XVII 



A CHALLENGER OF THE STEAM LOCOMOTIVE 



FOR many years now our railways have 

 been trying to improve upon their method 

 of working heavy, short distance traffic. 

 On the Southern, the problem has been 

 met by the extensive adoption of the live- 

 rail system of electric working. Each 

 year sees a considerable extra mileage elec- 

 trified, and without doubt the Southern 

 now possess the finest electric suburban 

 services in the world. 



The three largest railways of Britain have 

 not advanced nearly so far in the adoption 

 of electric traction. So far as the Great 

 Western is concerned, no effort has yet 

 been made to electrify their lines, save in 

 conjunction with the Metropolitan Railway. 



The London and North-Eastern have as 

 yet been content with isolated electrifications 



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