Punctually at nine on Monday morning the barrier across the roadway was removed, and at once there was a rush of vehicles whose drivers were eager for the honour of being first across the Viaduct. Thomas Grayson, driving one of the London General Omnibus Company’s “City-Atlas” omnibuses, whipped up his horses and won an exciting race amidst the enthusiastic cheers of his passengers. In commemoration of this event, Grayson’s regular riders presented him with a new whip, on the handle of which was inscribed the occasion of its presentation. Some of the riders, proud of having been present on the memorable morning, expressed a wish to have a photograph of the omnibus, and Grayson had one taken. In it he is to be seen sitting upright on the box, holding the presentation whip in his hand and driving the pair of horses with which he won the race. Grayson had a large number of copies of this photograph printed, with the following record on the back of each:-- First over the Holborn Viaduct, On November 8, 1869, at 9 a.m. Copies may be had of the Driver, THOMAS GRAYSON, 1, Victoria Place, Kilburn. These photographs Grayson offered for sale at sixpence a copy, and the whole stock was soon purchased by the St. John’s Wood people--to whom he was already well known--and his fellow ’busmen. The latter promptly and unanimously dubbed him “Viaduct Tommy,” and by that name he was known as long as he lived. No London omnibus driver was ever so well known as “Viaduct Tommy” became, for, as he drove along the streets, quite conscious that he was a public character, other ’bus drivers would say to the passengers sitting beside them, “That’s ‘Viaduct Tommy,’” and the story of his achievement would follow. [Illustration: THE FIRST VEHICLE TO CROSS HOLBORN VIADUCT.] “Viaduct Tommy” continued to drive an omnibus for about a score of years after he became famous, and when, at last, he retired he was not forgotten. The people in the neighbourhood where he resided, during the latter years of his life, took pride in pointing him out to strangers, many of whom, when they heard the story, went up to the old man and had a chat with him about the great event of his life. Every innovation for the public good ruins a few people who prospered under the old order of things, and the building of Holborn Viaduct was no exception to the rule. A number of men had for years made a living by putting the skids on vehicles before they started down the hill, and one of them, who was largely patronised by omnibus men, earned every day between twelve and fifteen shillings. But when the Viaduct was opened their occupation was gone. CHAPTER IX