News story on the loan of the A4 to England states/implies that the engine ran under its own power from Halifax to Green Bay. Is that true?

Wouldn't surprise me. I don't know specifics, but I know the engine has run at least once under its own power in the US.

Both A4s in North America have never steamed since leaving the UK.

Joshua

I have several authoritative books on the LNER A4 class, and even *I* can't tell you for certain--unlike the two previous posts above. Give me some time to dig them out and do some triple-checking.

Ike: Withdrawn 20 July 1963. Following spring handed over after a cosmetic restoration at Southampton docks. Towed to Green Bay after arrival to the states- arrived in Jersey and is shown next to a CNJ trainmaster, incorrectly identified as Chicago in source book. Towed to Ike's mid-west hometown for an anniversary in 1990.

DOC: Early May 1965 sent to Doncaster for heavy overhaul, condemned later that very month due to poor boiler. August 1966- cosmetically restored. Following April, presented to Canada in London. Shipped to Montreal and towed to Delson.

Source: Mallard and the A4 Class David McIntosh (Fantastic book BTW)

This piece has caused some discussion on UK based preservation forums:-

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns- ... 7274.story

Especially around halfway down where this is quoted...


Transportation costs will be paid by the British museum for the exhibit celebrating the steam engine speed record of 126 mph set in 1938 by an A4 called Mallard. Organizers are discussing using one of the A4s in an attempt to break the old record.

Somehow over here we can't see Network Rail allowing 70+ year old locomotives run around at anything like 126mph!

Neil.

I would also hope that the organization that owned the locomotive in question would not allow this type of operation. I'm a big fan of restoring steam to operation, and I think they're much better out on the road instead of stuffed and mounted. However, operating a locomotive at top speed, and in fact at more than the top speed ever recorded for that engine in its prime, would seem to be a rather reckless endangerment to the machinery and crews. Even a small failure, such as a valve gear component breaking, could have catastrophic consequences at those speeds.

Also, what makes them think they could better the record? Is there some factor that they feel would allow them to do better now than they could previously? Presumably back in that day, they wouldn't have been as afraid to push things to the limit. It's easier to run a new car at the drag strip than it is to race a classic with only a few examples left.

I'm not really a fan of the idea of trying to get another A4 to break the record. I'd be a fan of Mallard attempting to match her record.

I will suggest that this is not the first time--nor will it be the last--that British railway magazines have engaged in exaggerative speculation with the possible motive of selling more magazines...... I've seen it before.

That being said, let me point out that at least one of the A4's is in private, non-museum ownership, and 2) the National Railway Museum has, at least in theory, an "expendable" A4. But the original Mallard speed record resulted in a "catastrophic failure" of the "big end" in the conjugated valve gear. If anyone is heck-bent on trying to break this record, it would have to be with a "re-engineered" steamer. I'm not even sure enough improvements have been made to the A1 Tornado to warrant such a try.

Indeed:

A4's Union of South Africa, Sir Nigel Gresley and Bittern are all in private hands.

If anyone doubts the performance of these locos, take a look at this recent video when the inspector is watching the boiler pressure while at speed and looks like he is standing in the living room of his house looking at the clock over the fireplace.

Another fairly new and low mileage British loco capable of very high performance is the 3 cylinder, Capirotti valved "Duke of Gloucester" which I was told just last week by a UK main line driver can run 90 mph at 3% cut off.....

TH