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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 2, Issue 9 (January 1, 1928)

Longest Non-Stop Run

Longest Non-Stop Run.

It is the “Royal Scot” train which now ranks as the world's longest non-stop flier. This train leaves Euston Station daily at 10 a.m. and arrives at Carlisle at 3.45 p.m., dividing thereafter into two sections, one for Glasgow and the other for Edinburgh—both points being reached at 6.15 p.m. In the reverse direction, Glasgow and Edinburgh are left at 10 a.m., Carlisle at 12.20 p.m., and London reached non-stop from the border at 6.15 p.m.

Accommodation is provided on the “Royal Scot” for 132 first-class and 318 third-class travellers, and the weight behind the locomotive is approximately 400 tons. All seats are numbered, and any number of seats may be reserved in advance. The non-stop run of 299 miles, which is accomplished in a trifle under six hours, has been rendered possible by the introduction of a new series of 4–6–0 three-cylinder engines, which develop a tractive effort of 33,150 lbs. at 85 per cent. boiler pressure.

Between Euston and Carlisle many difficult stretches of track have to be negotiated, notably on the 1 in 70 grades out of London, and on the long climbs of 1 in 75 in the Carlisle neighbourhood. Features which have been embodied in the design of the new locomotives are high boiler pressure, large grate area and firebox volume, standard type superheater, exhaust steam injector and steam tube cleaner. The three simple cylinders are each provided with an independent Walschaert's valve gear, and in the 10 ft. 3 in. firebox there has been incorporated a drop grate operated from the cab by means of a hand lever.

The total weight of the “Royal Scot” locomotive and tender in working order is 127 tons 12 cwt., and the leading dimensions are as follows:—Boiler pressure, 250 lbs. per sq. in.; heating surface, tubes, 1,892 sq. ft.; firebox, 189 sq. ft.; total 2,081 sq. ft.; superheater, 445 sq. ft.; grate area, 31.2 sq. ft.; cylinders, 18 in.; diameter by 26 in. stroke; coupled wheels, 6 ft. 9 in. diameter; water capacity of tender, 3,500 gallons; coal capacity, 5½ tons. Drive from the inside cylinder is on the crank axle of the leading pair of coupled wheels, and from the outside cylinders on the middle pair of coupled wheels.