Interior of Dynamometer Car, employed for checking the “Silver Jubilees” record runs.

A Happy New Year to all! Time's pendulum swings with unerring precision, and here we are once again at the beginning of another chapter in transportation's ever-varying story. Looking back, outstanding among railway activities of 1935, were the energetic measures taken to speed up passenger movement on both main and branch lines. At the opening of the New Year, Europe is immersed in still more ambitious plans for passenger train acceleration, through the introduction of new streamlined steam and oil-driven trains, many of almost futuristic design.

At Home, the most interesting streamliner is the “Silver Jubilee” Express of the L. & N.E. system, covering the 268 miles between King's Cross, London, and Newcastle-on-Tyne, daily in both directions in exactly four hours, with a single intermediate stop at Darlington. This service has proved exceedingly popular, and recently the “Silver Jubilee” set up a new world's speed record for steam-operated trains conveying ordinary fare-paying passengers. Four 4-6-2 type streamlined locomotives are allocated to the “Silver Jubilee” service, and it was No. 2512, “Silver Fox,” which established the new record. With a load of 270 tons, a maximum speed of 113 m.p.h. was attained over a half-mile section. More than 100 m.p.h. was averaged for 11 miles, and for over 6 miles the speed was 110.8 m.p.h. A light-weight, seven-coach train, seating 198 passengers, the “Silver Jubilee” is decorated outside in silver. Two restaurant cars and a kitchen car are included in its makeup.