Pioneering techniques

Sir,

There are not many similarities between the motor car and the steam locomotive other than the enthusiasm and dedication each inspires nevertheless I was interested to note that in the advertisement for the painting of the 300 SLR in the 1955 Mille Miglia, DSJ’s roller was considered a pioneering technique in navigation. It may interest you and particularly DSJ to know that the one time Chief Mechanical Engineer for British Railways, R. A. Riddles, CBE, used the very same idea when supervising the record run of the Stanier Pacific, Princess Elizabeth between London and Glasgow and back in 1936.

There was no need for hand signals as he presumably shouted in the ears of the driver and fireman even above the indescribable din that occurs on the footplate of a steam locomotive when travelling at high speed.

Similarly Sir Nigel Gresley was inspired by Ettore Bugatti when designing his celebrated streamlined A4 Pacific Mallard. Additionally the wedge shaped front lifted the exhaust out of the vacuum created around the boiler and clear of the driver’s vision. In the best Bugatti fashion science and art were brilliantly combined.

Great minds think alike.

Ashton Keynes G. E. WARREN