The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-08-22
FLYING WELSHMAN.'
THRILLING DESCRIPTION OF A RIDE
IN AN ENGINE CAB.
Minute Most OF the Time, Which IL
an Extraordinary Average sn
Two Famous Tunnefs-Four wiles
of Darkness Are Trasersed in Less
Than Eight Minures-Like jour
neying Through space.

:
est trains. the Flying Welshman," the
fame Of which has extended around the
globe II IS rarely that q correspondent
IS permitted on an engine in England. and
as this Is the first record OF impressions Of
how Il feels 70 whirl over the rails behind
This English Empire state express" I
VIII give them for what they are worth for
the 6ene1t OF Americans who may have
the pleasure some day % being pulled be-
hind this celebrated engine.
/ stepped upon the up platform Of the
long station OF Newport, Monmouthshire,
on certain morning lately. armed with
an engine pass TO ride upon the foot
plate OF enc Of the finest express trains in
the world. The hour was 10 o'clock; the
London express was not booked 10 depart
for another eighteen minutes, and the sta
ton was almost deserted.
l had learned. however. that the engine
upon which had permission 10 ride picked
up the train at Newport, on its arrival
from Cardiff, and even whilst l was maxi
ing inquiries as 10 her whereabouts, the
magnificent locomotive came leisurely
gliding UP the middle way OF the station.
and halted directly abreast Of me- with
the safety valve blowing of profusely. and
the whole massive shape thrilling with
the Titanic forces pent up within IL.
Ny delighted gaze was cut short By the
driver waving his hand IN recognition. and
reckoning me TO come aboard. Somewhat
hesitatingly. and with a vague sense Of
penalties mot exceeding A. shillings and
costs" dropped on TO the line, and, step
ping over the engine, climbed UP on 10 the
footplate.
Here the poetic element was Immediate
Is dispelled. and the aspect Of things De-
came exceedingly practical Several tons
Of damp coal were heaped into bl<
mound in the tender at my back. the
i. Al a
betwiXt the half open doors, The wafer
dubbed and seethed in the gauge glass.
the injector. which ut that moment was
on, uttered deep, resonant, racklng
groans, the steam from the safety valve.
that was blowing of at a pressure CT
100 pounds on the square inch. Kissed de-
monically, everything looked business
like.
Slowly at first, with rhythmic beat and
measured putting from the short funnel.
we slipped along. crossing the bridge
which spans the Usk, and leaving the
smoky Monmouth town behind US. Then
the pulsation began 10 increase as the
driver opened out the throttle, the low
burr Of the wheels rose gradually into a
muffed roar, the engine commenced
swaying with an occasional quick side
ways lurch as she rounded a curve. tho
loud kissing from the safety valve ceased
or was drowned in the quickening blast
of the exhaust, the shingled track began
to spin by. and the passing sleepers 10
grow indistingaishable. and within five
minutes OF leaving Newport station We
were rushing over the levels and whizzing
through the grassy cuttings at speed
which was swiftly rising TO sixty miles
an hour.
1 ensconced myself in a comfortable cor
ner of the cab, where was well shelter
ed from the wind, and at the same time
out OF the road OF the fireman and
driver. Through the spectacle glass I
could command 4 clear view Of the line
ahead. and took notice OF the curious
effect produced by the endless vista OF
rails rushing to meet us. as though the
train was swallowing up leagues OF
track
Signal cabins. telegraph posts. bridges.
wayside stations. ali flashed past with a
velocity which speedily grew bewildering
TO my unaccustomed eye. We were APP
preaching Severn Tunnel junction, when
suddenly Evans applied the brake. and
shouted TO me TO hold on tight. heard
the grinding of the fanges; then the en-
CINE seemed 10 swerve violently, and in
manner which would certainly have
flung me from my feet but for the timely
warning.
The fireman now lit a lamp in tho cab
In readiness for our passage through the
tunnel Already we were running down
coming back from the gradually heighten-
ing banks on either side: and IS far off
as I could see through the circular field
Of the window, where the arrow-straight
lire seemed TO converge into point, was
what looked like a tiny blot upon the
reddish face Of the cliff, so ridiculously
small in perspective that the motion or
our train passing through II seemed about
as practicable as for the traditional
camel to go through the eye OF a needle.
There's the longest tunnel In England,
sir" said Evans. pointing. over four
miles from end to end"
And how long VIII It take US to go
through it?" I asked.
Well We never run at fun speed and,
as there's a stifHsh climb after we pass
the middle We seldom get through much
under eight or ten minutes"
We were row close upon the black
aperture. tearing down the incline which
led % Il nj headlong speed. Evans blew
a prolonged blast Of The whistle, and
while the resonant shrek swelied into
many shriIl and wild echoes from the
high banks. we plunged into the gloom.
and In a breatb the daylight was
eciipsed. The effect in the tunnel was
strange. weird and impressive. Tho
darkness seemed full Of flying shadows;
the rudy CLEANS falling slantwise
through the chinks betwixt the furnace
doors. and the feeble giimmev Of the
lamp il titf can ilfAtft Lnt ptic@ d t7tisai
heaped up IN the tender with blood-red
hues.
The figures ~ the fireman and driver
showed in vague sh3dowv shapes. Not
the faiptest glimmcr came from The train
In our wake. occasionally - little galaxy
az epaTfs would vomit forth from the in
visible tunnel and sweep ike "A eight Il
hre7ies into the hIackness behind At
Intervals we flashed past lamps affixed
to che damp walls and once we passed
2 lIttle bard ~ men working by torch
HEht and Showing ike demons in tho
waverine glare Somewhere about the
middle - the tunnel another train pass
cd re. spinning hv n q long. undulating
streak ~ fighr. with pale clouds Of steam
diwlv Visible.
Tho roar ana rattle raised by 0gr pass
ags vas 8eafruinr W shTi1 ehrvs e. al
rose IRE reverherart scream - ne wbis-
IT, which the driver continually blow
Once the fireman sung open ere furnace /
doors 20 Stoke ard I wau startled by che
sudden rush ~ eTrfg cece from the waite
nos glow wfh.u. sn the yellow haze ~ (
which tne sooly arche3 sails - ibe time
rel iaapt out plain 20 view rlis.eniHe with /
We and tae carriage behind us doomed ID
iu gigantic proportions as tnsV rushed an /
de- trs rounded. STOPPING Tocf on @a
sWn-; sa thunder through t1e dzrkecr~a f.
caverns. Evans yelled some words 81 n.y.
ear. bat g aas 5hcy were I could nut eaten. !
! pretty we5l guessed az Nlat ce hsd so53 F.
however. ny taking notice taroeEB ths .
torn do-I-ke sounds of trs deep ana heavy .
painting q TIRE engine. making ne t- TX NJ +
tEe l4ocTed respiration ~ au asrlu-atic Es- .
au-. We hsd passed tze ua4ie II tle uD-
nsl and wera ascending ths baak as TIE +
e hog END = e.
looking through tee eass 70 tae csa.
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