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[yorkshire ripper]

See that"s what seperates the fine ladys of oof from the usual women of a ""certain age"" who try dressing up in the daughters clothes thinking there 25 again....

A love of old smelly oily machines....

very true, i was at pickering traction show a few week ago and it was great to see mucky women..oooo errr.. in overalls working on the engines..
lee

[Jay w]

i am, unfortunately, from an era that never understood the attraction of steam......

That said i still marvel at the engineering that went into locomotives, but they have never stirred my emotions, i will most likely be branded a heathen now  

[Vamps]

I love steam trains too Lizzie.

I remember going to the local railway bridge and waiting for the Flying Scotsman to go past. It's like a living being.

I used to do that as a kid, lean over the bridge and get a face full of smoke and smells, of course up here we are still building propper trains.

[woodsy_mv6]

Cracking peices of machinary

I've got the Bluebell railway round the corner from me (just down the A22)
Haven't been there since I was a kid.

Might look a bit odd now if I turned up on my own looking at trains full of school groups

[Dusty]

There was something on the teevision recently about The Mallard.
I believe it still holds the speed record for a steam train.
126m.p.h. some time in the thirties .......might be best if I google that to be sure of my facts.

[Martin_1962]

There was something on the teevision recently about The Mallard.
I believe it still holds the speed record for a steam train.
126m.p.h. some time in the thirties .......might be best if I google that to be sure of my facts.

Still does - some argument over the Diesel record*, electric and gas turbine still French.

* BR, Spain and Russia all claim it and noone in the UK has considered the simple task of having another go to get it back for certain.

HST                  148.5 confirmed
HD Talgo     mid 150s rumoured
Russian DEMU mid 160s rumoured

Since the most powerful and aerodynamic is the British one, just  a matter of either a weak field or up gearing a pair of power cars.

HST is about 30% more powerful than the Talgo

[FRE07962128]

There was something on the teevision recently about The Mallard.
I believe it still holds the speed record for a steam train.
126m.p.h. some time in the thirties .......might be best if I google that to be sure of my facts.

Yes indeed; 126mph on 3rd July 1938 with 'A4' class LNER Pacific 4468 'Mallard' with a seven coach, 236.5 ton train (far from the heaviest!!) for five miles on Stoke Bank.

The engine driver Joseph Duddington (retired 1944) during high speed brake trials and no doubt as an attempt on the record as a publicity stunt, to acquire an advantage over their rivals the LMS, was done at significant risk, with 'Mallard' actually sustaining severe damage.

It is argued that the A4 class was the only locomotives in the UK to be able to achieve 100mph in everyday running.  

[Martin_1962]

There was something on the teevision recently about The Mallard.
I believe it still holds the speed record for a steam train.
126m.p.h. some time in the thirties .......might be best if I google that to be sure of my facts.

Yes indeed; 126mph on 3rd July 1938 with 'A4' class LNER Pacific 4468 'Mallard' with a seven coach, 236.5 ton train (far from the heaviest!!) for five miles on Stoke Bank.

The engine driver Joseph Duddington (retired 1944) during high speed brake trials and no doubt as an attempt on the record as a publicity stunt, to acquire an advantage over their rivals the LMS, was done at significant risk, with 'Mallard' actually sustaining severe damage.

It is argued that the A4 class was the only locomotives in the UK to be able to achieve 100mph in everyday running.  

100mph club

Castle
King
Merchant Navy
Duchess
Princess
A1
A3
A4

There will be more I think that Britannias and Duke of Gloucester are members too

Best member of the 90mph club is the 9F

[FRE07962128]

There was something on the teevision recently about The Mallard.
I believe it still holds the speed record for a steam train.
126m.p.h. some time in the thirties .......might be best if I google that to be sure of my facts.

Yes indeed; 126mph on 3rd July 1938 with 'A4' class LNER Pacific 4468 'Mallard' with a seven coach, 236.5 ton train (far from the heaviest!!) for five miles on Stoke Bank.

The engine driver Joseph Duddington (retired 1944) during high speed brake trials and no doubt as an attempt on the record as a publicity stunt, to acquire an advantage over their rivals the LMS, was done at significant risk, with 'Mallard' actually sustaining severe damage.

It is argued that the A4 class was the only locomotives in the UK to be able to achieve 100mph in everyday running.  

100mph club

Castle
King
Merchant Navy
Duchess
Princess
A1
A3
A4

There will be more I think that Britannias and Duke of Gloucester are members too

Best member of the 90mph club is the 9F

I knew my comment would cause a comment, but I did say "argued" Martin, as engineers, historians and enthusiasts alike have many different views over the ability of many fine engines, some of which you rightly list, over their ability to achieve and maintain certain levels of speed, let alone 100 mph, along with efficient output in "everyday use".  

Many variable  factors, such as ability to raise and maintain steam pressure - boiler design - firebox grate area - superheater efficiency - steam pipe design efficency - blast pipe and chimney layout, etc, etc, along with bearing surface areas, valve gear design, piston / cylinder layout / travel, then wheel size and arrangement, with the overall weight consideration are, as you no doubt know, all contributing to the complicated and often controversial "package" of whether or not engines can achieve 'continual' maximum output efficiency on the main line.

Then you add the variable of the individual engine drivers and fireman along with the geography of their particular line routes, and it is not surprising many 'argue' over which engine and class was actually the most reliable, efficent, and fastest out of them all.  Personally I certainly believe, given the 'right' situation, the 'Kings' and 'Duchess's could always have equalled the 'A4's' in everyday running.  The 'Merchant Navy's' could only do so once rebuilt, but any form of "everyday" 100 mph performance was only achieved occasionally by drivers out to give them a final thrashing before withdrawal.  The 9F's on "everyday running" I doubt due to their 'freight engine' layout, and especially on 10 coupled 5' 3" wheels. :-/ :-/  After all they were not designed for speed but long term power output.
  
This argument will no doubt go on indefinately (especially as new facts are established such as with the 'ashpan draughting flaw' of 8P Standard Class 71000 'Duke of Gloucester' discovered a few years back during restoration) but we as knowledgable historians / engineers / enthusiasts must accept the fact that the 'A4' class does still hold the World steam railway engine speed record of 126 mph which the LMS, GWR and Southern (or later BR!!) failed to equal or exceed with their engines, and the A4's did run as true 100 mph locomotives in "everyday use". 8-)  

[Dusty]

There was something on the teevision recently about The Mallard.
I believe it still holds the speed record for a steam train.
126m.p.h. some time in the thirties .......might be best if I google that to be sure of my facts.

Yes indeed; 126mph on 3rd July 1938 with 'A4' class LNER Pacific 4468 'Mallard' with a seven coach, 236.5 ton train (far from the heaviest!!) for five miles on Stoke Bank.

The engine driver Joseph Duddington (retired 1944) during high speed brake trials and no doubt as an attempt on the record as a publicity stunt, to acquire an advantage over their rivals the LMS, was done at significant risk, with 'Mallard' actually sustaining severe damage.

It is argued that the A4 class was the only locomotives in the UK to be able to achieve 100mph in everyday running.  

Well you certainly know your steam trains Lizzie. I always loved The Mallard for the way it was shaped at the front.
To help push it through the air at high speed presumably.

[Marks DTM Calib]

There was something on the teevision recently about The Mallard.
I believe it still holds the speed record for a steam train.
126m.p.h. some time in the thirties .......might be best if I google that to be sure of my facts.

Yes indeed; 126mph on 3rd July 1938 with 'A4' class LNER Pacific 4468 'Mallard' with a seven coach, 236.5 ton train (far from the heaviest!!) for five miles on Stoke Bank.

The engine driver Joseph Duddington (retired 1944) during high speed brake trials and no doubt as an attempt on the record as a publicity stunt, to acquire an advantage over their rivals the LMS, was done at significant risk, with 'Mallard' actually sustaining severe damage.

It is argued that the A4 class was the only locomotives in the UK to be able to achieve 100mph in everyday running.  

Well you certainly know your steam trains Lizzie. I always loved The Mallard for the way it was shaped at the front.
To help push it through the air at high speed presumably.

You would think that but, in reality it was more a commercial thing as it did little if anything for the aerodynamics.

[FRE07962128]

There was something on the teevision recently about The Mallard.
I believe it still holds the speed record for a steam train.
126m.p.h. some time in the thirties .......might be best if I google that to be sure of my facts.

Yes indeed; 126mph on 3rd July 1938 with 'A4' class LNER Pacific 4468 'Mallard' with a seven coach, 236.5 ton train (far from the heaviest!!) for five miles on Stoke Bank.

The engine driver Joseph Duddington (retired 1944) during high speed brake trials and no doubt as an attempt on the record as a publicity stunt, to acquire an advantage over their rivals the LMS, was done at significant risk, with 'Mallard' actually sustaining severe damage.

It is argued that the A4 class was the only locomotives in the UK to be able to achieve 100mph in everyday running.  

Well you certainly know your steam trains Lizzie. I always loved The Mallard for the way it was shaped at the front.
To help push it through the air at high speed presumably.

You would think that but, in reality it was more a commercial thing as it did little if anything for the aerodynamics.

Indeed Mark, as this was the 1930's and a big national drive for speed in all things, and especially the railways ensued with big PR advantages gained for either the LMS, on the Western main line, or LNER on the Eastern main line, in achieving a "fastest" train acculade for scheduled services between London and Scotland to put in their publicity machine.  Streamlining looked so good as an image  for this time, but had little advantage apparently

[Martin_1962]

There was something on the teevision recently about The Mallard.
I believe it still holds the speed record for a steam train.
126m.p.h. some time in the thirties .......might be best if I google that to be sure of my facts.

Yes indeed; 126mph on 3rd July 1938 with 'A4' class LNER Pacific 4468 'Mallard' with a seven coach, 236.5 ton train (far from the heaviest!!) for five miles on Stoke Bank.

The engine driver Joseph Duddington (retired 1944) during high speed brake trials and no doubt as an attempt on the record as a publicity stunt, to acquire an advantage over their rivals the LMS, was done at significant risk, with 'Mallard' actually sustaining severe damage.

It is argued that the A4 class was the only locomotives in the UK to be able to achieve 100mph in everyday running.  

Well you certainly know your steam trains Lizzie. I always loved The Mallard for the way it was shaped at the front.
To help push it through the air at high speed presumably.

You would think that but, in reality it was more a commercial thing as it did little if anything for the aerodynamics.

Lots of aerodynamics - mainly internal!

[Martin_1962]

9Fs at 90 actually it wasn't just a one off, Evening Star was used on express services to South Wales, at high speed, until told off

A 9F was officially clocked at 90 on ECML service

[FRE07962128]

9Fs at 90 actually it wasn't just a one off, Evening Star was used on express services to South Wales, at high speed, until told off

A 9F was officially clocked at 90 on ECML service

At 90 maybe, but as I stated not 100 mph in "everyday use"