The Fastest Locomotive 179 



out at 56! miles per hour. Fine though 

 this may appear it is even better when it 

 is looked into. 



Let us look at the performance closely. 

 The run begins with a stiff climb out of 

 Euston right to Camden Town, a climb 

 that was once considered beyond the power 

 of a locomotive, recourse being had to a 

 stationary engine and rope. Then comes 

 fairly good gradients right up to Rugby 

 that is nothing to worry a present day 

 express engine but at Rugby the train has 

 to be slowed for a mile or more to take 

 the junction for Birmingham. Then comes 

 a sprint, followed by a slow into Coventry, 

 a wait of at least three minutes, a steady 

 climb out on a rising gradient, another 

 sprint and then a dead slow for the last 

 mile into the huge station at Birmingham. 

 You can see at once that the gallant steed 

 is running at more than 60 miles an hour 

 for the greater part of its trip. 



The Great Western have a run of 77*3 

 miles which is done in 75 minutes as 

 scheduled but often in less. Then the 



