With the introduction of the winter train service in September last, the 2.30 p.m. train from Cheltenham to Paddington, known the world over as “The Cheltenham Flyer,” was accelerated between Swindon and Paddington to cover the distance of 77 1/4 miles in 67 minutes. This service constituted the fastest start-to-stop run in the world.

On. Monday, June 6, the train broke all railway speed records with a time of 56 minutes 47 seconds, at an average speed of 81.6 miles per hour, and further demonstrated the locomotive efficiency of the Great Western Railway. Such a journey speed has never previously been equalled by steam, so far as railway records go.

The running times of the train were recorded by Messrs. Humphrey Baker and Cecil J. Allen, both using split-second chronographs and being independently checked. The log accompanies this article.

The train was hauled by a 4-cylinder 4—6—0 engine of the “Castle” class (No. (5006, “Tregenna Castle”), and the load consisted of five passenger coaches and a restaurant car, the total weight being 186 tons. Driver Ruddock and Fireman Thorp, of Old Oak Common, were in charge on the footplate, accompanied by Inspector Sheldon.

A further experiment was made with the corresponding train in the down direction, the train selected being the 5.0 p.m. Paddington to Cheltenham express, which was stopped at Swindon for the purpose. Another “Castle” engine (“Manorbier Castle”), in charge of Driver Burgess and Fireman Gibson, also of Old Oak Common, and accompanied on the footplate by Inspector Sheldon, was used. The journey time for the 77.3 miles occupied 60.01 minutes, an average speed of 77.28 miles per hour. In this case, the gradient is a gently .rising one. A speed of 70 miles per hour was attained in 4 1/2 miles (just beyond Acton), and 80 miles per hour at Southall (9 miles). The highest speed on this journey was 84.9 miles per hour.

In order to bring the observers quickly back to London, the 5.15 p.m. two-hour express from Bristol to Paddington was stopped at Swindon to pick them up, and a third run of considerable merit was performed page 37 with a much heavier load. The train, 267 tons to Reading, and 230 tons from that station to Paddington, completed the run of 77.3 miles in 66.3 minutes, from start to stop. On this journey a slight signal check was sustained at Didcot, and a slack at Reading, through the platform line, to enable the slip-coach to be detached.