4464 Bittern to do 90mph on ECML - 29 June & 27 July 2013

Stopped Holme Jn, 0939.

 

Taking water, lots of people making excited phone calls, it seems to be agreed across our carriage, 92mph it was!

Time for a crumpet and a cup of tea, looking at the fields.

 

Loco is blowing off, looks like we're ready.

 

Great stuff make sure they don't break bittern as I am on capital streak! Feeling rather envious at the moment!

 

Just about to edit the video taken just south of Biggleswade. Knew she was going fast, thanks for the confirmation.

 

Going a storm through St Neots.



John

 

Whilst we're waiting for the off, just thought I'd share a screen shot of some of the screenshots between Hitchen and Huntingdon..to give an idea of how it went..

 

Dep Holme loop 0959

 

Oh, so you've got serving wenches on board as well as 92 mph running!

Now I know I really should have booked on this one. LOL!

Sounds great. Just had a text saying there has been a 70 mph plus start to stop average. Always possible on that route and with 90 mph running. But wonderful it's happened.

 

40mph at Fletton..

 

1011 at Peterborough, on the fast, 61mph.
Note fast (Rtt booked as slow)

 

Is that the time or the speed?

 

Steady at 75mph, on fast, towards Helpston.

 

Even aside of the 90mph stretches, this is by no means a slow run, the amount of 75mph running is very impressive so far on this trip... It's been mostly 70-92 range for most of the journey...

 

Since just north of Peterborough... We've really been running around this mark.,

 

That's a fairly impressive climb up the bank...

 

Still sustained 75mph...past castle bytham towards swayfield

 

Just south of Biggleswade.

 

We've not dropped below 72 since post 335 above.

 

Sir Nigel Gresley always said the secret of high speed trains was not headlong dashes downhill but the ability to go fast uphill. Bittern is simply proving him right. This is a great day for UK main line steam.