The 90+ Steam Hall of Fame

Interesting theory, but then 34105 was reputedly a dog in BR days, whereas 34016 seems to have been loved by all in preservation. I know there's a rebuild and a restoration clouding the picture a little, but it doesn't seem to be quite so straightforward.

I haven't spotted anyone commenting on the large diameter piston valves fitted to the Bulleids, 11" on both types compared to 9" on an A4. With the relatively small cylinder volume making them proportionally even larger, it may have had something to do with their ability to run fast, despite comparatively small wheels.

 

Thank you for your kind support !

 

Agreed ! Shades of Mallard in that it may be achieved but at what cost in terms of mechanical damage ?

 

A bit of overheating in the middle big end that required re-metalling and back in service in a few days. Not much cost really.

 

But don't ignore the Network Rail cost for main line failures; I believe WCRC might have some views on this aspect !

 

Wasn't aware that Network Rail existed back in 1938.

 

Although not strictly within the criteria of this thread I spent some time digging through some old Railway Mag/Trains Illustrated/ Modern Railways to see what other 90+ runs I could find other than Bulleids and ECML. I can't access all the old mags as they are stored elsewhere at the moment. The Paddington - Birmingham route seems to have the most, usually with Kings - best I could see was 102 by 6024 on the CCE with a 7 coach load [C J Allen,Modern Railways November 1962].

Interestingly there is an article in Modern Railways August 1963 also by C J Allen listing the highest recorded speeds for various steam classes - expect this might provoke a storm of protest! Remember this is 1963 so some of these could be beaten subsequently. Leaving aside 'Mallard' and the foreign pretenders -
4thLMS Coronation pacific - 114mph,
6th LNER A3 - 108,
7th King - 102.5,
8th Castle - 102.5,
9th 'City of Truro - 102.5,
10th 70014 - 101,
11th A1 - 110.5
12th 4474 as A10 - 100
13th MN - 100
14th Royal Scot - 100 [don't ask why the 100s are listed that way!]

it goes on but others making it at 90+ are A2 - 92.3, LNWR 'Experiment' - 93.5, 'Black 5' - 92. Fowler 4MT tank, Hall , 9F - all 90.

I seem to recall some pretty crazy runs on the Chester to Shrewsbury line with Black 5s just before steam ended there in 1967 but can't find the logs.

 

Not sure if it was 44781 or 44871 that hit 90 with the Barrow-Huddersfield parcels on 2 August 1968 somewhere between Lancaster and Preston.

 

Yes, you're right, should be 101.5

 

A black 5 was allegedly logged at over 90 m.p.h. on a Birkenhead to Paddington train between Gobowen & Shrewsbury . Load was 7 mark ones & the date was early 1967.

Bob.

 

Posts #88 and #92 refer to attempts to get a black 5 up to 100mph I believe down Rednal bank, I seem to remember they came fairly close with some pretty knackered black 5's

Cheers Dave

 

The concluding chapter of OS Nock’s “Speed Records on Britain’s Railways” (published in 1971 by David & Charles) is titled “The Final Bow of Steam” and contains some useful information about 100mph+ exploits by various classes that were seemingly not chronicled by CJ Allen in 1963. Two of particular interest from the then BR Western Region were
Locomotive 6015 “King Richard 111” - on the Cornish Riviera Express
Location - descent of Lavington bank
Date - not quoted but according to the text “when this engine was newly equipped with a double chimney” (which was September 1955 – the first of the class to be so equipped).
Authenticated speed - 108 mph, where two alternate quarter miles had been clocked at 106.5 and 108.5 mph, and the average speed over three-quarters of a mile was 107.5 mph.
This speed exploit was stated in the text by OS Nock to be “the highest burst of speed to be credited to any British steam locomotive other than Gresley A3 and A4 Pacifics and the Stanier Duchess Class. (There is a reference to contemporary reports that significantly exaggerated this record, but it is worth stressing that OS Nock was very confident of the authenticated data – apparently there were two observers on the footplate on that occasion).
This run is apparently described in detail in his book “Stars, Castles and Kings of the GWR Part 2”, which unfortunately I do not possess.
The other notable speed exploit on the then WR occurred very different circumstances,
Locomotive – Double-chimney Castle 7030 Cranbrook Castle
Occasion. A special test run on the Birmingham Snow Hill-Paddington route. Load 108 tons (3 coaches).
Date – quoted as 1962 and I seem to remember that it was around March or April of that year, ahead of the introduction into squadron service of the Western class diesel hydraulics that, by September of that year, had totally usurped the Kings on all Paddington–Birmingham-Wolverhampton-Birkenhead expresses.
Speed record and locations – 103mph achieved twice, at Blackthorn (near Bicester), and then again at Denham.
I’m sure there must be regular NatPres contributors who will have more detail on this second run – I believe that it has been written up on a number of occasions.
I hope this helps to fill in a couple of important pieces of the speed achievement jigsaw, and accords these Great Western classes their rightful place right up there on the podium (although its right to acknowledge that 7030, built/ out-shopped in mid-1950, was a product of its nationalised successor).

 

6015 - 29/9/55
7030 - 15/5/62 5 cars 176 tons tare 180 tons full 103 Bicester and also at Denham.

From “Stars, Castles and Kings of the GWR Part 2.

 

The fireman (Dave Wilson) on his trip recently wrote about the run which you might find interesting

http://locoyard.com/2014/10/22/35005-canadian-pacific-record-holder/

 

Interesting to read the accounts of Princess Margaret Rose making such speeds. I saw here on a visit to The Midland Railway centre and took a few pictures as you do. You can see the pictures at.

http://steammemories.blogspot.co.uk/