow and Edinburgh.