21:28

Welcome to Railway Forum!
Welcome!

Thank you for finding your way to Railway Forum, a dedicated community for railway and train enthusiasts. There's a variety of forums, a wonderful gallery, and what's more, we are absolutely FREE. You are very welcome to join, take part in the discussion, and post your pictures!

Click here to go to the forums home page and find out more.
Click here to join.


Go Back   Railway Forum > Members Area > Say Hello

Bulleid Pacifics

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 14th January 2006, 23:40
21C164 21C164 is offline  
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Feltham
Posts: 2
Question Bulleid Pacifics

Hi there.
I've been interested in Railways generally, and Southern /BR (SR) in particular, for more years than I care to remember. I'm also getting back into railway modelling now that Hornby have given us some decent SR locos.
In the late 50's or early 60's when I was a member of the local model railway club among whose members were some BR(SR) staff and connections with management, there was a story going about that a Bulleid Merchant Navy - which in view of the date I assume that it was a rebuilt version - had been used in some speed trials and had attained 118mph before having to be braked.
Does anyone know if this was, in fact, achieved and if so where and when?
Are there any records of highspeed running with any Bulleid Pacifics..
Any info appreciated


Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 14th January 2006, 23:49
Trev's Avatar
Trev Trev is offline  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Kingston-upon-Hull
Posts: 1,443
Images: 3
Hi 21C, and welcome to the board.

I'm afraid I can't help you with your question, but I do share your interest in the Southern Railway.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 15th January 2006, 00:16
John H-T's Avatar
John H-T John H-T is offline
Station Manager
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 6,351
Images: 528
I have no evidence of a 118mph run but there are plenty of logs showing that Merchant Navies regularly reached speeds in the 90's and into the 100's. Several of the logs are reproduced in Cecil J. Allen's book "British Pacific Locomotives" Now long out of print but you should be able to pick up a copy 2nd hand.

Another book which might help is the excellent Biography of Ron Jarvis, pub. Oakwood, who was responsible for the rebuilding of the Bullied Pacifics and later heavily involved in the design of the HST's

The performance of Tangmere et al in presevation seems to confirm the free running capabilities of Bullied Pacifics.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 23rd January 2006, 22:00
fortysevenfan fortysevenfan is offline  
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: N. Ireland
Posts: 65
Images: 35
Hello 21c welcome to the site
Regards
Jim
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 24th January 2006, 08:35
B.R.fan's Avatar
B.R.fan B.R.fan is offline  
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Christchurch
Posts: 51
Images: 10
welcome

Hi 21c
Just like to say welcome and have fun
Cheers
Dave
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 25th January 2006, 23:14
Shed Cat's Avatar
Shed Cat Shed Cat is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Southern UK
Posts: 1,100
Images: 46
The record as far as I know was 106mph by 35003 on June 26 1967 between Winchfield and Fleet with 170 tons.

Unfortunately, or thankfully, I wasnt there!!

Anyway anything over 85 was illegal, and this was with a clapped out loco too.

and the stories are that no-one ever found out the max speed possible on a MN because the locomotives were still accelerating at the point that the driver had to ease off, or lost their nerve.

Last edited by Shed Cat; 25th January 2006 at 23:31.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 1st July 2006, 10:50
billyboy's Avatar
billyboy billyboy is offline  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Philippines
Posts: 173
Images: 1
Hi 21C. i quite believe the speed capabilities of the bulieds. especialy the merchant navy class. plenty of power and free running ability. would dearly love to know the exact maximum speed possible out of a merchant navy. I can assure you that speeds in excess of 100mph used to be a common thing. i personaly witnessed 110 before my driver had to shut off, and that was on a west country class (converted) unless one was ever run flat out on a dynomometer we will never know the truth. lets just say that if ever it were possible to do so I would put my money on a merchant navy against mallard any day, and she would complete her run, Duchess of hamilton proved to be faster than mallard 2 weeks before mallards run and completed the journey without having to be taken off at peterboro. Alas she was not pulling a dynomometer car at the time. however several stop watches present rated her as much faster.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 16th November 2012, 11:44
stu.andrews stu.andrews is offline  
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: xeter
Posts: 1
The limiting factor on the speed of the Bullied Pacifics was the fireman's ability to keep the firebox going. As we all know, steam was produced at fantastic rates & a mechanical stoker would have been invaluable. I, personally, have seen 104mph, with 34032 Camelford, through North Tawton & Bow during the bad winter of 1963

Last edited by stu.andrews; 16th November 2012 at 11:48.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 16th November 2012, 14:00
boilersuit's Avatar
boilersuit boilersuit is offline  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Moved again! Back in Kent!!
Posts: 1,213
Images: 99
I have read that when at the Rugby testing plant in the early 1950s, even with two firemen working flat out, they were unable to determine the upper limit of the Merchant Navy's steaming capacity.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 21:28.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.