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

Well that's just about it, we've arrived at Platform 0 at Kings Cross... 1st time in this one for me.

Lots of happy rumours for the future circulating.. Here's to hoping they come true.

 

My effort today from Colton :


The Ebor Streak - History In The Making by JonathonAG, on Flickr

 

This is what I saw at Lolham, http://www.flickr.com/photos/68415577@N03/9166584922/ probably not the best picture on here but it was part of a memorable day.

 

My own two favourite photos from the London end:

4464

Looking Back

 

Not quite what I wanted but there you go................The Blue Flyer

 

Thanks ADB for your reports -- even I was impressed with the run & I m on the Pacific coast of Canada - so was able to enjoy the atmosphere as best I could - even though its all been over for you for some time now , again enjoyed your input -
Cheers Richard

 

Aside from the magnificent on train reporter, thanks to everyone who has posted videos and photos on this wonderful thread. Some really superb material fitting for such a historic day. Also demonstrating how lucky we are in this digital interweb age to have a place like this where a wide variety of images can be posted within minutes or a few hours of the event - rather different to 1938! Had a chuckle when I saw this photo in the Independent on Sunday today from King's Cross. Will try and find a larger copy but I'm the 'athletic figure' in black T-shirt, brown trousers with my long lens camera hanging by my side. Barry would have been somewhere to the left as you look at the image. Anyone else?

Fine Figures Of Men

 

I see Bittern now contains dining carriages inside it. Always wondered what was under that ruddy great casing, and now I know! Surprising light and airy, the windows really don't show from the outside. (see caption to photo 9)

Tom

 

What a wonderful sight yesterday, and thanks to all concerned, ADB for his updates, and all the photographers for sharing, I was videoing at Newark Northgate for the 92.8mph.
However this is only my second post, and I have to mention that headboard.
Whatever SR have done in "buddying up" with Jeremy Hoskin for the event, does that give them the right for commercial reasons to forever spoil the image of that fantastic formation for the thousands of people they purport to represent.
If there had to be headboard, a much more suitable format would have been, the name of the train or Mallard 75th Anniversary, and if needs be supported by, underneath that.

 

If the pics on there were taken by a photter employed by said paper as opposed to sent in by general public, I have to wonder why they don't employ half of Nat Pres instead as most pics/video's here blow their ones out the water.

 

Do you have a link to your video?

 

I also would like to know if there's a link. Not seen any videos from Newark Northgate station just those that were outside of Newark.

 

I can guess what they are!

Indeed one of the SR "ton up" fireman, long since his days on the right hand seat, has said today he'd come out of retirement for a three figure run between Basingstoke and Woking behind a loco whose number is in the series 35xxx., (although I am sure we could ask him to consider 34067).

But I guess if ever happens it will be on the ECML behind an A4.

And I wouldn't object to that.

Only when brother Don's book on those last two and a half years of running by MNs and Light Pacifics on the SR is written and published will some truly amazing performances get the publicity they deserve, and raise the profile of a class that in one area at least was only out performed by a run by a more powerful 4 cylinder Duchess. And the book will at last give the MNs etc the profile they deserve. And a MN would be my choice for a 100mph run.

But the A4s have the profile for speed, and for any 100 mph attempt at present they are the ones that will attract the funding and support I am sure. They have the route and crews , (I hope that remains for a while!) and a history of decent fast running when needed. With yesterday adding very considerably to that and fingers crossed hopefully the next two runs also.

I need to see the detailed log of yesterday to see exactly where the 90 mphs were reached and the build up to it. Because there was an article in a magazine a few years back about how to get a steam 100 mph on the ECML. It did amuse me somewhat. Thinking about it still does. All from memory, so I could be very wrong on this, but I think it was suggested it would need to be on a 6 or 7 car train? And I also think it was said it would need to start North of Grantham to make sure of getting 100mph? Presumably down Stoke! Maybe my memory is definitely wrong because I couldn't believe it then , and I can't believe it now: maybe there were other factors involved, (perhaps someone here has that article and can correct me?). Especially after yesterday. I do need to see yesterdays log, but I would be amazed if Bittern was being driven very hard for all of it's 90+ running. On ten cars!

Even I admit a Battle of Britain is not in the same class as an A4. But starting from Basingstoke towards Woking at the end of her life on 12 cars one reached over 90 mph on mainly gently down hill grades, with one uphill stretch and some level track. The final acceleration to 90 on level track., and just around 11 miles from the start. And looking at my notes, that was after a fairly normal start from Basingstoke, the loco wasn't really opened up until after Hook! And leaving aside my footplate 106 mph on the same stretch with a MN on a very light train, (3/4 throttle and around 20% was the hardest working at speed), I timed a run with a MN on 7 cars. Starting from Basingstoke, stopping at Woking. 23.50 miles. And for fractionally under 19 of those miles we averaged 90mph! Yes, 90 mph averaged for near enough 19 miles on a 23.50 mile start to stop section, (max was "only" 101 mph, and we touched 100 three times). And that included a slight signal check, ( a single yellow my notes tell me), before Woking Junction. To get up to 100 it was full and 18-20% at the most, then eased back as I imagine the driver decided 100 was fast enough. And I have timed 90's going in the other direction on that route.

So I do feel an A4 on ten cars on a decent schedule, (please, a really fast one to York), or on a fast return should eat 100 mph. Assuming Bittern or the other A4s are still running freely at speed and age hasn't stiffened their joints up! LOL. No doubt yesterdays crew will have a word or two on that as to how she was running into the 90s yesterday! They are rather well placed now to comment on that.

So yes. I feel a steam 100mph in the UK is now moving on from a pipe dream. Two more good trouble free runs from Bittern will, IMHO, help that a lot.

 

I am sure the people paying £200 a head for the pleasure of getting over 90mph could not give a monkeys about the headboard.

Its those people who provided "you" with the free opportunity to photograph and video the event.

 

Drivers reported that all the high speed running was done at between 10 & 15% cut off

 

I can only agree with your sentiments, a lot of time,planning and money has gone into this venture, and more than likely without outside sponsorship the cost of a ticket may have proved prohibitive for the majority.

So a doffed cap to SR for putting their money where their mouth is, and obviously as part of the agreement they get to have their own headboard on a lamp iron, so what, they've stumped up the money so are obviously entitled to do so, at least there was a headboard and not a "blank canvas".

46245 you should be grateful for that............................................................................... people moaned a few months ago for Tangers carrying the Night Ferry headboard on the Peak Forrester...... I didn't mind in fact I think it made a nice change. and those of us who are lineside should be grateful for what we get, crews/owners don't have to go to the lengths they sometimes do!

 

Thats some very good points KentYeti. Bittern sounds like she is still easily capable of 100mph+ (she was only 7mph out yesterday) and maintaining it.

I agree with your last comment that steam doing 100mph is moving away from being a pipedream. We do know 90mph will become a regular a regular sight when the A1 Trust get 60163 registered for 90mph.

 

and I'm still waiting for the video to be shared!

 

Video from Newark Northgate not sure if its 46245col's video or not but if so thanks.