Fastest steam train

[mallarddriver148]

Does anyone dare to challenge the mallard for speed?(Diesel and electric are unallowed)
Race your challenger against the mallard today!(Please)

 

[whistlehead]

Does anyone dare to challenge the mallard for speed?(Diesel and electric are unallowed)
Race your challenger against the mallard today!(Please)

Actually, it's highly likely that the South African "Red Devil" could easily beat the Mallard, given a straight enough section of track, and one German loco is claimed to have done better - on flat ground - though the record is not official.

In any case, the Mallard's record was set on a downhill slope, and even then it melted the axle bearings.

I'd recommend that you don't try to start this kind of thread - it's only likely to cause arguments about which country has the best trains.

 

[2995Valliant]

Actually, it's highly likely that the South African "Red Devil" could easily beat the Mallard, given a straight enough section of track, and one German loco is claimed to have done better - on flat ground - though the record is not official.

In any case, the Mallard's record was set on a downhill slope, and even then it melted the axle bearings.

I'd recommend that you don't try to start this kind of thread - it's only likely to cause arguments about which country has the best trains.

Whilst there's no doubt that the SAR class 26 was a very fine locomotive, it's highly unlikely that something with 5 foot drivers could challenge Mallard's record despite it's technological advancement. The physics of reciprocating masses just say no! Don't forget either that wind resistance plays an ever more significant role as speed increases. The fact that Mallard's streamlining was wind tunnel designed gives it a huge advantage.

For the record, the speed run overheated one bearing - the inside big end, which was a known weakness on the A4s.

Given the right condidions there's a few loco's from round the world that likely could take the record, but not the Red Devil, though it would probably win any records for efficiency hands down.

Anthony

 

[jmeinig]

It most likely will cause arguments, but I have heard rumors that the Pennsylvania S1 (the real one) went about 140 mph! Unfortunately, though, the PRR didn't put speedometers on most of their steam engines, and the record was unofficial.