Afeature of present-day railway operation is the almost universal increase in passenger train speeds and loads. As a result, new and more powerful locomotives of various types are constantly being introduced, and on the Home railways we now have, as the latest innovation, a new London, Midland and Scottish turbine locomotive, the first turbo-locomotive to be constructed in any of the British railways' own shops.

The L. M. & S. turbo-locomotive is No. 6202, the third of the “Princess Royal” class of 4-6-2 express passenger engines to be built in the Crewe works. In general, the new locomotive follows the design of the previous conventional engines of its class, but it is driven by a turbine. The drive from the turbine is direct on to the driving wheels. On this account, there is no outside motion visible, except the coupling rods. The principal dimensions and details are as follows:—total wheel-base, 63 ft. 10 in.; weight in working order, 163 tons 13 cwts.; coal capacity of tender, 9 tons; water capacity, 4,000 gallons; boiler pressure, 250 lbs. per sq. in.; total heating surface, 2,967 sq. ft.; grate area, 45 sq. ft. The turbo-locomotive is at present undergoing trials in main-line working. Its main advantages are claimed to be smooth starting and rapid acceleration, coupled with important savings in locomotive and track maintenance through the abolition of the hammer-blow effects usually associated with reciprocating motion.