Atlantic and Pacific Engines 79 



couple of fine fellows appearing on two 

 railways which had long held a reputation 

 second to none for locomotives. These 

 were the Great Northern and North-Eastern 

 respectively. Between the former and the 

 Great Western there has always been con- 

 siderable locomotive competition, because 

 both lines began with speed ambitions. 

 Brunei looked to speed to justify his more 

 expensive broad-gauge metals, and the 

 Great Northern came along in the teeth of 

 opposition from the North-Western and 

 kindred companies. 



It follows, then, that their locomotives 

 have always been just a little in advance of 

 current practice. 



Doubtless the war years stayed Mr. 

 Gresley's hands on the Great Northern, and 

 he had to be content with the " Atlantic ' 

 tradition which he found when taking over 

 on Mr. Ivatt's retirement. But he was 

 quickly at work when the Armistice came, 

 and allowed plans which he had made for 

 better goods and " mixed traffic " engines 

 to mature. 



