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The Great Train Race Revisited

2015-03-01 - Paul Almquist

While reading a Wikipedia page about the British steam locomotive, the Tornado, I found mention of a TV series called "Top Gear". In Season 13 Episode 1 they ran a three way race between a 1949 Jaguar XK120, a Vincent Black Shadow motorcycle and, the new Peppercorn A1 Pacific Class A1 locomotive Tornado which was built in, or more correctly finished in, 2008. (Construction started in 1994.)

Starting at 19:06 there is a major break from the race while they talk about other topics. The race resumes as 49:00. Just drag the place marker forward if you don't want to see the car stuff. All three vehicles have some issues in getting from the starting point, Kings Cross Station in London, to Edinburgh, Scotland a distance of about 400 miles.

The Tornado was limited to a top speed of 75 mph by railroad authorities although it is theoretically capable of 100 mph. The Tornado owners hope to get it certified to run at 90 mph.

Watch the video
Duration: 72 minutes.

LNER Peppercorn Class A1 60163 Tornado
A1 Steam Trust - Owners of the Tornado

Somewhere in the narration it was mentioned that the "Flying Scottsman" was the fastest train. The Flying Scotsman locomotive, also a Pacific, was the first locomotive to officially reach 100 mph. The Mallard, another Pacific, set and still holds the official world speed record for a steam engine, 126 mph set in 1938, the year it was built. There are claims of other locomotives exceeding this record but no official timings exist.