A4 Bittern at 90mph
Discussion
In preparation for the Mallard 75 year celebrations, bittern has had trial runs at 90 mph before doing 3 railtours later in the year.
Found this on youtube which some of you might like.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycJkfaHAhEQ
Found this on youtube which some of you might like.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycJkfaHAhEQ
Bittern went blue a couple of years ago and was transformed into Dominion of New Zealand for a year. I was lucky enough to drive her at the Mid Hants Railway in this guise 
After a year she went back to being Bittern but retained the blue and side skirts.
The 90mph limit is just temporary for these couple of celebration runs, its not permanent. No other engines have had their limits raised, just Bittern.
After a year she went back to being Bittern but retained the blue and side skirts.
The 90mph limit is just temporary for these couple of celebration runs, its not permanent. No other engines have had their limits raised, just Bittern.
Burrow01 said:
Nice- what are the preservation engines normally limited to?
It depends on wheel size but in the main its 75mph I believe for the larger express type locomotives. Some Pannier Tanks are main line registered but they are limited to something like 30mph on branch lines due to their much smaller wheel diameter.I think Bittern running at 90 MPH probably bodes well for Tornado. I seem to remember reports of Tornado running "in excess" of 90 MPH during testing, with plenty left in reserve, and in those videos Bittern certainly doesn't seem to be struggling at all with regards to power.
Union of South Africa came past here late last summer, and looked absolutely glorious in the rail equivalent of British Racing Green. My snap really doesn't do it justice:
We get two mainline steam trains here every day during the summer holidays. They occasionally need a little diesel "assistance" if a fault develops, but they don't by any means have to be accompanied by one.
It is good to remember that, right now, the museum group to which the NRM belongs, is looking at a big money shortfall in coming years, and there is talk of them closing one of the museums.
Union of South Africa came past here late last summer, and looked absolutely glorious in the rail equivalent of British Racing Green. My snap really doesn't do it justice:
We get two mainline steam trains here every day during the summer holidays. They occasionally need a little diesel "assistance" if a fault develops, but they don't by any means have to be accompanied by one.
It is good to remember that, right now, the museum group to which the NRM belongs, is looking at a big money shortfall in coming years, and there is talk of them closing one of the museums.
Zad said:
I think Bittern running at 90 MPH probably bodes well for Tornado. I seem to remember reports of Tornado running "in excess" of 90 MPH during testing, with plenty left in reserve, and in those videos Bittern certainly doesn't seem to be struggling at all with regards to power.
Tornado, Duke of Gloucester, any of the Bullied Pacifics are all good for well over 100mph.Yertis said:
Zad said:
I think Bittern running at 90 MPH probably bodes well for Tornado. I seem to remember reports of Tornado running "in excess" of 90 MPH during testing, with plenty left in reserve, and in those videos Bittern certainly doesn't seem to be struggling at all with regards to power.
Tornado, Duke of Gloucester, any of the Bullied Pacifics are all good for well over 100mph.Well-restored the majority of them might be, but even the rebuilt Bulleids are getting on for 60 years old and the rest are older.
You wouldn't expect your gran to do a four minute mile sprint
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