A4 No.4464 'BITTERN' hits 91 mph!

Bladders · Jun 12, 2013

..........breaking the official heritage era steam speed record.

Everyone loves a steam train right?

Well on May 29th Bittern hit 91.5 mph on the Great Western Mainline when it set the new official record speed record for the preserved steam era.

Not quite the 126.1 mph 'Mallard' hit in 1938 but impressive never the less. :clap2:

The Andy Naylor Fan Club · Jun 12, 2013

Whoop, whoop. I prefered Ivor the engine though.

I wonder whatever happen to Jones the engine driver?

hans kraay fan club · Jun 12, 2013

The Andy Naylor Fan Club said:
I wonder whatever happen to Jones the engine driver?

Operation yew tree :nono:

The Andy Naylor Fan Club · Jun 12, 2013

hans kraay fan club said:
Operation yew tree

Now you mention it, I seem to remember hearing he got done for ' nogging the nog ' !!

Surrey Seagull · Jun 12, 2013

I think 60163 Tornado could give Bittern a run for her money. 34067 Tangmere would be ex-Southern loco's best shot.

Bladders · Jun 12, 2013

Surrey Seagull said:
I think 60163 Tornado could give Bittern a run for her money. 34067 Tangmere would be ex-Southern loco's best shot.

Mmm, interesting. Tornado is a new build so possible but the A1/A3's were designed to hit 100mph which Flying Scotsman did achieve. Bittern only had a mainline license to go 90mph so was restricted on her test run.

The SR Battle of Britain classes were lighter but had issues and were not as aerodynamic as the LNER A4's and were heavier after their BR rebuilds.

My money is still on the Gresley A4.

Surrey Seagull · Jun 12, 2013

Of course you can't go wrong with the world record holder when it comes to speed but i think i'm right that the last British steam loco to break the 100 mph barrier was a Battle of Britain class loco in the mid 60's.

Oops, close but no cigar, it was a merchant navy which last broke the 100 mph barrier.

Bladders · Jun 13, 2013

Surrey Seagull said:
Of course you can't go wrong with the world record holder when it comes to speed but i think i'm right that the last British steam loco to break the 100 mph barrier was a Battle of Britain class loco in the mid 60's.

Oops, close but no cigar, it was a merchant navy which last broke the 100 mph barrier.

Yes, 105mph and also after the BR rebuild which funnily enough removed the aero covering off the boiler.

How about the LMS Princess Coronation Class streamlined? Hit 114mph in her day.

surrey jim · Jun 13, 2013

How fast did Thomas the tank engine get?

Norman Potting · Jun 13, 2013

Don't forget that "City Of Truro" (allegedly) did 100mph well over 100 years ago!

300px-GWR_3440_City_of_Truro_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1479746.jpg

Makes tea, opens biscuits, awaits train spotter binfest!!!

Bladders · Jun 13, 2013

Norman Potting said:
Don't forget that "City Of Truro" (allegedly) did 100mph well over 100 years ago!

View attachment 43718

Makes tea, opens biscuits, awaits train spotter binfest!!!

Was it not rolling down a hill at the time? and a fairly steep one at that?

Gary Leeds · Jun 13, 2013

I suspect that during the last run of the Mallard 75 celebrations this record will be broken. Normally the speed limit for preserved locos is 70mph but special clearance has been given for a few high speed runs on the east coast main line. Funny enough Tornado does not have this clearance, only Bittern and it is a one off. I doubt many of the preserved main line locos are actually fit to do much more than that given that most of them are pushing 100 years old now.

Tornado was invited to visit the German test track to see exactly what speed it could hit but the owners declined, probably keeping in mind the damage done to Mallard when it broke the speed record which was never able to be properly repaired

Kent Seagull · Jun 13, 2013

It looks like there's a fair few railway enthusiast types on here! Maybe we should have an NSC steam day out? I work for the Kent & East Sussex Railway and my duties include driving steam locos, City of Truro above being one I've "had a go" on. If any of you happen to visit our line, give me a shout, I might just be able to make your visit a bit more interesting!

junior · Jun 13, 2013

Kent Seagull said:
It looks like there's a fair few railway enthusiast types on here! Maybe we should have an NSC steam day out? I work for the Kent & East Sussex Railway and my duties include driving steam locos, City of Truro above being one I've "had a go" on. If any of you happen to visit our line, give me a shout, I might just be able to make your visit a bit more interesting!

I was a fireman at the Bluebell until I joined the RAF. I've recently left and am thinking about volunteering again but can't decide wether to go back to the bluebell or have a change of scenery.

Surrey Seagull · Jun 13, 2013

Kent Seagull said:
It looks like there's a fair few railway enthusiast types on here! Maybe we should have an NSC steam day out? I work for the Kent & East Sussex Railway and my duties include driving steam locos, City of Truro above being one I've "had a go" on. If any of you happen to visit our line, give me a shout, I might just be able to make your visit a bit more interesting!

Thanks for the offer Kent Seagull, I'd be up for that.

Man of Harveys · Jun 13, 2013

Kent Seagull said:
It looks like there's a fair few railway enthusiast types on here! Maybe we should have an NSC steam day out? I work for the Kent & East Sussex Railway and my duties include driving steam locos, City of Truro above being one I've "had a go" on. If any of you happen to visit our line, give me a shout, I might just be able to make your visit a bit more interesting!

Very kind of you: some "duties" they sound - a ridiculous amount of fun more like, lucky so'n'so. When I'm back on a visit I'll be in touch.

See, the train threads on here never binfest. Not even the ones when the mainline's screwed up again.

Poppett63 · Jun 13, 2013

Lots of Steam fans on this Forum. Along with the Albion, Bonfire and Harvey's it shapes exactly what Sussex people are.

Time for a Steam Seagull Special?

Surrey Seagull · Jun 13, 2013

Poppett63 said:
Lots of Steam fans on this Forum. Along with the Albion, Bonfire and Harvey's it shapes exactly what Sussex people are.

Time for a Steam Seagull Special?

Oh, it'd have to be on a Southern loco too!

Bladders · Jun 13, 2013

Surrey Seagull said:
Oh, it'd have to be on a Southern loco too!

This will do!

Poppett63 · Jun 13, 2013

The power of Bridcutt, the speed of CMS and the flair of Vincente in a steam engine!

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A4 No.4464 'BITTERN' hits 91 mph!

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