Contrast in Speed

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23121, 20 August 1938, Page 16 (Supplement)

Contrast in Speed

"Taken for a ride and nearly bumped off" was the description given by an English racing driver, Michael Couper, after a recent trip on the footplate of the Royal Scot. A fortnight earlier Couper had taken railway-driver Earl, of the L.M.S. for a 100 miles an hour trip round Brooklands. In return Couper was given one of tho thrills of his life by being allowed to travel to Carlisle and back on the footplate. In many ways one's sensations are like those when driving fast at Brooklands, the front end of the locomotive snakes like tho front end of a racing car. On approaching a tunnel, which looks like the eve of a needle, Couper badly wanted to find a tiller and direct the nose of the engine into the opening. You never think you're going to get past station platforms or through tunnels —there never seems enough clearance —and the train is doing perhaps 80 miles as it approaches! And what about this for a quick fill-up—while travelling flat out the engine picks up 2500 gallons of water in 125.; and this for fuel consumption, six tons of coal, which have to be manhandled by tho fireman, during tho single journey.