Incredible Speed Records of Steam Locomotives

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- In today's video we talk about one of the hottest topics among railway fans:
Which is THE ACCURATE list of SPEED RECORDS achieved by STEAM LOCOMOTIVES and what are the obstacles to making such a list?
- The video is structured as follows: first, we ranked the locomotives by speed records they hold, and then, for each locomotive, we showed some basic technical characteristics, the year and the place where the speed record was achieved.
- During our journey into the past, on which we discover the magic of steam trains, we are followed by: Pennsylvania Railroad E7 7002, GWR 3700 Class 3440 City of Truro, LNER Class A3 4472 Flying Scotsman, Milwaukee Road class F6, LNER Class A3 2750 Papyrus, LNER Class A4 2509 Silver Link, Milwaukee Road class A No. 2, DR 18 201, Borsig DRG Series 05 002, LNER Class A4 4472 Mallard.
Credits: drive.google.com/file/d/17NMH...
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#Railroads #SteamLocomotives #Trains
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[@sirrliv]

Special mention is also deserved for Japanese National Railways Class C62 4-6-4 C62 17, which reportedly achieved a maximum speed of 129 kph/80 mph on the Tokaido Main Line between Tokyo and Osaka on 15 December, 1954. As the Japanese railways use a smaller 3ft 6in (1067mm) gauge track, as opposed to the larger 4ft 8.5in (1435mm) standard gauge used throughout most of the world, this is therefore the world speed record for narrow gauge steam locomotives.

[@sc1338]

That’s interesting. Was it an imported train or domestic?

[@justarandomf-4gphantom170]

@@sc1338 It was a Japanese domestic locomotive.

[@Shadowtiger2564]

One thing to note with this is it was done as an official speed test by the Japanese National Railways to determine if they should continue using the C62 class locomotives for their express class trains, or to fully switch to electric locomotives. At the time they needed to determine speeds of operation, and this test was to determine which one would out pace the other. When I came to this video I expected to see it on the list...

[@Shadowtiger2564]

@@sc1338 it was a domestically produced and had the largest boiler and the largest diameter driving wheels of any Japanese steam locomotives

[@naturespecialist1489]

Thank you for talking about the C62!!! 🇯🇵

[@Rog5446]

When the designer of A4 Mallard, Sir Nigel Gresley, asked the running department for a driver for the record attempt, they said they would give Sir Nigel their best driver. Sir Nigel replied, I don't want the best driver, I want the most fearless driver.

[@railsaroundsouthjersey]

The A class was based on the PRR K4.

[@hadrenrailway9971]

@@railsaroundsouthjersey No, no they weren't. I don't even know how or where you got that idea from.

[@tommysommers9295]

Sir Nigel Gresley was the name of another A4

[@countluke2334]

@@railsaroundsouthjersey Perhaps read that article AND understand it? All it says that the PRR K4 was the first to feature the 4-6-2 "Pacific" wheel arrangement and that Gresley adopted that for the A1 class, but made alterations. The locos look nothing alike. For the A4, Gresley did research on the "Flying Hamburger" and the Bugatti rail car.

[@michaelcampin1464]

@@countluke2334 I totally agree Sir Niger Gresley credits his inspiration for the A4s to the Flying Hamburger. Interesting though the P2 was also streamlined until then rebuilt by Edward Thompson.

[@sithlordofoz]

It wasn't the boiler on Mallard which was broken but the inside cylinder "big end" which ran hot and had a safety "stink bomb" fitted. The stink bomb was activated and the train was braked safely to stop to inspect.

[@BackwardFinesse]

The Holcroft/Gresley conjugated valve gear of the A4 gave the inside cylinder a greater cut-off than the outside cylinders. The inside cylinder developed more power than the outside ones and this posed an excessive load on the inside big-end, which was very prone to failure. This happened on Mallard’s record run when driver Duddington increased the cut-off at speed, instead of reducing it. The big-end problem was resolved in BR days by an ex-Great Western man called Cooke, who wrote about in a book.

[@BackwardFinesse]

@Aussie Pom Thank you, AP - really interesting stuff.

[@blackbirdgaming8147]

@@BackwardFinesse That’s really interesting, didn’t know that about Gresley gear. Thanks for sharing!

[@inyobill]

@@BackwardFinesse Oh, 3-cylindar machines, I think I kn ew that. Once upon a time.

[@indridcold8433]

An honourable mention of 60163 Tornado, construction finished in 2008, which achieved 161 kilometers per hour (101. 6 miles per hour) on the 12th of April 2017. This was achieved to prove it could run passenger service at 90 miles per hour.

[@darkgreenambulance]

Whilst I was pleased to watch that program - surely they were not surprised at it achieving that?

[@atlas1924]

Guess Gordon and Spencer were the fastest steam trains on Sodor

[@LuzNocedaHumanWitch]

Did You Just Call My Cousin And Brother Trains Instead Of Engines? You Would Know Im The Flying Scotsman

[@cricry]

Locomotive not trains. Trains are the locomotive + the consist behind

[@Boypogikami132]

Stupid it’s called engines. Trains are the locomotive + passenger/freight cars

[@joejoejoejoejoejoe4391]

Ivor was the fastest engine in the top left hand corner of wales.

[@34.rivalfirdaus78]

The streamline engine, Connor and Caitlin : hold my wheels

[@Dekko-chan]

Seeing those things go as fast as modern trains is making me feel really uncomfortable Like 6:58 That looks terrifying

[@TheAtlantaRailfan]

Really, I would love to go that fast behind a steam locomotive.

[@keithparker5103]

@@TheAtlantaRailfan Steve, as a young man I worked for British Railways and between 1955 and 1965 I travelled many thousands of miles behind steam locomotives. It was unwise to lean out of the window of course, but what you could do was to stand in the doorway immediately behind the tender with the window open. On one occasion "Sir Nigel Gresley" nearly drowned me when he took on water at 95 MPH between Darlington and York. My friend Eric timed "Dwight D Eisenhower" at 105 MPH on the same stretch. I have said this elsewhere, on several occasions I timed 73068 at 95 MPH between Church Fenton and York. That was an amazing engine. On another occasion I timed 92113 at 80 MPH between Church Fenton and York. Bear in mind this was a freight loco. with 5:00 feet driving wheels. After several alarming runs with these loco's BR put a stop to it. This was just a fraction of what I experienced, I would love to go through it all again.

[@hoangho6781]

@@keithparker5103 wow nice to hear your story

[@yegorgribenuke6853]

Calm down bro, they arent headed to your house.

[@riderstrano783]

you kidding? I'd kill to be at the throttle of a locomotive like that.

[@bertmeinders6758]

It's significant that Mallard was one of a class of 35 locomotives built for normal passenger and (occasionally) fast freight working, while the Borsig-built record breaker was one of two built specifically for breaking speed records. Incidentally, during the war, A4s were renowned for their ability to haul very heavy trains on steeply graded (by British standards) lines.

[@mbr5742]

The actually three BR05 where test/experimental engines yes. But not in the sense of " propaganda tools to break records". They where used to develop and test the next generation of the Einheitsdampflok and the matching carriages. The engines used as many parts and design concepts of the then current german locomotive concept as possible. And where actually used in regular service post WW2 until they where replaced by the beautiful V200 diesels

[@josemariaoliverimarin4049]

No kiero entrar en discusiones ni recibir insultos o groserias como respuesta. Según lo ke conozco, el record de velovidad de trenes con locos vapor se discute entre Alemania y Gran Bretaña. No recuerdo mucho, pero la digerencia era muy pekeña. Por 200 o 202 km/h. Pero el tren alemán era más liviano. Y el tren inglés controló la velocidad barranca abajo. Así no se puede comparar nada. Es tonto. Si algún lector puede aclarar o completar informaciónserá muy bienvenido.

[@josemariaoliverimarin4049]

Ya se agregó.

[@BalticFilms144]

Kudos for using actual footage of Milwaukee Road 6402 when she made the run

[@olly5764]

It wasn't the boiler that was dammaged on Mallard, she ran a hot big end on the middle connecting rod.

[@countluke2334]

Yes, and her train was much heavier than the German train. DR 05 002 pulled 197 tons while Mallard pulled 240 tons. So there is still a case to be made Mallard was indeed faster. She is way more beautiful in any case.

[@countluke2334]

Further: Mallard had had to brake at a station due to works on the tracks and could not pick up speed as originally planned. That is why she had to accelerate faster than suggested. There is every case to be made that she could have gone even a bit faster and without that overheating issues. The run was far from perfect. Also, as Chris Eden-Green points out in his SLIP video: That record was achieved on more than 50 year old tracks and she didn't derail, because she was that well engineered.

[@barryphillips7327]

IF If they had used proper lubrication ie grease instead of oil the bearings probably would have been ok. The oil lubrication on steam locos was POOR to say the least!!!! Rolls Royce had automated greasing systems in the 1920,s with one push of a button! Why not use that?????????????

[@G777GUN]

From my POV if Mallard had its wheels covered like the Borsig that also would have made it faster. They did a good job to reduce the drag down while still making it look good. But I reckon if they had covered the wheels completely that would have eliiminated low pressure wakes.

[@olly5764]

@@G777GUN unlikely. At the speeds trains operate at, streamlining makes very little difference. The upper half of Mallard's wheels were covered, the A4s lost the valancing over the wheels during the war to make access to oiling points easier.

[@vojtasTS29]

The Czech class 498.1 holds the national steam locomotive speed record at 162kph, but it is rumoured to have reached more during the tests at Velim, all the way up to 175. Considering it's wheels are only 1830mm tall, it's probably the world record holder for piston velocity.

[@joestephan1111]

The "no" in the Milwaukee Road designations stands for "number".

[@Alucard-gt1zf]

I've always wondered how number is shortened too "no"

[@adammcdonald3632]

@@Alucard-gt1zf it goes back to the Latin term for number "numero"

[@mozeskertesz6398]

Some steam speed records from Hungary: Highest service speed: 125 km/h (78 mph) by the Class 203 4-4-2. Fun fact: the fastest run at the testing trials was 142 km/h, but after the 203, 015 (Class In. 818) was refitted with bigger tubes and with only 2 cylinders, it made 156 km/h (97 mph) Fastest steamer: Class 242 (nickname: Coffin) 4-4-4 made to 161 km/h (101 mph). The unofficial record is 167 km/h (104 mph).

[@pirosabel]

Jó hogy leírtad! Tudtommal a 424esek is tudtak 120 km/h felett menni.

[@mozeskertesz6398]

@@pirosabel tudtak azok 135-tel is menni, de 90-re voltak engedélyezve, hisz eredetileg tehervonati mozdonynak készült...

[@welshpete12]

Here in Britain , it is easy to find the speed of a train . There are white markers at the side of the line every quarter of a mile . They have the distance marked on them usually from the nearest big city . Using a wrist watch with a second hand, it is easy to time taken between two of these markers .

[@paullangford8179]

I use the stopwatch function on my mobile phone.

[@davidgilbertson7750]

It's the same in the USA and has been for 100 years.

[@ArCKonan]

9:08 Eyyyyy everyone forgets about this one. Thanks for including it!

[@vin6665]

Those steam locomotives are faster than my country's Diesel Locomotive :')

[@raccoonraccoonraccoonracco7561]

That's because diesel is regulated a coal engine get as hot as literal hell

[@VanDerHaalan]

@@raccoonraccoonraccoonracco7561 Old guys who served on steam locomotives here in Czech Republic (Czechoslovakia at time of steam) always said: "There is no load, what steam couldn't handle." P.S. Czechoslovak steam locomotives especially late ones are very elegant and beautiful designs. I think It is because of very high placed boiler on very subtile structure above wheels. Railroads here are very winding, so engineers and designers didn't take care of aerodynamics, because it wasn't needed. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZTIhquFeLdlgpI kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5KkgJVjgdZ8rMk kzbin.info/www/bejne/nauVqX6IfsqbesU

[@jacobruiz97]

With extensive regearing, most diesel locomotives exceeding 1000 hp can easily reach 130+ mph

[@patrickwhalen6834]

There are anecdotal reports of Pennsylvania Railroad T-1 4-4-4-4 duplex steam locomotives exceeding 140 mph between Crestline, Ohio, and Chicago, Illinois.

[@kevinmitchell7924]

It was more than an anecdote, it was a reliable observer for the Franklin company that built the valve gear, they suspected the locomotives were being subjected to excessive speed. He had a log book and a calibrated watch, and took readings every mile. His logs and watch were examined afterwards by others. He recorded speeds for a week on the fastest part of the line. He recorded many speeds over 125.

[@darkgreenambulance]

@@kevinmitchell7924 I wonder how fast that other duplex, ( 6-4-4-6?) was capable of?

[@harryrobinson2901]

I very much doubt they ever got up to such speeds - pretty much all exceptionally fast locomotives tend to follow the trend of being quite light for their power bracket. The T1 was hardly a light engine. It’s also worth noting they had awful slip problems - slipping puts excessive force on the wheels and in turn, the valve gear. They were known for slipping up to 130mph, and that’s my guess as to where the wear came from. Also, American mileposts are hardly accurate.

[@ijlbasketmanyt1861]

The PRR S1 has several claims of surpassing Mallard’s record, and even was said to go 156 mph at one point. And this claim can also be true, since the PRR got fined for having the locomotive go that fast.

[@user-yf7wv1lv7c]

PRR S-1

[@gabrielbaldissera8403]

LMS Coronation Class 114mph (183km/h) 1937

[@Alert64]

Not only the fastest but the most beautiful locomotive, Mallard.

[@friedemannkemm63]

The main reason for Germany not complaining about Mallard probably was that the German Diesel and electrically driven trains had set higher speed records already. It is reported that the record set by 05 was mainly to show that also steam locomotives were able to run faster than 200kph.

[@CousinVan]

FWIW: On a steam excursion in late summer of '63, my father & I rode along pulled by CB&Q # 5620 (I think that was the locomotive). Anyway, it was a Northern type 4-8-4 on a run from Union Station in Chicago, IL to White PInes State Park in Oregon, IL and back to Chicago. Due to congestion at the yard (in Savannah, IL I believe) where the locomotive was turned around, it was almost 2 hours late getting back to Oregon, IL. On the run back to Chicago, the engineer let her fly thru the cornfields. My dad and I were timing the run timing the mileposts along the right-of-way and they were flying by every 28-29 seconds. Doing the math using the average of 28.5 seconds, that train was cruising along @ 126.32 MPH. What a rush!

[@darkgreenambulance]

Wish I had been with you then! Great admirer of the J4s (4-8-4) during which time the company was returning 6% to their shareholders - while the newly "Diesielized" ones could only manage 1/2%!! The Norfolk and Western ran their steam sheds so cleanly and efficiently that their locos were fully serviced in an incredibly short time - and the J4s had everything automatically lubricated - even the bell! Shame it all had to end as the specialised companies for components for steam engines were going out of business. Pity the N.& W. couldn`t buy one of the firms and just carried on. Wishful thinking. Thank goodness that one J4 has been preserved. I wish more had been, though - Many thanks for your account. Really enjoyed it - just imagining the driver getting into the spirit of the occasion to make up for the delay: "Right - I`ll show em" What a marvellous era.

[@v.m.2526]

Ich wusste gar nicht, dass die Dampflokomotiven so schnell sein können! Sehr gut erklärt!

[@RailwaysExplained]

Danke für Ihre Unterstützung.

[@lukazarkovic7019]

The channel explains the railway in a professional and yet interesting way. Keep going guys! 👏

[@RailwaysExplained]

Thank you Luka, everything is easy when we have such audience! 😎

[@unjustifiablyneglectedtopi8293]

👏👏👏

[@shutout951]

the train video community really goes for the straightforward presentation. check out the Thornapple river rail series.

[@jameskarg3240]

Note: Mallards crown IS set to be challenged as early as 2030, as a group in America calling itswlf the T1 Trust are building a streamlined PRR T1 Duplex Steam Locomotive from scratch, likely to be the first Steamer ever built as such in the 21st century. Theyre aiming to break the speed record by reaching something like 130+MPH. Given T1s mere decade long service and MANY initial problems, it was never given a full service life to prove it COULD be reliable. All Id like to end this off on is this: Steam may be out of fashion, but its FAR from dead.

[@frankwduschek2132]

It is my understanding that when proving the t1 4-4-4-4 there were speeds in excess of 130 mph reached

[@j.l_railphotography]

Honestly, it's almost disrespectful to beat a record from so long ago, can't just let history rest. But that's America, always needs to be the best 🤣

[@jameskarg3240]

@@j.l_railphotography Innovation and ambition doesnt sleep. Thats not just Americans here, thats EVERYONE with a Free Market economy. You dont keep pushing yourself, your in poverty. THATS the general rule

[@Thursdaym2]

Nice to see City of Truro mentioned. Amazing to think it did 100 mph at the turn of the 19th / 20th century.

[@mikelucas3746]

I believe it was a mail train from Penzance and the GWR hushed up the achievement at the time so as not to frighten off passengers.

[@brucelamberton8819]

Supposedly did 100mph. The GWR's Castle-class 4-6-0s were faster, yet they're not mentioned here.

[@crackedemerald4930]

10:59 according to my calculations, the RPM of the engine at that speed and wheel diameter would be 420RPM

[@Jack-li5ww]

The CP rail company in Canada had an official speed record set in 1936 using special lightweight 442 F2 locomotive. There were 4 of these made and were numbered 3000 to 3004 and 3003 clocked a speed of 112.5 mph near St Telesphore Quebec.

[@blackbirdgaming8147]

You’re thinking of the F2a, which was a 4-4-4 Jubilee and not a 4-4-2 Atlantic. For the curious, unfortunately no F2a locomotives survive. However, two CP F1a Jubilees are known to exist. One is in the US, located at Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, PA. The other is located somewhere in Canada. I know for sure that one locomotive is numbered 2929, the other I believe is 2925. I could be mistaken though. Differences between the F1a and F2a: the F2a came first, delivered a year before the F1a. F2a had 80” (2032 mm) Boxpok drivers, was driven from the first axle, and had 17.25x28” (438x711 mm) cylinders. May also have had lighter-weight motion. F1a had 75” (1905 mm) “standard” spoked drivers, was driven from the second axle, and had smaller 16.5x28” (420x711 mm) cylinders. Feel free to correct me or fill in any gaps.

[@crankychris2]

Imagine travelng in the 1920's or 30's in luxury at 80-90 mph...there was nothing like it.

[@stevedickson5853]

..just don't open a window

[@iwostrains]

Top speed in Poland is 138 km/h (85 mph) in 2003. The record break-in engine: Pm36-2 "Piękna Helena" 😃 its a 4-6-2 built in 1937

[@jugbywellington1134]

Isn't that one of the engines now kept at Wolsztyn? I'm pretty sure I saw it at Poznan around 2007.

[@wramsey2656]

Great video! Such fine machines and it makes you want to see them used again. They had such classy design features.

[@heikosteffens1661]

One hint: there were three locomotives of the German class 05... the 200,4 km/h were reached by 05 002 (wich - alas - was dismantled after withdrawal, while 05 001 is preserved in a museum). Several times the video displays 05 003 instead of 05 002. 05 003 was a cab forward and thus can easily be differentiated from 05 001 and 002 :-)

[@waywithwords3632]

Finally, someone actually talks about the class 5.

[@peteengard9966]

There have been interviews of engineers of the PRR T1 4-4-4-4 locomotives that claim making up lost time on the racetrack out of Chicago going over 100 mph regularly.

[@moestrei]

Calculations have confirmed that the T1 ist indeed the fastest steam engine. The T1 trust is trying to build one from scratch and the have the speed officially verified.

[@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory]

@@moestrei Source for the calculations?

[@moestrei]

@@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory Web page of T1 trust.

[@herpnderpn2484]

It may be the fastest, but none of the railroads in the day did anything official. The N&W J regularly did 110 according to the company, reports of 120. The NYC Niagara's were tested at 700 rpm for balance.... 164.5mph. Easily broke 100 in service, and watering at 90 or so. Had timetables that averaged 90mph. I do know of a few curves on PRR that had a speed restriction of 110. That implies some much higher speeds. I should add, the Hudson's, Niagara's, and others had soot blowers in the firebox. The soot would honeycomb on the fluesheet and start insulating and blocking tubes. The velocity of gases through the engine was insane to cause that.

[@WesternOhioInterurbanHistory]

@@herpnderpn2484 What are the sources for the Niagara speeds?

[@naduncan100]

Many thanks for this your efforts are greatly appreciated, Cheers Neil

[@spankflaps1365]

The Gresley A4 “Silver Link” that did 112.5mph in 1935 was pretty good for a single chimney engine, and it was pulling the Dyno car plus 7 (streamlined) coaches. And it did it on its first outing, with passengers on board. Wish I was there! It was nearly bought by 2 different private owners on withdrawal, but unfortunately neither were successful and it was scrapped. Another A4 “Sir Nigel Gresley” did 112mph in 1959, with a double chimney and a full train of passengers, but the track inspector wouldn’t let him go any faster. Fortunately this loco was saved and preserved, and has recently had another full rebuild to main line condition.

[@adamdostal4680]

What about ČSD 498.1 made by Škoda Pilsen factories? The record holder 498.106 achieved 162km/h, although during the tests (still with a 340-ton train)? These speeds were not used on the regular network as the highest speed for ČSD was 120km/h those days.

[@RailwaysExplained]

what year?

[@adamdostal4680]

@@RailwaysExplained August, 1962. The cool story behind is that there was a new test polygon for high-speed electric and diesel locomotives (where high-speed in the former eastern block means some 140-ish), but there were no locomotives to achieve that speed. Therefore they used the fastest available steam to test the testing polygon.

[@karlosbricks2413]

I'm sure this has been mentioned already, but at 3:12, 110-130 km/h is approximately 70-80 mph, 100 mph would be around 160 km/h

[@StreamlinedSteamLocomotives]

''Thanks'' for taking(stealing) all of the film footage used in your upload from my Account, 75% of the film footage used in this upload is all from my Account and is my own editing and frame adjusting along with the film cropping, you have given ''No Credit'' to my Account or the other Accounts whom you have taken from, you aren't the only youtube channel doing this you are one of many whom are doing this!

[@sc1338]

I gave him a dislike, I can’t stand plagiarism

[@Notaracialslur]

Wha?

[@PikaPetey]

Wow!! I watched SOOOOOO many ads on this channel! They made a FORTUNE off your work!! Internet gotta internet!!

[@LEVI-hv8dw]

Give him copyright strike

[@78recorddude]

Gave him a dislike and subscribed to your channel. Integrity matters.

[@ianorr7623]

I'm glad that there was writing on the screen as I didn't understand half of what you said.

[@matthewradovanovic5172]

The pensilvenya railroad t1 was rumored to go 140mph and the s1 of the same railroad was also rumored to go 156mph

[@ronaldgreen5292]

Those speeds were pretty damn incredible for those times, compared to now!!😮😮 Much respect for those old steamers!!

[@andrewashdown3541]

Beautifully clear, thorough & informative👍

[@hugoknight1]

What an excellent video! Very well put together. Interesting and informative. You earned a new subscriber!

[@kevinmoor26]

Very informative and enjoyable for steam enthusiasts.

[@klikeras1921]

Interesting content !! Keep going !!

[@RailwaysExplained]

Thanks Nidža!

[@mbr5742]

I still thing we should do a re-run. Mallard is around, a BR 05 is around. Same track, same cabs, two runs. Mallard can use a BR52.80 as a mobility aid for the second leg ;)

[@thomasinlondon2849]

Well made video, thanks for making and sharing.

[@RailwaysExplained]

Glad you liked it

[@oliverthebrblack5330]

There was an engine called tornado and is so modern made In 2008. And got to 101 mph

[@oscartobaroatmeal6734]

I just want to point out there are Three possible contenders that beat Mallards record; -The Pennsylvania Rail Road T1 and 4-4-4-4 wheel arranged monster of a steam locomotive with a streamlined cast in body, officially in terms of two separate sets of powered wheel on a steam locomotive it was the fastest of it's type or possibly the fastest compared to a pacific say like an A4 class. Many say that a recording of a speed of 127 mph has happened, however due to logistic reasoning, it didn't count. But still can do 110+ mph. However a group is planning on bringing back the T1 despite no T1 survived, as it turns out they are rebuilding from the ground up and they reached the funding goal, soon a PRR T1 will run again. - The Chesapeake and Ohio #490 l1 and 4-6-4 Hudson and also streamlined sitting the a museum and the only surviving l1 Hudson from the C&O railroad, this one in particular said it did near the 130mph, unbelievable to say the least, not sure what official power figure it's making but it must be a lot to do that speed. But none of these two compare to what I'm going to say next, next is a story and is one I want to believe it happened. - The Milwaukee Road Hiawatha F7 4-6-2, remember in the video you talked about the absolute beast the A class NO.2 Hiawatha was? It was replaced or ran alongside the F7 which is even more insane! It was packing more power especially that it was driven by 6 wheels, exactly like the arrangement as a A4 making more power than a A4 surely just surely it's faster right? No, it was regulated the same 110mph+ as the Atlantic did. But what I just said was facts, what I am going to say now is a story. One day I was watching a different video about USA trains that can potentially beat mallard, but then I went to a comment section and found a comment saying not in exact quotes but the following "I knew a friend that had his great grandfather driving one of the F7s in the Hiawatha's run, the train was held at a junction and was running late, after the all clear signal was given he let the throttle full open to make up for lost time, he ignored the speed limit and hardly was the speed limit regulated or enforced so he kept going, before you know it the odometer was showing 134-137 mph! And made the run just in time." I hardly could believe but looking into the power the F7 was making, it might be true. but sadly I can not find the video because either KZbin won't show me the video so I can give the link to the video or the video was taken down. seriously I can't find it, and it's a shame really. Anyways hope you found this comment interesting and have a good day.

[@oscartobaroatmeal6734]

Just want clarify that the F7 Hiawatha was a 4-6-4 my bad

[@danielwilcox6058]

that is honestly a reasonable story, Steam locos and especially late era passenger steam, where not really limited to power or top speed they were limited by space and balls of the engineer running them, Without super accurate simulations of these locos, who really know what their "top" speeds really were, There's alot of stories that say that the UP 4-8-4 FEF-3s where speed demons too, and could easily hit the 120MPH mark, but nobody dared to push them further,

[@wizlish]

Alfred Bruce of Alco thought the A was a faster locomotive than the F7, and noted cryptically in his 'American Locomotives' that it had exceeded 128mph on test

[@blackbirdgaming8147]

C&O 490 is an L1 Hudson, not an I1.

[@blackbirdgaming8147]

@@danielwilcox6058 The UP FEFs probably didn’t go that fast, but they could on paper go a bit beyond 120 mph. An FEF would probably be happier cruising at 90 mph than it would be at design maximum.

[@MENSA.lady2]

Back in the early 1960's I was a regular train spotter at Brookwood in the UK. There are no platforms on the fast lines so no speed limits. It was routine to see Merchant Navy class locomotives on express services out of Waterloo at over 100 MPH.

[@angela-uy9gq]

This is very interesting, just keep going 👏🏻

[@milosstanojevic5834]

I agree, this video is next level of Railways Explained!

[@RailwaysExplained]

Thank you for the support.

[@radosavcvetanovic1142]

All the best,,just keep going an excellent and instructive channel 👏

[@RailwaysExplained]

Thank you a lot!!

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

There was no damage to the boiler on Mallard's record run, but damage to the big end of the inner cylinder after it over heated.

[@patrickporter6536]

The guy posting knows very little, he seems to have just stolen other people's work without understanding it.

[@Dinu-1959]

Hello ! I've always loved the steam locomotives - those black iron ladies with their tenders. And as a child I even drove in their cabins ! Thank you and all the best, with health and we will be happy in peace and love ! Sincerely, Dinu, 62, from Romania.

[@justandy333]

The Mallard run is a difficult one to judge. It did break the record legitimately, However it was forced to brake heavily right after due to curves in the track ahead. This action resulted in the big end bearing running hot and it had to be removed from the train at Peterborough to be repaired before continuing onwards. At the time the LNER hushed up this little fact. So had the locomotive been allowed to brake gently, it wouldnt have broken itself and there wouldn't have been any shadow of doubt. But on the day this didn't happen. Then again, as far as I'm aware there are no rules stipulating that the locomotive has to be in running order after a run for the record to be valid. So its kind of up to the individuals interpretation wether or not Mallards record is warranted. Interesting topic of debate though.

[@MrMoorkey]

Mallard's record IS warranted, as the speed record was broken. It was a main line engine, on the main line, which continued in main line service until 1963. These repeated assertions that the record is invalid because the engine had a technical issue are apocrypha, nothing more. The bearings running hot didn't help the attempt or lend further speed to the engine.

[@countluke2334]

@@MrMoorkey Agreed. Further, the run was far from perfect. There were roadworks on the ascent where she was supposed to pick up speed, so they hit the accellerator hard when the track was finally free again. That also contributed to the over-heating. So, her train was more than 40 tons heavier than the German one (197 vs. 240), and there are indications that she could have been even faster. Works for me.

[@jlwilliams]

And, its “record-breaking” speed was set on a downhill segment, and was clocked by a pen recorder, the designer of which said did not have enough resolution to support the claimed speed. The German locomotive hit its speed on a level section of track and was clocked by timing… plus, it didn't break in the attempt. But… the Brits won the war (and they did it all by themselves, just ask them) so they got to write the histories, and they weren't about to let the bally Jerries steal their thunder on any subject. That's also why everyone knows Alan Turing and Tommy Flowers invented the computer, and nobody knows who Konrad Zuse was…

[@countluke2334]

@@jlwilliams Well, I'm German and I know Zuse and I still am with Mallard on this one. As I said, Mallard's train was much heavier which compensates for her going slightly downhill. The overheating was due to bad greasing and if anything she should have been faster without that issue. Plus she had had to brake and gone through a slow speed section due to works on the tracks before the high speed segment. And it was us starting the war preventing the A4s from making yet another, even faster attempt. Could 05 002 have been faster? - We'll never know. If only that would have been the major concern back then.

[@MrMoorkey]

@@jlwilliams Again, apocrypha, nothing more.

[@jtveg]

Thanks for sharing. 😎👌🏼

[@davidwayne9982]

THANK YOU-- love these living machines... and the history..

[@MA-iridium]

Great video, thank you for sharing! Beautiful machines and facts given professionally.

[@hassanharith6820]

Thanks to admin. Tq for upload this footage,. The transparency of the mechanical parts look so cool. @00:11 & 01:01, 🚂.

[@ausielad1]

I was train spotting in Worksop England as a boy, 1963, i was lucky enough to ride with the engine driver and fireman in the Mallard to Retford, a special treat if will never forget.

[@blackbirdgaming8147]

There’s a story out there that Savannah and Atlanta #750 went a little over 80 mph during the Southern Steam Program. The story goes that Engineer Bill Purdie wanted to see how fast 750 would go, and so he ran the engine wide open. The president of the railroad was aboard the train, and when they stopped, he sternly told Bill to never do that again, with a big grin on his face. Pretty impressive speed for a small light Pacific with some tonnage behind it. Other stories have circulated that several American locos have exceeded the federal speed limit for all trains (79 mph) in preservation. SP 4449 has supposedly done above 90, and UP 844 exceeded the limit more than once.

[@willsen8908]

The Borsig DRG Series 05 is probably the most bizarre steam locomotive i have ever seen

[@eod6720]

The fastest steam locomotive on 3'6'' will be the class 16E, introduced in 1935, between Kimberley and the De Aar, with the numbers within the class reported at various occasions reaching the 100mph mark. They all had 6' drivers, also the largest ever on any narrow gauge locomotive.

[@eod6720]

From the South African Railways.

[@atilllathehun1212]

Where is the LMS Coronation class which reached 114 mph in 1937 and was still accelerating when they had to slam on the brakes to avoid crashing in Crewe station?

[@RestrictedProceed]

16:21...

[@mozeskertesz6398]

Nowhere because it would torn into smitherines if they wouldn't brake. Btw, it's at York.

[@atilllathehun1212]

@@RestrictedProceed Ah should have watched right to the end, my bad!

[@RestrictedProceed]

@@atilllathehun1212 No problem then!

[@carlnapp4412]

Thank you for this profound vid.

[@RailwaysExplained]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ih4t3u28]

german lokomotive numbering scheme explained: Example: 103 113-2 103 113 -2 class serial number random extras(special brakes, special heating system,etc.) class nubers explained: 0xx = steam lokomtive 1xx = elecrtic lokomtive 2xx = diesel lokomotive 3xx = small diesel lokomotive for sorting wagons 4xx = ICE trains 6xx = whole diesel passenger trains

[@vornamenachname727]

XXX XXXX-5 is also possible, with number 1-9 as a control number, "5" in this example also, 4xx is not only for ICE, but for all electric train units (whole passenger trains) as for example the Talent 2

[@111greatbear3]

You forgot the LMS Princess Coronation class number 6220

[@RailwaysExplained]

We mentioned Princes Coronation and its speed of 114 mph in our conclusion. But for us this speed record is at least disputed.

[@BassandoForte]

The one that nearly broke the whole loco, the rest of it's carriages and Crewe Station comming into it at nearly 60mph which has only a 25mph limit because it's on a relatively steep curve..?? 🤣 I've always thought between Crewe and Warrington or Wigan and Preston would have been a better place to achieve higher speeds for steam on the West Coast (LMS) mainline... Possibly between Wigan and Preston would have been a better idea as you get the run up through Wigan... 👍👍

[@paulwitcomb3285]

At last, someone has mentioned Coronation! On reaching 114 m.p.h., it was still accelerating and had to brake to avoid a disaster. It was more powerful than any of the LNER locomotives (boiler 25% larger apparently) and could probably have surpassed Mallard's speed record given a long enough stretch of straight track (up the East coast), which the LMS didn't have.

[@vishwajitpawar4076]

Excellent information and video too. Lovely steam engines.Thanks.

[@JeffM---]

Thanks, that was very interesting. I love the steam and steel.

[@RailwaysExplained]

Glad you liked it

[@God-yb2cg]

I really appreciate having the speed and distances in both SI and Imperial units

[@Markiz93]

Except they are wrong, 100 mph is 160 kph, not 130 kph...

[@TheAtlantaRailfan]

The original Pennsylvania Railroad 7002 no longer exists, it was scrapped in 1935, for the 1939 fair PRR 8063 another e7 Atlantic, was renumbered to 7002, it currently sits at the railroad museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg PA.

[@04u2cY]

I can't imagine the destruction if one of those rods ever break at full speed and the crew has no where to hide.

[@Wolfshead009]

There are several pictures of what happens when a side rod breaks. "Not pretty" is a mild description.

[@Meagain921]

Very interesting and informative. Many thanks.

[@Kairu_Kilofski]

The city of Truro may have hit 100mph, however the stretch of track it supposedly did it on was a downwards slope.

[@kenharris5390]

The technicians in the Dynomometer car said the paper ink trace on the rolling drum indicated that Mallard had reached 126 mph for only a second, but some of the techies thought it had reached 126.4 mph. The usage for the Dyno car was on normal passage services, the high speed that it was travelling at may not have been a completely accurate reading. The fact that Sir Nigel Gresley, their boss, was on the footplate during the run, may have had some influence on the Dynomometer car staff to authenticate the readout. If the Aniseed paste that was painted on the inside cylinder's big end journal, had not begun to react and start to smell, a common problem on the A4s, resulting in Duddington immediately beginning to slow down to prevent serious damage to the middle axle, the run may have been continued, but they knew they were approaching a track speed restriction because of maintenance work. I wonder if the paper trace is stored in the National Railway Museum in York.

[@vincentyap3188]

old school train, however i love old school stuff, too bad today wee cannot see them anymore

[@MeriHelpAapkiHealth069]

Nice video Best of luck

[@hugos5114]

Special mention, i think, to some french railways records: 120kph with a crampton from the 1850s also, 156kph with a streamlined Atlantic in 1935 and lastly, the fastest a steam locomotive ever went in France, 178kph with a 231E pacific that was never even built for such speeds.

[@black5f]

Sadly Mallard may never run again. She ran in the 80's but now so much needs replacing etc. Nigel Gresley is under heavy overhaul. Bittern was given clearance for several 90 mph runs in the UK which she did. Tornado (brand new) was given clearance to do a 100 which she did. I knew a fireman at Wellingborough, unfortunately passed now. He was used to stoking garrets and 8fs at 20 mph but had great stories of being dragged off to work Jubilees when fireman were sick. His favourite quote from a driver (after a few beers) was "stoke like hell son up hill, down hill wrap your arm round the rail, we will hit 98, don't fall out I need you".

[@plushnpuppetshenanigans5948]

i know the Pennsylvania railroad t1 and s1 claimed to reach 140 and 155 respectively, these claims where never verified but its still interesting to know

[@physiocrat7143]

There is a rumour that GWR 4-6-0 Lady of Lyons reached 120 mph in 1906, running light.

[@marktegrotenhuis]

I don't know if anyone mentioned it before, but with the DR 18 201 at around 10:45 you misspelled Deutsche Reichsbahn. 😉

[@williamlorenzen9113]

In 1893, Engine 999 belonging to the New York Central Railroad was timed by stopwatches between mileposts at 110 or 112 miles per hour. The engine is on display at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry.

[@marktibbetts3799]

Amazing compilation of information.

[@RailwaysExplained]

Thank you

[@derekstocker6661]

Very good railway video, thanks for explaining the 4-6-2 etc wheel arrangement, some do ask about this method of recognition of various steam engines. Brilliant film and details abound in this video, the British loco's were fast and beautiful but there is just something about the American loco's that take the design card for me, they look so workmanlike and massive, and capable with the multiple wheel arrangement seem so fabulously able when filmed at speed, especially an engine such as "Big Boy". Thanks for this great view into rail speed ability.

[@blackbirdgaming8147]

Many American steam locomotives were very fast as well. Imo the reason British locomotives have the better reputation for speed boils down to a few factors. 1. Limited British loading gauge limiting physical size and thus horsepower, making speed more practical than raw strength (not to say that the Brits didn’t squeeze out every ounce of power that they could get in their size). 2. Mallard’s speed record. 3. Tornado’s domestic speed record, and the Brits having better record keeping of speed records overall. 4. American locomotive preservation not being anywhere near as strong as British preservation, and the American federal railroad speed limit of 79 mph without cab signals/automatic stop systems. 5. British locomotives in preservation consistently making mainline runs at high speed. As an American, I enjoy steam locomotives of all types, no matter the nationality, but I enjoy American, Mexican, and Canadian locomotives most. There’s very few locomotives I don’t like. You may want to check out the video of Nickel Plate Road 2-8-4 Berkshire #765 making high speed runs if you like steam at speed.

[@heikosteffens1661]

18 201 was built in 1939 as the streamlined 4-6-6 * tank loco 61 002, one of only two machines of the class 61 designed for lightweight high-speed-trains between Leipzig and Berlin ("Henschel-Wegmann-Zug"). In 1961 61 002 was converted to 18 201 by using parts of the huge 2-10-2 ** goods loco 45 024 of 1940; the only 45 (of 28 in total) that stayed in Eastern Germany. 45 024 was converted into a high-pressure loco with an unusual boiler in rectangular shape, wich - alas - did not work. In UIC: * 2´C3´ and ** 1´E1´

[@ironmantrains]

Nice video, will you do diesel trains? Also Coronation did achieve 114mph, it was operated by the LMS on what is now the West Coast Mainline. The LNER wanted to go faster with the A4 on their East Coast Mainline. The flatter, straighter alignment on the ECML has meant that the ECML has been and is the faster of the two mainlines.

[@still_guns]

There is currently a PRR T1 being built from new in the USA. There are plans to validate it as the fastest steam locomotive ever, as unofficially original T1's reached up to 148mph.

[@Happymali10]

Small correction: "Deutsche Reichsbahn" died with the GDR, the western-German DB (Deutsche Bahn) took over. "Deutsche Reichsbahn" had been germany's railway before/during WW2, so most people were happy tor retire the term.

[@davidgilbertson7750]

I get why you put both of these Milwaukee Road engines in but you forgot their fastest engine, the F7 Super Hudson! That one had more power, tractive effort, and with 214 cm driving wheels it had a bigger top gear than any locomotive on this list. The F7 regularly ran for miles at 190 kph for much of the trip from Chicago to Minneapolis. Had the Milwaukee Road RR thought that we'd be here talking about steam speed records in 2023 they likely would have run the thing up to 210kph and duster their feet of it!

[@anamerican481]

Nice video 👍

[@Shark30006]

PRR S1 and PRR T1, 6220 Coronation, 6234 Duchess of Abercorn, 35003 Royal Mail, 35005 Canadian Pacific, 35028 Clan Line, 2512 Silver Fox, 4471 Sir Frederick Banbury, NYC Hudson, NYC Niagara NYC 999, PRR E6, Union Pacific FEF, and 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley

[@copley_hill_shed_56c]

My grandads friend lives in little bytham and has a model railway of the area and sometimes he changes the layout to look like it did on the speed record day and sends Mallard through at 126.6mph

[@ClearTrackSpeed]

Great video, If I have to say probably a number 11 would be New York central 999 which broke 113 on the New York-Chicago run in 1893. She is now preserved at the museum of science and industry in Chicago Illinois

[@BassandoForte]

Supposedly - no official timer or anyone who could verify it...

[@CountScarlioni]

Even the most generous rail historians are highly reluctant to believe in that record. Some unverified timings by passengers onboard claimed over 100mph whilst the speed recorder suggests nothing higher than 86mph. And that's no shame - 86mph places it with the fastest machines on Earth in the 1890s. American Railroad companies were notorious for claiming ludicrous speeds for their locos in that period. They and enthusiasts alike took full advantage of the lack of authentication methods to embellish their tales of speed and glory which sadly makes it impossible to take any of these amateur timings on trust. I think the UK's City of Truro loco is somewhat more believable as it had superior power and steaming capabilities, benefiting from another decade's worth of technological development time. However even then I'm dubious as the 3700 Class locos weren't exactly powerhouses. We should Get City of Truro and NYC 999 out of their museums, overhaul them, then drag race 'em. Let's sort this contest out once and for all! *Fight!*

[@garryferrington811]

That was a huge bit of publicity for the Central, every kid in America knew it, and Henry Ford built a record-breaking racecar called 999 in it's honor, but it's very unlikely it reached that speed. The Central tried and couldn't get it over 85 mph (which is still pretty fast for the time.) The success of 999 might be indicated by the fact that it was a "one-off" (no copies) and that it was soon rebuilt with smaller wheels.

[@w124mercedes7]

No mention of up4014 big boy. That loco was a power house . A beautiful steam loco.

[@j.l_railphotography]

she's beautiful in a robust way, not elegant or a vibrant livery like British locomotives. she's exceptionally powerful no doubt about that but not the fastest.

[@charlieavery2570]

Actually, the Bittern locomotive's number was #4464 (currently British Railways #60019).

[@Sangopadraji]

A steam locomotive in Mongolia has reached 400km/h eqipped with hot metal heating= no smoke. Look for Ulaanbaatar train station. Ask them if they have seen it.

[@byronpink9061]

Very educational!

[@sithlordofoz]

The A4's of the LNER made runs which involved over 100mph running almost daily - the Non-Stop Elizabethan between London KX and Edinburgh required 100mph running to maintain the schedule considering the start from LKX was uphill pretty much from mile 0, and the passing of York and Newcastle Central stations was done at around 15mph due to the curves and crossings.

[@PenzancePete]

I'm sorry to burst your bubble but in 1955 - the year of "The Elizabethan" no train in the U.K required 100mph running to keep time. The Elizabethan would not have had to exceed 85 - 90 mph to keep time although unforeseen delays would result in higher speed as drivers attempted to make up time.. The train was timed to take 6.5 hours for the 393 miles to Edinburgh. That's just a smidgeon over an average of 60 mph. It wasn't until 1965 that the first section of line between Peterborough and Grantham and then the next year Grantham to Newark was cleared for 100mph running. There were of course well publicised speed runs. Bill Hoole's 112 mph with "Sir Nigel Gresley" set an unbroken record for post war steam. He later stated that he was going for "Mallard's" record but at 112 mph the riding inspector tapped him on the shoulder and said, "that's enough Bill, we've got passengers on the train". The normal run of the mill express trains just weren't timed that fast.

[@phaasch]

@KevinKnight Are you sure you're not thinking of the pre-war "Coronation", which was allowed half an hour less than the Elizabethan for the 402 mile journey. There were several anecdotal accounts of the regular service train topping 100mph, but of course that was in the days when the A4s were new, the trains themselves were streamlined, and the p-way was in tip top condition, before the war knocked seven bells out of everything.

[@sithlordofoz]

@@phaasch possibly. One of the trains was on a 6 hour start to stop and that required some serious sustained speed to allow for the permanent speed restrictions on places.

[@phaasch]

@@sithlordofoz On that tight schedule it would have to be the Coronation. What wouldn't I give for a time machine! One of the observation cars has just been restored to its original 1937 condition. Take a look- there no way you won't be impressed: mobile.twitter.com/mrtimdunn/status/1357600888777551875

[@countluke2334]

As mentioned, you're talking about the Coronation. But the Silver Jubilee, for which the A4's were first designed, also ran with more than 100 mph on several occasions. The timetable didn't require it from the start because the A4 were new and it was unclear if they could maintain that. After all, Silver Link went from drawing to completion in only 72 days!

[@zogworth]

Hey, if you do more listacles can you stick to one unit and then just put the conversion in screen?

[@robw7676]

City of Truro often gets a mention on these kinds of vids, but Great Western Railway's most startling achievements were half a century earlier in the early days of their 7'¼" broad gauge network. A broad gauge Iron Duke class locomotive hit 78mph and hauled a passenger train 194 miles at a 53mph average in 1852. To put that in perspective, the last passenger train to depart on that identical route tonight 170 years later will only arrive 3½ minutes faster.

[@badgers1975]

I remember reading my son the Thomas the tank engine story featuring city of Truro when on holiday, next day we went to Bodmin park and she was sat on the platform at full stream. I have a picture of his face it was priceless. And yes we got to travel on her

[@senseiismail9448]

SteamTrains might be old. But Beautiful. ❤️