Victorian long-distance express transport?

In my world, law enforcement is dispatched from the capital to places around the island.

The reason for them being dispatched in this fashion is due to there being few officers and the capital being by far the most populous location in the land. Most if not all of the facilities of the law enforcement are located in the capital, crime outside of the capital is rare and often handled by independent organisations.

Let us assume the island is Great Britain, with relatively flat terrain and a fairly large landmass, and that the capital is situated upon a coast near the centre of the island.

My question is how to disperse my officers in the swiftest and most reliable fashion possible using Victorian technology, since I'm not sure what the best solution could be.

Answers containing unusual or exotic modes of transport (such as birds or walkers), or combinations of multiple modes of transport for various situations, are acceptable.

Edit: The nation has essentially hyper-miniaturised mechanics, which would require a good understanding of materials and precision tooling. All the greatest minds are government-employed and are by far the richest legal entity.

My thoughts were as follows:

Locomotives

• Exceedingly fast (~200km/h as with the Mallard or other streamliners)
• Well suited for long distances
• Can transport large amounts of personnel and equipment
• Overground lines are exposed and can easily be obstructed or damaged
• Underground lines are expensive, perhaps prone to cave-ins and require ventilation

Automobiles

• Rather fast (~100km/h based on the land speed records from the late 20th century)
• I'm assuming not too well suited for long distances, but perhaps possible with additional supplies or supply stations
• Can transport less than a train
• Not bound to rails and may even perhaps go cross-country?

Equines

• Slow
• Suitable for short distances or long, slow travels
• Can transport little the same as a car
• Not bound to rails

Ships

• Moderately fast (~50-75km/h based on the water speed records from the late 20th century)
• Well suited for long distances
• Can transport more than a car
• Bound to waterways
• Influenced by currents

Aeroplanes

• Moderately fast (~50-75km/h based on the flight airspeed records from the early 21st century)
• 40km at most (based on the Blériot XI)
• Can transport little more than a pilot
• Direct line of flight
• Influenced by currents

Airships

• Slow (based on my limited understanding of physics)
• Well suited for long distances
• Can transport less than a train but more than a car
• Direct line of flight
• Influenced by currents
• Easily damaged by projectiles

In short, the trains and ships are too limited, the cars and planes are too short-ranged, the horses and dirigibles are too slow.

posted almost 6 years ago

A Lambent Eye‭

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