I would be grateful to anyone who could point me in the direction of a good online source of specs., esp top speeds, for various steamers. I would like to set the upper limit on mine now.
Thanks.
Really rough rule of thumb is the top speed is the driver diameter. (really rough)
It really doesn’t matter what the top speed is mechanically, the real top speed was the timetable speed. The engine might have been able to do 100 mph but if the track was only good for 45, the train went 45.
Fast freight would be somewhere in the 60-70 mph range.
Drag freight would be more like 45-50 mph.
Passenger trains would be somewhere in the 50-79 mph range or if its on a high speed line with cab signals 90-100 mph.
A branch line would have top speeds in the 25-45 mph area.