Dick Turpin a Great Northern Railway legend.

[Mickey]

(This has been written from memory and is a true event). A 'mad dash' was to ensue down the GNR & NER main line to York in 1916 to catch up with Lord Kitchiner 'special train' to deliver him with important ciphers/war papers. Lord Kitchiner secretary of state for war arrived at Kings Cross to catch a 'special train' to take him with all speed northwards to rendezvous with the Grand fleet anchored in the British anchorage at Scarpa flow to sail to Archangel to meet with the Russian's in regards to the important 'top secret' war work. When Lord Kitchiner arrived at Kings Cross it was discovered that 'classified top secret ciphers' had been mislaid and left at the ministry of war office in Whitehall. A 'quick decision' was taken not to delay the departure of the 'special' but when the 'ciphers' eventually would arrive at Kings Cross a 'special train' would be sent forward at 'all speed' down the line to catch Lord Kitchiner's train up at York. Lord Kitchiner's train duly departed on time and made it's way northwards down the GN main line while in due course the important ciphers arrived at Kings Cross station to be sent forward to York. The 'honour' to ride with 'all speed' to York was entrusted to a Kings Cross driver and fireman who i believe was performing 'shunting duties' at Kings Cross that day (i think the locomotive commandeered at short notice was a GNR D1 4-4-0). The important ciphers left Kings Cross on the light engine and the locomotive was given a 'clear road' to York where eventually the light engine arrived and the important ciphers were handed over to Lord Kitchiner who resumed his journey northwards on time. For ever afterwards the driver of the light engine was known at Kings Cross as Dick Turpin after the famous outlaws dash to York on the back of his equally famous horse Black Bess. *Footnote Lord Kitchiner was lost at sea when the warship he was sailing on to Archangel hit a German mine and sunk. Micky GNR/L.N.E.R.

[manna]

G'Day Gents
The ship was HMS Hampshire, it is belived a U boat only laid the mines the day before
manna