World Steam Speed Record 75 years on

Oberon · 07-02-13, 09:36 PM

Today will mark 75 years since Gresleys A4 Pacific number 4468 'Mallard' broke the World Speed Record for a steam locomotive whilst hauling a special service from Edinburgh to Kings Cross...and then subsequently broke herself. Alas Mallard did not make it all the way to Kings Cross, being taken out of service at Peterborough due to an overheated Big End bearing on the middle cylinder, a weakness on the A4.
However, the damage was minor and she was returned to service and thankfully preserved along with five other A4s which will gather in York for a fortnights reunion, the first time the six surviving A4s have been seen together since the end of steam in Britain.

Although I'm not particularly an LNER man, I cannot deny the gracefulness of Gresleys work on the A4s, who have carried his legacy into the 21st century and beyond.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LNER_Class_A4

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LNER_C...4_4468_Mallard

BossMark · 07-03-13, 12:08 AM

I've always wanted travel on a steam engine

Rhodes · 07-03-13, 05:15 AM

Nice sleek lines! And yes, I would also like to travel on a steam engine train. When I had microsoft train simulation, I always and only played the flying scotsman missions!

Jimbuna · 07-03-13, 05:41 AM

Now that would be a sight to behold...all six remaining A4's together

Only ever seen Mallard at York.

Wolferz · 07-03-13, 05:45 AM

That's one gorgeous locomotive.

Schroeder · 07-03-13, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oberon

the first time the six surviving A4s have been seen together since the end of steam in Britain.

So they haven't been seen together for the last two years.

In seriousness steam locomotives definitely have something to them.

danasan · 07-03-13, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhodes

Nice sleek lines! And yes, I would also like to travel on a steam engine train. When I had microsoft train simulation, I always and only played the flying scotsman missions!

So come over here!

There a festival of all kinds of steamers here every year and will start again in a couple of days (July 12. until 14.) ...

Herr-Berbunch · 07-03-13, 07:30 AM

I've seen her at York, but didn't know there were others out there, and definitely not that three still run.

STEED · 07-03-13, 07:39 AM

Stick your rotten trains of today, they are no match to the great days of steam.

Catfish · 07-03-13, 01:40 PM

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23137106

http://smg.photobucket.com/user/RedT...Steam.png.html

Oberon · 07-03-13, 01:48 PM

My favourite bit of film starring the A4:

Jimbuna · 07-03-13, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oberon

My favourite bit of film starring the A4:

Mine

AVGWarhawk · 07-03-13, 02:43 PM

It is astonishing the stark differences in design between US steam engine and European engines. The cars are exceptionally different as well. Not to mention the gauge of track. The Mallard is a sleek beauty to be sure.

Kptlt. Neuerburg · 07-03-13, 06:09 PM

I've always liked the looks of the A4's and LMS's Coronation Class. I was disappointed when I didn't see the Mallard at the NRM, so I donated 50 Quid towards the restoration of the 4472 "The Flying Scotsman" instead.

Oberon · 07-03-13, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

It is astonishing the stark differences in design between US steam engine and European engines. The cars are exceptionally different as well. Not to mention the gauge of track. The Mallard is a sleek beauty to be sure.

I think 9/10s of it is design requirements, in the US engines are needed to take very heavy loads very long distances through very difficult terrain. In the UK, the focus was more on short pick up/drop off freight traffic (Mixed goods and the like) on meandering branch lines with the express engines focused for speed and strength on the main line (as well as company prestige), it was only towards the end of steam that dedicated heavy haulage freight trains began to emerge on British railways (resulting in the creation of the Class 9F, the last steam engines to be built in the UK until Tornado in the 21st century).
That being said, IIRC US and UK gauge is the same, because we did have some US engines around here during the latter stages of WWII and after the war:

An S100 class 'switcher' tank engine on the Southern Region sometime in the late 1950s.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SR_USA_class

Preserved S160 'Consolidation' at the Great Central Railway
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USATC_S160_Class

Here's a video with an S160 and a 9F pulling heavy stone trains:

07-02-13, 09:36 PM	#1
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	World Steam Speed Record 75 years on Today will mark 75 years since Gresleys A4 Pacific number 4468 'Mallard' broke the World Speed Record for a steam locomotive whilst hauling a special service from Edinburgh to Kings Cross...and then subsequently broke herself. Alas Mallard did not make it all the way to Kings Cross, being taken out of service at Peterborough due to an overheated Big End bearing on the middle cylinder, a weakness on the A4. However, the damage was minor and she was returned to service and thankfully preserved along with five other A4s which will gather in York for a fortnights reunion, the first time the six surviving A4s have been seen together since the end of steam in Britain. Although I'm not particularly an LNER man, I cannot deny the gracefulness of Gresleys work on the A4s, who have carried his legacy into the 21st century and beyond. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LNER_Class_A4 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LNER_C...4_4468_Mallard

07-03-13, 12:08 AM	#2
BossMark Fleet Admiral Join Date: May 2011 Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire Posts: 15,272 Downloads: 278 Uploads: 0	I've always wanted travel on a steam engine __________________ Never trust the Tories look what Thatcher and Major did in the 80s and 90s and look what the wicked witch May is doing now doing now

07-03-13, 05:15 AM	#3
Rhodes Silent Hunter Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Figueira da Foz, Portugal Posts: 4,517 Downloads: 110 Uploads: 0	Nice sleek lines! And yes, I would also like to travel on a steam engine train. When I had microsoft train simulation, I always and only played the flying scotsman missions! __________________ http://www.flickr.com/photos/16416646@N05/

07-03-13, 05:41 AM	#4
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,584 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Now that would be a sight to behold...all six remaining A4's together Only ever seen Mallard at York. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

07-03-13, 05:45 AM	#5
Wolferz Navy Seal Join Date: May 2007 Location: On a mighty quest for the Stick of Truth Posts: 5,963 Downloads: 52 Uploads: 0	That's one gorgeous locomotive. __________________ Tomorrow never comes

07-03-13, 07:30 AM	#8
Herr-Berbunch Kaiser Bill's batman Join Date: May 2010 Location: AN72 Posts: 13,203 Downloads: 76 Uploads: 0	I've seen her at York, but didn't know there were others out there, and definitely not that three still run. __________________

07-03-13, 07:39 AM	#9
STEED Lucky Jack Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Down Town UK Posts: 27,695 Downloads: 89 Uploads: 48	Stick your rotten trains of today, they are no match to the great days of steam. __________________ Dr Who rest in peace 1963-2017. To borrow Davros saying...I NAME YOU CHIBNALL THE DESTROYER OF DR WHO YOU KILLED IT!

07-03-13, 01:40 PM	#10
Catfish Dipped Squirrel Operative Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: ..where the ocean meets the sky Posts: 17,767 Downloads: 38 Uploads: 0	http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23137106 http://smg.photobucket.com/user/RedT...Steam.png.html

07-03-13, 01:48 PM	#11
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	My favourite bit of film starring the A4:

07-03-13, 02:43 PM	#13
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,266 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	It is astonishing the stark differences in design between US steam engine and European engines. The cars are exceptionally different as well. Not to mention the gauge of track. The Mallard is a sleek beauty to be sure. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

07-03-13, 06:09 PM	#14
Kptlt. Neuerburg Admiral Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 2,279 Downloads: 54 Uploads: 0	I've always liked the looks of the A4's and LMS's Coronation Class. I was disappointed when I didn't see the Mallard at the NRM, so I donated 50 Quid towards the restoration of the 4472 "The Flying Scotsman" instead. __________________ "When you're born into this world, you're given a ticket to the freak show. If you're born in America you get a front row seat." - George Carlin