Dear Spurtle,
I was glad of my metaphorical safety valve to release the intense build-up of pressure upon reading that the LMS ran services from Waverley to 'Euston and King's Cross' in Spurtle's Issue 356 [see inset].
I am sure I cannot be the only correspondent writing to remind you that the LMS ran services from Waverley to neither of those stations, though it did run the Royal Scot from Princes Street station (which was behind the Caledonian Hotel) to Euston, and the Thames–Forth express from Waverley to St Pancras over the LNER's Waverley route.
It was of course the LNER which ran the Flying Scotsman from Waverley to King's Cross.
In fairness, Bryan de Grineau was using some artistic licence to depict the Flying Scotsman and the Royal Scot passing in Princes Street Gardens.
The Royal Scot would never have traversed those LNER metals, having terminated in Princes Street Station.
I doubt that the Flying Scotsman would have either. Having terminated in Waverley, I am fairly certain that the carriages would have been taken to Craigentinny carriage sidings, and the loco would have run light to St Margaret's Shed, now occupied by Meadowbank House. There is certainly evidence of Gresley A3 and A4 Pacifics being stabled at St Margarets in BR days.
I trust that the record can be corrected in the next edition.
David Sterratt
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