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Restoration of British 4-6-2 completed for summer anniversary
While Mallard may hold an official record, the Milwaukee’s Hiawatha regularly and unofficially surpassed it.
Saw the Mallard, Eisenhower and Union of South Africa while at the Museum in late December. Eisenhower looked like it was just out of the paint shop. Union of S. Africa, which is privately owned, looks like it runs; does anyone know if any of the others do?
“While Mallard may hold an official record, the Milwaukee’s Hiawatha regularly and unofficially surpassed it.”
The LNER record of 1938 included a dynamometer car graph recording the speed. And your proof of the Milwaukee “regular” and “unofficial” speeds is what, pray tell?
“Union of S. Africa, which is privately owned, looks like it runs; does anyone know if any of the others do?”
60007, 60009, and 60019 have run on excursions in recent years. 60022 was made operable for some trips around 1988 as I recall, but has not steamed regularly since.
And just what was the speed record set in 1938 by the 4468 (The Mallard)? Remember the chimes of good journalism: who, what, where, when, including the specifics of the piece.
Union of South Africa is a runner and Sir Nigel Gresley has run recently and I believe that Bittern is also in a running condition. Mallard was steamed in the 1980’s and I saw it running on the main line without the streamline casing on a test run. It certainly looked strange with just it’s boiler lagging.
Interesting comment from Austin F Larson. Why were the “Hiawatha’s” remarkable exploits “unofficial”? Couldn’t they afford a speed recorder?
In answer to David Mumma’s question, “Sir Nigel Gresley” and “Bittern” are also operational.
Great to see that “Eisenhower” and “Canada” are being at least cosmetically restored, especially"Canada" to its original LNER configuration - garter blue, single chimney, bell and valances. I look forward to seeing these engines again (I saw all the A4s in my spotting days around 1950) at the Mallard Great Gathering at York on 3rd July.
No 7, No 9 and No 19 are all currently in working order and regularly hauling trains