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

Correct but I can't recall where exactly.

 

It's all down to you now Bryan - get a few squadrons of Owls to incept and and eat them!

(You can have an operations room like Bentley Priory if you like, staffed entirely by B*Ws for you to keep an eye on how things progress in the intercept!)

Steven

 

For those in the know, could you shed light as to where on the ECML that Askham is? As plan goes I'm currently on my way from Fife in Scotland by train, heading down to see the run. My original plan has been Rossington, I don't feel daring enough to try South of Retford as the light will be lacking after the Retford stop, but currently I'm thinking that Rossington may not be in the 90mph area after all?

 

Askham is four miles south of Retford, just beyond top of Gamston Bank going south.

 

It's between Retford and East Markham, MAP

 

I wonder what the speedo was reading at 95 mph?

My personal experience of footplate rides on steam loco speeds at speed is that speedometers have been accurate. Except perhaps for 35003 at 106 mph when it was some considerable way off the clock so as to speak. Can't recall how accurate it was up to 100mph, I was too busy timing the run and recording the various things that you record on a footplate run: has the driver put enough water in the tea urn for me to have a cup, how many lumps have sugar have gone in, and is the fireman doing my bacon nice and crispy as I like it on the shovel etc etc.

But I know that the run with 34021, (I think), where 106 mph was claimed and the speedo photo showed it at over 100 mph may not even get on my 90 mph runs list. I was timing from the train and haven't studied it in detail yet, but think the max may have been only 89 mph.

I don't know if the speedos on main line steam locos are the same and/or if they are "calibrated" to be more accurate these days? If that is possible.

 

10 early through Claypole.

 

Thanks Stuart.

Sadly doing the trip by public transport, and the light only being available between York and Retford, I'll have to settle for a steady 75mph!

Wish the run good luck for the 90mph sections. A blind eye to the ton being achieved would certainly be amusing!

 

My guess on todays max, subject to all going to plan.

Either three figures. Or just over 90.

On the basis that the previous runs have seen a build up towards three figures. Or that the firm hand on the drivers shoulder will be saying, "keep it to 90, the other day was a tad too much".

Only time will tell. Not much more though, she'll be hurtling down Stoke bank in a few hours time.


PS. Unless of course this run is part of a continuing build up to three figures at a later date!

 

Even though I don't live in the UK, I really enjoy visiting this forum from time to time..... especially to hear what you guys have to say about fast (90mph+) 150kph runs like this. Big Al's posts are enough to make any steam enthusiast smile big time and I loved the post about the guy who got on the train thinking it was a timetabled service.... ' bit unusual to have steam on' !!!! Brilliant that these runs have been ok'd.

To put it in perspective, our new $1.25b line from Alice to Darwin (2013) has a max line speed of 115kph!!

A4s are mighty quick engines which IMHO never really got to show their speed with the 6 or 7 coach trains they were originally designed to haul due to the many speed restrictions and relative unsuitability of most of the track for high speed running for nearly all their working lives. The famous CJ Allan reckoned - on the basis of the first Silver Jubilee run of 30 Sept 1935 - that the natural upper cruising speed with these engines on level track was up to around 110 mph based on the fact that the driver and traction inspector claimed that they hadn't pressed the engine unduly! Lucky that Nigel Gresley asked them to slow down when he did, otherwise they might have hit the 70 mph limit on the reverse curves at Offord at well over 100 mph.

Hope that today (Sat) will be a big success. Of course the best of your freight engines - the 9Fs - cacked the 90mph barrier a fair few times in their hey day... so next time perhaps Black Prince!!???

 

Hi and welcome to the forum. Good to have another perspective on the UK steam scene.

 

Here here.

I for one hope to see Bittern pull into Kings Cross later and, hopefully, see the look of glee on both the crew's faces and the off-loaded passengers!

 

That's all about the Germans beating Bittern's official 90mph permitted run that is, nothing else !

 

Well according to RTT she's off on time! Fingers crossed for a great run, looking forward to the on-board reports.

 

4464 cruising along at 90 with a max of 92 on the first 90mph stretch.

 

Any chance of an update on the train down Stoke Bank?

 

Just got in.

Over 80mph average Grantham to Tallington with all the caveats about using RTT to try and time a train!

I'm reluctant to even try and get an average for shorter distances, but the times shown and my guess-estimate at the distance gives 83 mph average Stoke to Tallington.


And 86 average Tallington to Peterborough. Again, short distances from RTT spells a guess at an average speed more than anything else! Low 90s down Stoke, really can't tell.

Should hear from the train soon.

 

Max of about 92 down Stoke, then slowed to 75 for the bridge, then quickly back up to 91/92. Now slowing for Peterborough. Out of the 90 mph sections, train barely dropped below 75. I think we went over Stoke summit at 70+ but will let someone verify that as i'm a novice with phone app!

 

My phone app gave 72 at the summit at two brief spells at 95 downhill. Gave some sustained spells at 93. Bloody brilliant.