OK you nostalgia buffs, what was the fastest speed ever attained by a steam locomotive in revenue service, and who/what/where was it?
There’s stories that a PRR T1 made it past 130mph late one night when the engineer decided to push it since he was behind schedule (a scary thing to do because the T1 had a tendency to slip its drivers at high speeds). I’m sure the Hiawatha’s and 400’s made some short bursts of really high speeds, too.
…I have in front of me a Kalmbach book of 1943 and a photo showing the E-2 Atlantic engine and passenger cars…with this discription under the photo: “Worlds fastest train now or in 1905”…“On June 12, 1905, the Pennsylvania Special, predecesor of the Broadway Limited went three miles in 85 seconds…” It was a fast-stepping E-2 Atlantic. That would be a hair over 127 mph. Have no idea if that may still stand…I doubt it. But that was fast for such roadbed available then.
I agree with the T1… Although I heard that particular engine did not find the “Top end” before the engineer had to slow. I dont know if it was true or not.
The Mallard in Britan did between 125/130 MPH[:o)][:p][:D]
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Originally posted by TheAntiGates
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I am partial to the T-1, so I would like to believe that. However, didn’t the Hiawatha hold the record? I am told that she regularly did well beyond her speedometer. which was 125 mph.
Gabe
P.S. Did anyone hear of the story where a switcher helped pu***he Hiawatha out of the station (as the Hiawatha’s big drivers didn’t make them the greatest starters in the world) and the switcher couldn’t uncouple. The report was at a crossing tower that they could tell the crew’s faces were green as the Hiawatha went by at 100mph+.
Gabe
I heard that too Gabe. That story is somewhere here on the forums.
I’ve heard that story too, it always gives me a good laugh.
Those little yard engines weren’t meant for passenger speeds, I can only imagine what it was like being pulled along at 100MPH+. Bumpy I’m sure to say the least.
That story reminds me of this one time…I broke down one night on I5 just north of corning. I had a friend of mine tow me off the highway with a chain. He gets us out on the road and procedes to crank it up WAY faster than he should have. I tried to slow us down with my brakes but with no power assist I couldn’t do it. I had to just go with it. So there I am being towed at like 75 down the interstate praying nothing went wrong. I imagine I had the same look on my face as those guys in the loco. We made it alright but I almost kicked his — over it.
In regular service,the ATSF 2900’s were hard to beat ,from what I have been told. My uncle was called as head brakeman on the 2925 sometime after the war on a cattle train. He realized they were going pretty fast so he got up( a very hard thing to do at speed) and went over to the engineers’ side of the cab. The speedometer was bouncing around between 110 and 120MPH!
Growing up I heard several stories of the 2900’s being able to run like greased lightning!
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QUOTE: Originally posted by spbed
The Mallard in Britan did between 125/130 MPH[:o)][:p][:D]
According to the History Channel today, the record is 126.9 by an English Mallard.
At first I thought they said “Mallet” and I was like N.F.W!!, but then I saw they were talking about mallards
Mallard is the name of the locomotive, it’s an A4 class Pacific designed by Nigel griesly.
The official word record is 126mph, everything else is just hearsay, sour grapes and attemped one upmanship. If your T1 went that fast why isn’t it in the record book??
I had a rather pithy—bordering on invective—response to your need to play national one upsmanship with my beloved T-1. However, as I am humbled by the sacrifice and dignity expressed by Briti***roops fighting along side American troops in Iraq (and embarrassed by the fact that our country hasn’t nationally recognized that fact), I will just keep it to myself and allow you to bask in the triumphs of the A4.
Gabe . . . Hawkins.
There is no doubt that the Mallard holds the “official” record,and we are glad that she is still with us today. Even though the locomotive almost stripped herself to set the record,her place in history is secured.
The bottom line in these conversations is that there were many fast runs with fast locomotives…and most likely many of these runs were make with a “wink” from the road foreman…
I believe the record for the CPR was accomplished with a 4-4-4, and it was around 118. Not too shabby.
Still, I wonder if, early one starry morning, somewhere out on the pairies, in either country, the two fellas looked at one another, one eyebrow arched slightly, and a half-smirk was exchanged. A slight nod, the Man reached for the cut-off and the regulator, and…well, somebody had to hear about it later.
Speed recordings of “steam days” could be rayther inacurate, and therefore often exagetated and unprovable.
The fastest steam engine in service today, excursion survice that is, is a German 4-8-4. It can run 100+ mph today. The A4 does officially hold the record. but it was down hill running, the Germans officialy have the second fastest wich is one mph slower but it wasn’t down hill.
…Plenty of fast runs were made at various locations and as for which is the “official” record…is questionable…How and what made a certain run official.
Believe we as a group have cited many instances that runs with steam engines pulling revenue cars did make some extraordinary speeds. Some just off the cuff as a spur of the moment tries…and others a planned speed run of some sort but to banner it back and forth of which was the most speedy…and how is it proved of what was done now is wide open to question. From what I have read and heard in conversation my guess for what speed might have been turned would be in the 125 to 130 mph range. One accepts his own opinion of what he thinks…what did it and where it was done…and when.
I think Crandell has it right. Ill go with his theroy. Probably be impossible to tell what the real record is since most of it was most likely done out on the open rail with nothing but a scared herd of cows or a freaked [:0]out farmer out in his feilds as some smoking, firebreathing banshee went screaming down the rails… (Can you even imgaine that sight??)
Heck, I have seen highway crewman race snow plows and regulary see the UPS guys race their brown trucks (I work by a UPS wharehouse) foot to the floor, black smoke blazeing as they race across the intersection at a blinding speed of 35 miles an hour.
Men have been going fast since day one. The the theory of how many licks to the center of Tootsie Pop, way may never know. But does give great imagination…
Best Regards
I vote for the 2900s too, <But I’m biased I am helping to restore one> our Locomotive <2926> has all roller bearing connections. The AT&SF rated the 2900s at 110 mph, and maintained the track to run that fast or faster. It’s too bad that there isn’t any track left that we could do a speed run on. In the last ten years or so 3751 was pushing 80 on her run to Chicago, but getting an open block and permission to run fast is unlikely. Shure would like to try though, 500 tons at 100+mph…
Gunns
Heh. Poor Buster Browns.
There are working trucks out there that are heavily modified and capable of 140+ loaded.
I still say the PRR T-1 has the best potential for really high speeds under a load.