60008 Dwight D Eisenhower

I agree, but we'll find out in due course if it's a goer or not anyway.

 

The speed record broke Mallard in 1938, an existing A4 would not be able to achieve anywhere near the record these days for the following reasons :

The preserved A4's are now over 70 years older. Mallard was picked for her age being around 6 months old at the time of the record attempt so not too tight and not too loose. Trying to achieve even 100mph would surely break something major on a 70+ year old loco, just look at 4472s corrective work.

Mainline certified loco's now have to carry so much modern equipment in the form of electronics, air braking equipment (reservoirs, pumps, piping) and other ancillary equipment that must add a couple of tons to a loco.

Does anyone really believe that NR, the ORR and loco owners would allow such an attempt?

Nothing more than journalistic licence!

Dave

 

It is a purpose built 3 lane shed, sharing lines with a UP Big Boy and a GG1.

It has had all its motion painted over the years... Has stopped the rot.
here is some pictures taken years ago as the shed was built around it.

http://rfe.railclub.ru/pix/gb/steam/LNER/A4/60008SideFront.jpg

 

Mallard was picked because of the double 1K/C fitted to it. The consequences of the deferred maintenace suffered by 4472 have precious little to do with the condition of the preserved A4s. Fitness to run is a function of both design and maintenance, the A4 can and will achieve speeds in excess of 100mph (needing less power to do this than an A1), so if an engine in question has been maintained in sufficiently good condition to allow a high speed attempt to be achieved, if the owner is willing, why not let them go out and achieve the aim?

 

I wonder if Southampton will be the place where both A4s will enter the UK? I think all the bridges within the Southern region for container traffic have been up graded for the larger sea containers to head north.

 

I don't know off the top of my head which of the routes from Southampton have been upgraded, but an A4 is still quite a bit taller than a 9'6" container! Given the other inaccuracies in the article, I think we might have to take the claim that the two A4s are being carried on flatbeds all the way to York with a pinch of salt as well.

I'm pretty sure that any suggestion of 60008 running under her own power on US metals is also untrue. There is a video somewhere on YouTube shows her being dragged to Green Bay by diesels - unfortunately I can't now find it!

 

Stupid idea to knacker a loco like that.

 

Please explain why you believe it would "knacker" the locomotive. If you don't own it, well, is it any of your business?

 

the fact when Mallard did it,It was a young loco, an elderly loco like an A4 doing a ton doesn't seem a good idea,that a good enough response for you ?

 

While im not advocating anything daft, I have to take issue with the 75 year old and elderley comments, quite a number of components would of only found their way onto the Loco's at Donny in the 50's and 60', and an ever increasing number are even younger than that, having replaced life expired parts in preservation, also a Loco that was anything other than mechanically sound would not be allowed anywhere near Mainline.

Class 20's and 37's are knocking on for 50+ years in traffic now and are still hammered day in day out with DRS, the HST's from the prototype stage have been with us since the early 70's and still do 125MPH daily with huge daily mileages.

Long as something is maintained to the correct standard then age is not an issue, life expired parts are replaced when no longer fit for the job.

And Southampton would be fine for towing A4's from, it's points further East on the Southern where they become restricted, you woulden't get a whole A4 on a flat wagon anywhere on the UK network im pretty confident, yet another inaccuracy in the Yank report, there's just no way in hell a wagon + A4 load would get under 13'1.

 

Was it sixteen years ago that we arrived at Carlisle behind 6229 which had had the speedo sitting on the ton for quite some distance between Penrith and the border station. OK - it turned out to be 97mph - BUT - Nothing fell off - no-one died, all rather run of the mill stuff in many ways.

 

Agreed. If a machine is mechanically sound then there is no reason that it shouldn't be able to achieve its design potential.

 

What's with Southampton ? Liverpool is a better port for receiving locos (proved with delivery of last batch of Class 70s) with shorter distance to York over the Pennines.

 

The wagon referred to is probably a low loader in the UK, same as most other movements. Probably a railroad flat car to Halifax.

Still I hope they give good notice of the move dates.. The convoy in the US will be something of a sight to see.

 

Long as they don't trust Newport after 70012

 

Found it!
Western Steam Power "Big Boy's in Action" - YouTube
(Fast forward to 1:39)

 

Whats wrong with dropping the motion and towing the pair ? they must need to have an ultra sonic test to run over network rail to get into the NRM anyway, on a flat car they would be over the hight limit i would imagine unless the plan is to load them onto low loaders and transport them by road but even then, the axles would still need to be tested

 

What is all this about having to run over network rail to get into the NRM? Not one exhibit that has recently arrived by road for Railfest has gone near network rail metals. Remember the NRM consists of two distinct sites, Station Hall and the Great Hall. I may be wrong, but I would think that for the display of all the A4s, Station Hall would be used as there is much more space outside, so no need to go near network rail metals.

 

Er, no, actually. There has always been very restricted road access to the NRM; even road deliveries are unloaded in the former carriage works and then 'tripped' into one or other of NRM sites, which involves traversing NR infrastructure (and the necessary inspection and certification).

JS

 

Thanks for correcting me John. I was actually looking on google earth last night to see where a suitable road entrance could be, knowing that Leeman Road has restricted height bridges both ends.