Some of the most famous trains in the world are among those operating in the Anglo-Scottish services of the London, Midland & Scottish, and London & North Eastern Railways. Traffic between English and Scottish centres this year is exceptionally heavy, and the wonderful Empire Exhibition in Glasgow—where New Zealand has a magnificent show—is bringing rich business to the railways. Many important accelerations have been introduced in the Anglo-Scottish time-tables. The “Royal Scot” express of the L. M. & S., which leaves Euston Station, London, for Glasgow and Edinburgh at 10 a.m. each week day, has been accelerated by 45 minutes, covering the 299 miles from London to Carlisle non-stop at an average speed of 60 m.p.h. In the reverse direction a cut of 25 minutes has been effected in the Glasgow-Euston timings. On the L. & N. E. R., the “Flying Scotsman,” daily trains have been re-timed to complete the journey in each direction between King's Cross and Edinburgh in seven hours, with one intermediate stop at Newcastle. For the first time in its long history, the “Flying Scotsman” this year runs on Sundays as well as on week-days. Fastest of all Anglo-Scottish trains is the “Coronation” streamliner, which occupies only six hours on the King's Cross-Edinburgh journey.
Particular interest attaches to these Anglo-Scottish accelerations because this year we are celebrating the golden jubilee of the famous “Railway Race to Edinburgh,” one of the most thrilling events in transporation's story. This “railway race” had its beginnings in 1887, when third-class passengers were first allowed to travel by the “Flying Scotsman” between King's Cross and Edinburgh. The West Coast (London & North Western and Caledonion) Railways had for some years carried third-class travellers on their principal day train between Euston and Edinburgh, but the journey occupied 10 hours, as compared with the East Coast (King's Cross-Edinburgh) run of 9 hours. On June 1st, 1888, the Euston-Edinburgh timing was cut to 9 hours. The East Coast companies (Great Northern, North Eastern and North British) promptly responded by accelerating the “Flying Scotsman” to 8 ½ hours as from July 1st. Towards the end of that month the West Coast authorities announced that they also would run in 8 ½ hours, but very cleverly the East Coast people made arrangements to do the King's Cross-Edinburgh trip in 8 hours, commencing on the very day their competitors were proposing to perform the run from Euston in 8 ½ hours. Taken by surprise, the West Coast Railways announced a further reduction to 8 hours to commence on August 6th. Now the really thrilling part of the business commenced. On August 13th, the “Flying Scotsman” was re-scheduled to reach Edinburgh in 7 hours 45 minutes, but the West
Coast train accomplished the journey in 7 hours 38 minutes. Next day the “Flying Scotsman” was there in 7 hours 32 minutes! Fearing that the race might end in disaster, the two rivals got their heads together, and it was agreed that the booked times between London and Edinburgh should be fixed at 7 ¾ hours for the run from King's Cross, and 8 hours for the trip from Euston (the latter being a somewhat longer and more difficult route). Actually, on August 31st, the “Flying Scotsman” accomplished the London-Edinburgh run in 7 hours 26 ¾ minutes, but after that both sides loyally stuck to their timing agreement. To-day, the “Flying Scotsman” links London and Edinburgh in 7 hours, while the L. & N. E. “Coronation” streamliner, a much lighter train, covers the 392 ¾ mile trip in exactly 6 hours.
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