Ton-up Steam locos that survived into preservation

An interesting question which crossed my mind recently: how many preserved steam locos achieved the "ton" during their working lives?

Examples that spring to mind are: 4468, 4472, 60007 and 35028. Of course, there is the debate about City of Truro (Please - not in this thread!), and looking further afield we have 18.201 in Germany, of course, which has also done the "ton" in preservation.

Are there any others I have missed?

 

add 6024

 

Would not all the A4's have done the ton? Blue peter? lizzie or the duchess's?

 

That's one I wasn't aware of. I knew 6018 reached 108 mph in the 1950s, but where and when did 6024 do the ton? - and how fast did it actually go? I'm intrigued.

I hadn't heard 100 attributed to 35022, but I was wondering about 35005 and 35029. Of course, it was 1967 when some of the SR drivers really "let their hair down," by which time the only MN still in service which has survived into preservation was 35028, which did its 104 at Axminster in 1961 IIRC. If 35022 was a "good'un", it deserves a better fate than merely a supply of spares for 35027.

No surviving LMS 100mph locos? I know it was the original 6220 (not 6229 masquerading as such) which reached 114 on Madeley Bank, but I'm surprised no other members of this fine class ever reached three figures.

 

I remember reading somewhere that 46251 was timed doing 105mph down Beatock. A Carlisle Upperby crewe claimed to have hit 115mph with 46248 near Penrith one day in 1959. Also 46244 has been timed at 100mph on the 'Caledonian'.

I know none of these locos survived but it shows that some other members of the class apart from 6220 reached the magic three figures and no doubt there were others.

 

6024 was recorded at 102 (104?) mph by a reputable French loco timer (name escapes me at present) on Dauntsey Bank. This gentleman timed trains all over the world and on only 2 occasions was he on the footplate at over 100 mph, one of which was 6024's run. The 6024 Society have a copy of his timing sheets for this run. There is also another claim for 104 mph with 6024.

 

So - one thing with another - its the formerly apple greens that were the racehorses - no surprises there then!

 

Most of the Merchant Navies would have been given their head in the last years. Although it didn't survive 35003 Royal Mail achieved 105 mph between Winchfield and Fleet on 26th June 1967, which is generally believed to be the last authenticated "ton up" by steam in the UK. 35005 Canpac was probably the last 100mph by a loco destined for preservation achieving 105mph coming down from Roundwood summit on the evening of 15th May 1965.

 

Baron Vuillet is probably the chap you're thinking of.

 

Hi All,

This depends upon how authenticated you want your 'ton'. For example, Pendennis Castle was involved in a 100mph sprint in 1964. Now, I hear you all cry, she lost her fire bars at 96mph on the 9th May 1964 and had to be taken off the train at Westbury. However, this isn't the 1964 4079 ton I am referring to.

Two weeks before the Great Western special, one of the locomotives due to haul the train failed a piston and valve exam. This caused a bit of a flap and another Castle was sought when it was noticed that 4079 was still 'on the books' and in service. It was decided to test her by taking her up to 100 mph on a test train down Honeybourne Bank which she did brilliantly, gained her place on the 9th May Train and the rest is history. There are no timings for this train but it is mentioned in a few documents and accounts I have seen so one can only infer that she is a ton up machine. The question is did our fellow 9th May 1964 survivor, 7029 Clun Castle, get a test like this too? Perhaps our friend Tysely Bob who, like me post occasionally, knows and will confirm or deny?

All the best*

Team 4079

*

 

D.W. Winkworth has details of two preserved MNs achieving the 'ton'. 35028 did it twice: 104 at Axminster on 23 September 1961 and touched 103 at Winchfield on 12 December 1966. The other is 35005, which touched 100 at Winchester Junction on 28 April 1964. There are others, including 35003, 35008, 35023, 35026 and 35030, but these are evidently beyond the scope of this thread.

 

Where's Mr Yeti when you need him?

Tom

 

Slightly off topic, Bob Deeth is still in preservation too!

 

Do you mean 'recorded as doing 100mph+' or 'probably did reach 100+' . If its the latter then all the A4's. Any of the Gresley, Thompson or Peppercorn Pacifics will probably have reached the ton at some point in their careers except for those few that never regularly worked on the southern end of the ECML.

When one considers the tiny percentage of workings that were actually timed it will be far fewer of the preserved express locos that have 'officially' reached the ton, and they've probably all been mentioned.

 

Here's a picture and text on 6024's 101.5mph in May 1957.

 

As someone who was around at the time & saw both the down & up trains at Reading, plus the various Castles on the Worcester expresses prior to the run, do you which Castle failed the piston exam? Just interested. I also have the dvd of the 1964 9th of May run.

 

exactly! he consigned his experiences in a enthrilling book"Railway reminescences of three continents"
regards
noel

 

Vuillet's cropped up in the last two editions of The Railway Magazine. He stated that his ride behind a 9F on the S&D was one of the best he'd ever experienced.