The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-08-07 00:00:00

A FAST TRAIN.

A Correspondent of The Times, writing from Scarborough,
gives the following particulars of the performances of the
special train by which the Lord Mayor of London was con-
veyed on Saturday last :
- -- -

Sir,—The train which brought down the Loyd
Mayor and his suite to Scarborough on Saturday made
such a remarkable run that you may think a few de-
tails concerning it worthy of mord. It consisted of
six Great Northern carriages, and the engine was one
of the new series, with Bft. driving wheels.

Leaving King's-cross at 1.59, we passed Hatfield
platform at 2.23, and Tempsford at 2.52 i ; these
stations are exactly 30 miles apart. At 2.59, exactly
one hour from starting, we passed the mile-stone 53i.
Abbots Ripton and Holme, stations just six miles
apart, were run through at 3.10 i and 3.15 1-3 respec-
tively. Slowing down to ten miles an hour, we passed
Peterborough at 3.23.1, or 60 minutes after Hatfield,
the distance being 58-. miles. We reached Stoke Box,
100 miles from London, at 3.52 i, having come up the
incline of 23 miles from Peterborough in 28 minutes
—a speed of 50 miles an hour. The train stopped at
Grantham at 3.59 i, having run the 105 miles from
London at an average of 52i miles per hour.

Leaving Grantham at 4.10, Newark, l4i miles
farther on, was passed at 4.25; Retford, 33 miles? at
4.43 t ; Doncaster, 501 miles, at 5.2; Selby, 69 miles,
at 5.21 k; and York, 821 miles, was entered at 5.3615,
three hours and 371 minutes after the departure from
London. The speed from Grantham to Newark
averaged 59 miles an hour, from Grantham to Retford
58 2-3 miles, from Grantham to Doncaster, 581, from
Grantham to Selby 58, and from Grantham to York,
57 miles an hour. Such an average speed as this last,
over 821 successive miles, with three slowings down at
Retford, Doncaster, and Selby, has probably never
been seen before. The 59 miles from Claypole (near
Newark) to Selby were run in 601 minutes.
The " Scotchman " of the Great Northern Railway
runs to York in three hours 55 minutes with seven
minutes to stop at Grantham. The L'ord Mayor's
train ran to York in three hours 371 minutes, and
stopped 10i minutes at Grantham. including stop-
pages, it got over the ground to York at an average
speed of 52 miles an hour.
The Tinzes frequently inserts notices of some bright
meteor, but from two o'clock yesterday till half-past five
there might have been observed flying on through 21
degrees of latitude an English express, which, for
speed and the brilliancy of the colours composing it,
would put to shame most meteors.
Such performances as this are more inspiriting than
appear from a mere glance at the figures ; for
can manage such deeds 'at home should be
manibeilelh to steer
osteer safely and thoroughly through any crisis
abroad.

Mr. Dodson, President of the Local Government
Board, has received two deputations on the subject of the
Government Vaccination Bill, the first deputation was
opposed to the passing of the Bill, considering that it
would lead to evasion of the law and to the spread of small-
pox. The second deputation consisted of delegates from
various parts of the country, and represented the opposition
to compulsory vaccination. It expressed a willtngness to
accept the Government measure as an instalment. To the
first deputation, Mr. Dodson said the question was one of
expediency, of which those who had to administer the law
were perhaps the best judges. The right hon. gentleman
contented himself With elitilting the opinion of the see'ond
dopastibn a to the DU