LMS fast steam trains to and from Scotland

A poster by the LMS or London Midland Scottish Railway company showing two services crossing. The one on the right is headed by a 4-6-0 Consolidation type.   In 1927 the rival to LMS, LNER or London North Eastern Railway started the famous non-stop express Flying Scotsman from London to Edinburgh. The initial speeds were restricted because of an agreement that the racing that had previously been indulged in by the two rivals was not so good for passengers, but time was gained through making the run non-stop over the whole distance of 393 miles (632 km). This was done by means of a special corridor tender which allowed engine crew changes at speed. However, to show that the old rivalry was not dead, just prior to the inaugural date of the LNER train, the LMS thwarted them by running separate 'non-stop' trains from London to Glasgow (401 miles / 645 km) and London to Edinburgh (399 miles / 642 km). These were operated respectively by one of the new Royal Scot 4-6-0 locomotives and by a standard LMS Compound 4-4-0 locomotive, both with volunteer crews.

A high-speed trial was run by LNER in 1934 between London and Leeds using locomotive no. 4472 Flying Scotsman, then in modified A1 condition. During this run, the first fully authenticated speed of 100 mph (160.9 km/h) was reached. On a similar test run from London to Newcastle and back, A3 number 2750 Papyrus reached 108 mph (174 km/h), a record for a non-streamlined steam locomotive. When the streamlined London-Newcastle and Silver Jubilee service was inaugurated, the specially-built A4 improved Pacifics performed impressively, starting with a maximum of 112 mph (180 km/h) on the inaugural run. The high-speed service was extended to Edinburgh in 1937 with the introduction of the Coronation train.
The LMS again countered in 1937 with the London-Glasgow Coronation Scot streamlined train for which an updated Pacific locomotive type, the Princess Coronation Class was also specially developed, These locomotives proved fully equal to the A4 and on a press run between Euston and Crewe, 6220 Coronation briefly snatched away the world speed record with a top speed of 114 mph (183 km/h).