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THE FASTEST STEAM TRAIN IN THE WORLD

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Every schoolboy (at least of my generation) knows the answer.  The Gresley A4 Pacific 4468, “Mallard”, of course. 126mph in 1938.

Quite right.  But what is less commonly known is how tenuous is its claim to the title. 

Two years earlier, Germany’s Borsig DRG Series 005, Locomotive 02, attained 124.5mph – clearly second best.

Until you consider, that is, that the Mallard record was attained as a top speed on a downhill stretch south of Grantham, whereas the 02’s speed was the average over a measured distance.  More remarkably still, it achieved this hauling 197 tons of freight.

Enlightened opinion is that measured under similar conditions the German engine would have been the faster.

But there was never a subsequent challenge to the new record.  Perhaps the Third Reich was too busy planning that year’s annexation of Czechoslovakia and the fun of Kristallnacht, or the later invasion of Poland.

But no matter.  Tough shits, Fritz.

You snooze, you lose.

◄ TORY BULLY

THEY DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE BORN ►

Comments

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John Coopey

Tue 24th Nov 2020 17:13

Join the club, Paul.
And thanks for the Like, Dean.

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John Coopey

Mon 23rd Nov 2020 19:04

You’re welcome, Paul.
Be careful with the CD, though. Make sure you are alone when you listen to it. The baritone delivery a la Richard Burton might otherwise raise long forgotten stirrings in your missus!

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John Coopey

Mon 23rd Nov 2020 14:05

MC - When you read Andrew Marr’s “History of Modern Britain” you realise how close we were in 1940 to “doing a deal” ie surrendering. Of an inner war cabinet of 5, Chamberlain and Halifax were in favour, Churchill. Attlee and Greenwood against.

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M.C. Newberry

Mon 23rd Nov 2020 12:45

An interesting look back at steam loco history. The Brits and Fritz
have always been closely aligned in the brilliance of their inventions,
especially those that "go anywhere"! No wonder der Fuhrer was
not so keen on attacking the UK when there was a possibility of a
deal in his mind. Just sink of ze might of der duo ven vurking as vun!
Ve vud haf bin der rulers, nicht problemz - Brits and Fritz. Achtung
alles in ordnung...(then Adolf wakes up).

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John Coopey

Sun 22nd Nov 2020 20:18

Ah, yes. Platform tickets. I think they were time-bound, probably 1 Hour. More adventurous was sneaking round the sheds to “cab” a few. Got chased by the railway bobbies a few times.

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John Coopey

Sun 22nd Nov 2020 18:39

Ssshhh, Brian. You’ll have in front of the modulators again.
It’s a thought, Stephen. Perhaps she saw the Dwight D Eisenhower whistle by once and thought “I’m having one of those named after me.
I was indeed an anorak, Paul. Those were the days when you could hop on a train to London as an 11-year old to do some spotting with a couple of mates . Times have changed.

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Stephen Gospage

Sun 22nd Nov 2020 16:42

Grantham. Think about it, maybe Margaret Thatcher was a trainspotter and recorded the Mallard's number as it went past. I think we should be told......

<Deleted User> (18980)

Sun 22nd Nov 2020 16:23

I vould like to mek ze objection to ze anti-Deutsch sentiment in zis poem.

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