New steam locomotives of various interesting types continue to be built by the Home railways for their fast passenger services. For many years, it would seem, we shall have steam engines hauling our crack expresses, electrification being such a costly business, and the cost of the average steam locomotive being only approximately one-third of that of the newer Diesel engines, about which so much has been writ-ten.

One of the outstanding British locomotive types is the “Royal Scot” class of the London, Midland and Scottish system. Engines of this type are now being fitted with a taper boiler. They have three cylinders, 18 inches by 26 inches; wheel diameter of 6 ft. 9 in.;working pressure 250 lbs. per square inch; grate area 31.25 square feet; and tractive effort, 33,150 lbs. In all, there are 71 locomotives of this design in traffic, and recently many of these engines have been given distinctive names associated with the British Army. The latest locomotive—No. 6170 —has been christened “British Le-gion,” in honour of the ex-servicemen's organisation.

In its latest passenger locomotives, the L. M. and S. Railway has not gone in for streamlining. This is rather curious, for on the London and North Eastern, and Great Western lines, streamlining is being extensively introduced in new locomotive design. The Doncaster authorities, in particular, have found streamlining of the greatest utility, and during the present year seventeen new streamlined “Pacifics” of the “Silver Link” type are to be constructed in the L. and N. E. shops at that point.

The “Silver Link” locomotive, it will be recalled, was introduced last year to haul the new “Silver Jubilee” express between London (King's Cross) and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Stream-lining has been found to save a great deal of power. In the case of the “Silver Link,” it takes the form of giving the engine a sort of prow in front, built like a wedge, but placed horizontally. In addition to effecting power savings, streamlining has solved the problem of lifting smoke and steam so that it does not obstruct the driver's view. For high-speed running at rates in excess of 60 m. p. h., it has also been found that the reduction of wind resistance effected by streamlining has had beneficial effects upon coal consumption. Apart from the new “Silver Link” engines, the L. and N. E. authorities are also to build this year four new locomotives of the “Cock o’ the North” type, for service on the difficult road between Edinburgh and Aberdeen. These engines will be partially streamlined, and will form a noteworthy addition to the Home railway locomotive stocks.