RMweb Premium melmerby Posted February 20, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 20, 2012 Hi all Is there any list which gives the typical top speed of Big 4/BR steam locos? I don't mean Mallard clapping it's ends at 126mph or a 9F rocketing down a gradient at 90mph + either. Just top speed as would be expected in normal, not exceptional service. E.g. A GWR Castle could do a ton plus but normal top speed would be say 90mph. etc. Keith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Sheep Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 surely top speed would depend on what the loco was pulling... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium keefer Posted February 21, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 21, 2012 or the authorised linespeed? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Or the quality of the coal, etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roythebus Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 The fitness of the fireman? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Max Stafford Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Far too many variables involved for rated top speeds to be applied to steam locos and the ruling line speed is ultimately the dominant factor in most cases. Dave. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted February 21, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 21, 2012 The only speed which is relevant is that which was needed to run the train (and its loading of course) concerned on time - end of story. And in steam days timed average speeds were considerably lower than potentially achievable top speeds of individual locos because the latter, as already listed above, involved many variables. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bon Accord Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Presumably what the author is getting at is maximum authorised speed for the class of loco concerned, just as there is for diesel/electric locos. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted February 21, 2012 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted February 21, 2012 Presumably what the author is getting at is maximum authorised speed for the class of loco concerned, just as there is for diesel/electric locos. That's what I was looking for. Although in the pre-speedo era it would be less precise than now. There were surely many stretches of main line where each loco could be used at it's normal top speed. Or wasn't there one? It being left up to the crew to decide what the loco was capable of, line speed permitting, of course. I recall reading an occasion when a Castle booked for a Wolves? - Paddington run had been unavailable/failed and a Grange had been allocated in it's place. When the train arrived at Leamington for a crew change they apologised for only having a Grange on. The Driver waiting to take over said "A 68 will do fine" and proceeded to get to Paddington in the booked time at Castle speeds! Keith EDIT: PS looking at O.S. Nock's "Stars, Castles and Kings, " It would seem that typical speeds were in the 60s or 70s depending on the service. However there are many occasions where speeds in the 80s were routine and 90s not uncommon on normal service trains. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted February 21, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 21, 2012 Presumably what the author is getting at is maximum authorised speed for the class of loco concerned, just as there is for diesel/electric locos. Basically no such thing on a general basis in respect of British steam engines although one or two classes, over the years, had individual maximum speeds imposed on them. One of our London Division Traction Inspectors in the late '60s used to tell a lovely story about his regular mate back in his firing days. On one occasion he and his Driver - a character well known for running hard - were on the Up 'Bristolian' and the 'Castle' they had was finished by the time they got to Swindon and all that was immediately available for the train was a 'Hall' - which duly kept as near to time as made little difference from Swindon to Didcot, where it was 'retired, defeated' only to be replaced by the Didcot shed pilot - a 43XX mogul, which was duly put to work as hard as might have been expected of a 'Castle' although it did, not surprisingly, lose some time. Alas the mogul also succumbed and had to come off at Slough - where the only thing available was a 61XX tank, which duly got a good hard run all the way to Paddington. The train was of course late into Paddington - but then it had changed engines 3 times and some of the smaller wheeled engines could hardly be expected to run at 90 mph but they were very definitely up to 75 according to Stan. Possibly a bit of good old footplate embroidery but the message was simple - if the running times demanded it and engine and men were up to it they would have a go. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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