So  the  London  and  North  Western  does  much  more  even  than  con-
stitute the  main  artery  of  steam  communication  running  through  the
centre  of  England  between  South  and  North.  It  serves,  in  addition,
many  of  the  most  important  centres  of  industry  in  the  country,  and  it
offered,  for  the  purposes  of  war  traffic,  alternative  routes  for  the  movement
of  troops  to  or  from  the  East  Coast  which  were  of  much  utility  and  might
have  been  of  incalculable  advantage  in  case  of  emergencies  that,  happily,
did  not  arise.
Peace-time  Preparations.
Not  only  for  the  reasons  here    stated,  was  the  London  and  North
Western,  as  a  railway  system — and  apart  from  certain  new  works  to

970


THE  LONDON  AND  NORTH  WESTERN.  971

which  reference  will  be  made  in  due  course — ^well  adapted  to  take  a
leading  part  in  naval  and  military  movements  whenever  a  national
emergency  did  arise,  but  the  company's  chief  officers  had  had  exceptional
opportunities  for  becoming  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  nature  of
the  demands  that  would  have  to  be  met,  under  these  conditions,  and  the
duties  and  responsibihties  Ukely  to  devolve  upon  themselves.
