The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-24


up ready for its journey.
GA fine train, sir, said to a guard of
another later train whom knew slightly.
AYE, aye, sir, it is a fine train, this
one. But-though say it shouldn't
it's not the train it was year ago, when
we used to run against the London and
Northwestern every night
"Oh,' said I, interested at once, $50
you were one of the guards in that great
race, were your 1t must have been tre-
mendOusly exciting"
Exciting, sir Why, I could tell you a
regular story about it, that night as we
ran from Kings Cross here to Newcastle
without stop. That was something like
a run, wasn't it?''
ut was, indeed, and if it is not trou-
bling you too much, I'd like to hear your
story just while we waiting to see the
train off. -
II was the guard of this train on that
particular night sir. Our usual course
was to run to York without a stop, then
on to Berwick, Edinburgh, Dundee and
Aberdeen Three nights before, though
we had gone large part of the distance at
80 miles an hour the other company had
beaten US by just about five minutes.
But this night all our officials not only
hoped, but had made all preparations
both for beating the London and North
western and also breaking the record.
Il was sitting at home the day before
the eventfu1 run was to take place, smok-
ing my pipe and thinking deeply, when I
was aroused by sharp knock at the door.
On opening it found tall, fair haired
gentleman of about 80, who asked smiling
ly if Mr.. James-that's my name-was at
home, and if he could see him.
Il informed him of my identity and in
vited him in.
g Well, 1 have learned-by what means
I need not say-what probably most of
you on the line think is quite a secret, that
there is to be a very determined attempt
by your train tomorrow night to beat the
record, as well as the other company's
train. / thought it well to call and ask
your private opinion of the chances of sue
cess, if you would not be averse to giving
me it on the @. 7. You have doubtless
heard of B. & Cop
81 nodded, and he smiled again.
90 Exactly. Well, we have the offer of
bet of 81, 500 to 81 500 that your train does
not beat the London and Northwestern to-
morrow night. am, of course, inclined
to accept the bet, but thought it wise just
to drop in and ask your opinion first ION
the strict O. T. as to the chances of your
success. reckon pony would be very
welcome, wouldn t it, for yourself, and a
''tenner'' for each of the others?'
SO You can depend on US tomorrow
night, SIR said 1. we have all in readi-
ness, and shall certainly do the trick. Why,
bless you-though it's strictly private
we're going to run to Newcastle without q
STOP.
He had drink of whisky with me,
and then he rose to go. ooh, by the by,
said he before leaving, there's risk of
your having to stop on the way, suppose?
1 mean for foolish passengers who might
get nervous at the speed and pull the com
munication cord, or anything of that sort?
And i6 - fI,ka,% 31~o1x- 80 ha
blocked, as there was few nights ago at
Darlington, I suppose?'
:" No, / think both contin agencies are
very unlikely, the latter especially. The
only awkward piece of line is that between
Arbroath and Montrose, where we have
only a single line to work on. That nee
essarily is ticklish, but it II be all right to-
morrow night
Amid a storm of cheers from the many
spectators on the platform we set out from
King Cross here for Aberdeen. Our train
consisted of the engine and tender-our
very best, 1 need scarcely say-with five
coaches and the guards van.
''For the first time there was no stop
page at York, and we rushed along to-
ward Newcastle, through Darlington and
Durham. AS you know, we always felt
uncertain about this piece of road between
York and Newcastle, the traffic is SO heavy.
But on this occasion there was not the
S1lR4SCSO n0eu LOT any Q1IQlQuGlOn OF Sp66Q,
and we drew.up at Newcastle platform
for a ten minutes stay we were actually
five minutes before any record time for
this Journey.
"An went we'll to Edinburgh, over the
Forth bridge, over the Tay bridge and
through Dundee, until we began to get
within measurable distance of Aberdeen.
found on referring to my watch that
now, just before entering on this piece of
single line, we were about 10 minutes be-
fore our expected time.
Eve had gone about a couple of miles
when fancied I felt slight slaekening of
our speed. Before another mile had been
covered this was more plainly evident, and
when heard those portentous whistles of
the engine knew that the signals were
against US.
''The train gradually slackened speed
until it came to dead stop at that wretched
signal. AS no notice was taken of our re-
peated whistling, 1 was about to go for
ward myself TO the signal box to see what
was the matter wen 1 saw the signalInan
waving a white light. He protested, in
reply to my angry query, that he had sig
nailed the line as being clear for the last
half hour; but assured him that the sig
nal was against US.
''But though we dashed into Aberdeen
with much putting of the engine at least
four minutes before our appointed time,
we were too late. That miserable stopPagc
on the single line had killed us, and we
found that the London and Northwestern
train had beaten US by three minutes
''There was, of course, an immediate
inquiry into the cause of the delay, and it
was found on examination that the signal
man was not to blame, as the signal wires
had been tempered with. Hence the sig
nal would not work when the lever was
pulled.
1.-The signalnan recollccted having seen
a gentlemenly fellow walking near the line
the day before and taking a stroll that
way later in the evening, but he was not
at all sure he could recognize him again
1T was about a fortnight or so later
that I received a letter from New York.