Special Tender for Non-Stop Runs.

Exceptionally long non-stop runs, included in the Anglo-Scottish services of the L. and N. E. and L.M. and S. lines, have previously been referred to in these letters as a feature of British summer passenger train operation. By the utilisation of a special vestibuled corridor tender, the L. and N.E. line now are introducing a non-stop run of 392 miles daily in each direction between King's Cross Station, London, and Edinburgh. The new tenders are 25ft. 10in. long, and are carried on eight wheels of 4ft. 2in. diameter. They are attached to the famous “Pacific” type locomotives which perform such wonderful work in the “Flying Scotsman” services. The corridor extends down one side of the tender, and is 5ft. in height and 18in. wide. At the rear of the tender there is provided an automatic coupling and Pullman vestibule of similar type to those employed in corridor carriage construction.

The idea underlying the utilisation of this special tender is to enable the engine crew to be changed while travelling at speed, and this exchange of driver and fireman will be effected after the train has travelled for a distance of approximately 200 miles—roughly halfway between London and Edinburgh. The relieving crew will pass from the leading coach of the train to the footplate through the special corridor in the tender, and having taken over, the original crew will pass back from the footplate to the leading coach and rest in comfort until arrival at destination. The effect of this working will be to give a non-stop run of 392 miles, this ranking as the longest non-stop railway run in the world. That other railways will speedily follow the lead set by the King's Cross authorities appears certain, and the L. and N.E. line—and more especially its mechanical experts at Doncaster—are to be congratulated upon their enterprise in bringing out the first vestibuled corridor tender ever known in railway history.