A brief cab ride in an S4 Sentinel.

Although a few years ago now, Diane Carney & Peter Walker's S6 was apparently showing 60 on the Cuddington bypass.
Mind you, they all slow down a tad going up hill!

 

I have been told that one motorist was overtaken by a Sentinel on a dual carriageway

 

The sentinel company were masters at they're game. They're road lorries were incredible tbh. If it had not been for the government of the day introducing legislation and taxation to make they're use impractical the road scene now might of looked very different.

 

Not just the very modern 4 cylinder single acting shaft drive "S-type" models either, the DGs can trundle on as well. The Goddard's DG will happily maintain a steady 35 on average roads (although that has had a larger drive sprocket fitted). The Hilditch's (the tar sprayer that was still used commercially into the early 1980's) can bumble along at 30, and that can be carrying quite a load as the tar tank these days carries extra water.

 

On that occasion Peter had enough of the 'under-performing' stoker, so promoted him into the driver's seat where he could do less harm. It was a number of years ago now, before they'd imported new tyres of the correct size from eastern Europe. Apparently he calmly and dryly commented from the other side of the cab that if the person driving knew the condition of the tyres, then they probably wouldn't be driving at the speed they were! lol.

 

I remember following an S4 (CML 781) from the Lincoln Steam Fair along the A15 and yes, they can indeed show a good turn of speed