A Diamond Jubilee.

One of the most interesting anniversaries recently celebrated in Britain was the diamond jubilee of the sleeping car on the West Coast route between Euston Station, London, and Scotland, into which service the pioneer car was introduced in October, 1873. Britain's first “sleeper” was constructed in the former London and North Western workshops at Wolverton (where, incidentally, the present-day Royal train of King George and Queen Mary is housed). The vehicle was only 33 feet in length, compared with the 65ft. of the latest L.M. and S. standard sleeping-cars. Sixty years ago the sleeping-car service between Euston and Glasgow was a tri-weekly experiment. To-day, more than 220 luxurious sleeping cars are operated nightly by the L.M. and S. between London and the principal northern centres.

Night travel is on the increase at Home, and to meet the changing demands of passengers, large numbers of new sleeping cars are being introduced on both the L.M. and S. and L. and N.E. systems, these being the two big lines operating long-distance services between London and Scotland. Among the new vehicles are a considerable proportion of third-class cars, the third-class “sleeper” ranking as one of the most important of post-war innovations on the Home lines.