A Modern 100

Interesting article in Steam Railway regarding what might be hypothetically possible in this day & age with preserved steam.

Despite my copper topped preference I think the assessment of the various locos, etc is pretty fair. Probably an air braked A4 would be the likely favourite to achieve it.

Mind you, I wonder how many loco owners would be up for it even if it was allowed.?

 

I'm interested to know why you think an A4 would need to be air braked to achieve the ton. Vacuum brakes didn't hold them back in their heyday or are you thinking of NR requiring it?

 

It depends, I suppose, on what you call modern. One of the preserved quartet is believed to have done it and there have been some "near misses" but for an attempt in the near future, fully sanctioned, there could be an owner willing to try, based on achievements to date. However even though the locomotives are easily capable, you would never get this past the authorities

 

I suppose that's the problem,really!

 

I'm not sure if we are allowed to say which A4 it was. I think I know which A4 it is but I won't say in case I get into trouble.

60163 would be a likely candidate but its a case of getting sanction for it.

 

I was on the run and it was quite exciting.

 

I was a rather fast run with an A4 last September. Very fun.

 

Mmm, I was on a rather rapid descent down the Lune Valley in the late '90s...after a good climb from Penrith

 

I suspect that current regulators wouldn't allow vacuum-braked stock ( i.e. MkIs ) to travel at 100 mph therefore only air-braked stock would gain the necessary approval requiring the use of an air-braked locomotive. I am open to correction but I believe that there is a mood to restrict MkI stock on the mainline and 100 mph authority would be an authorisation too far.

 

All Mk 1s have 100mph upper limits regardless of brake type.

 

... which leaves Mk 3's ? and an ethel to provide electrical power (how many you would need to provide sufficient braking i dont know but it wouldnt be that light a train)... are there any with door windows you can actually open these days ?, not that yould be comfortable with your head out at 100 anyway... Reckon a streamlined duchess could do it as well.

 

You could choose from 35028, 60163, an A4, 6233 and 71000. All pinnacles of pacifics on the mainline at this present time. A4s have proven they racing pedigree, Bulleids (magnificent) Merchant Navy's have been known to hit the magical 100, so have the duchess's. I would love to see 71000 given a chance, especially now we know the problems BR had with her have hopefully rectified. 60163 is new, fresh and has all the "mod cons".

Everyone is mentioning an appropriate rake of coaches for this run. What about the Mark 2s and the 67 that 60163 did her test runs with?

 

I believe 6024 has topped 100mph a couple of times (I think someone has the info somewhere). Maybe after the next overhaul we'd consider it...

 

I may be being a bit naiive here, but would this ever be a serious possibility? If Branson for instance weighed in with some serious cash to pay for regulating stock/insurance (I'm not for one minute thinking he would!) could it be possible? Or would any suggestion be flat out laughed at by the relevant authorities?

 

Air brake mark 2s are 100 mph vehicles are they not?

 

For some reason this thread reminds me of the bit in Back To the Future part 3 when Marty and Doc Brown ask the loco driver if it's possible to get the loco up to 88mph!

Getting back to the topic, I think it could be done, certainly with 60163 or one of the A4's. Heard about the run with one of the A4's. Would have loved to have been on it! IIRC either the driver or Traction Inspector was retiring and wanted to go out in style! But it has been said before, which owner would be prepared to let their loco do it? The Duchesses could do it (I have been on a very fast run with one of them) and Black 5's could (had a couple of very fast runs behind 2 of the class).

 

60009 down Whiteball is the one occasion that springs to mind in the preservation era, mind you without OTMR whos to say whats been achieved. Having been on an A4 on the mainline there is little doubt that if you so wished 100mph could be brought up without a lot of fuss.

 

Any Bulleid in current mainline condition on the six coach train Mike Notley mentioned in his article, (although I am told for braking reasons it may need to be 7 cars). A loco crew who have a good idea of what happened in the last years of SR steam. A start out of Basingstoke, (no need with a Bulleid to start miles and miles away to build up speed before the long downhill stretch of Stoke Bank). No need to overwork the loco with just 6 cars. And you'll have your 100 approaching Fleet and again just below Brookwood.

Now to get loco owners agreement................

And all the various authorities to agree...........