The Flying Scotsman 1862 1962
For a century, in all normal times and nearly all abnormal ones, at ten o'clock in the morning an express train has left London, King's Cross, for Edinburgh. During much of that time, another train has simultaneously left Edinburgh for London, and somewhere in the Plain of York the two have passed one another at whatever was the full speed of the period. They were, and remain collectively, the Flying Scotsman. Ultimately the official title, this began as an affectionate nickname. At first the train was the 'Special Scotch Express'.
During its century, this great service has been worked by the most advanced and successful locomotives of their time, designed by such giants of steam as Archibald Sturrock, Patrick Stirling, Harry Ivatt and Sir Nigel Gresley. Now oil and electricity, not coal and water, give motion, yet even here there is a dynastic connection with the very beginning of railway motive power. The firm founded by the Stephensons in 1823 is today a part of the great English Electric organization, whence comes the Deltic diesel electric locomotive at the head of the centennial Scotsman, ripping up and down the East Coast in six hours.
The Flying Scotsman is not a luxury train at a price, but an ordinary express, serving all who come. Hamilton Ellis, who has known the train since he was in short knickerbockers, writes of it with loving knowledge.
Softback, 13x19cm, 48 pages, black & white photographs
Condition: Good/Very Good
ISBN: 9780999009000
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