Fast passenger train running has always been a feature of British railways operation. While America and one or two Continental countries present striking examples of really fast passenger train, movement, taking all in all, in no other corner of the five continents do railways offer such a remarkable number of fast daily express runs as is the case in Britain. From the point of view of distance, what we at Home term “long” passenger journeys are actually very short trips as compared with the tremendous mileages covered by American trans-continental and European international expresses. Nevertheless, the great trunk services of the four group railways of Britain are recognised the world over as of outstanding interest and merit, and the fame of trains like the “Flying Scotsman,” the “Royal Scot,” the “Cheltenham Flyer,” and the “Brighton Belle” has for long been established wherever railwaymen foregather.

One of the finest shows of fast daily passenger trains is found in the Anglo-Scottish time-table of the London and North Eastern Railway. In and out of the King's Cross terminus in London there are operated a vast number of crack trains, all of them “hotels on wheels,” with the “Flying Scotsman” topping the list.

Pullman train operation is conspicuous at King's Cross. All-Pullman services include the “Queen of Scots” daily train between London, Leeds, Newcastle-on-Tyne, and Edinburgh; the “West Riding Pullman” between London and the thriving industrial centres of Yorkshire; and the “Harrow-gate Sunday Pullman” between London and the spa centre of Harrowgate. Two fine night trains are “The Aberdonian,” from London to Aberdeen; and the “Night Scotsman,” operating between King's Cross and Scottish points. These both have luxury sleepers in their make-up, and are rightly among the most popular of Anglo-Scottish connections.