Speed record of steam rail vehicles
Speed |
Date |
Line |
Country |
Train |
Arr. |
Power |
State |
Comments |
00202.6202.6 km/h (126 mph) |
1938-07-03 |
|
UK |
LNER Class A4 No. 4468 Mallard |
Loc |
Steam |
Unkn. |
[23][24] Downhill grade. Data indicates peak speed 202.6 km/h (126 mph), mean speed (half-mile) 201.2 km/h (125 mph). Mallard suffered an overheated crankpin during the run, but was repaired and returned to traffic within 9 days.[25] |
00200.4200.4 km/h (125 mph) |
1936-05-11 |
|
Germany |
Borsig DRG series 05 002 |
Loc |
Steam |
Unkn. |
Level grade.[citation needed] |
00185.07185.07 km/h (115 mph) |
1905-06-11 |
|
USA |
Pennsylvania Railroad E2 #7002 |
Loc |
Steam |
Unmod. |
Claimed.[by whom?] Clocked at Crestline, Ohio at 127.1 mph (205 km/h) in 1905. However PRR Steam Locomotives did not carry speedometers at that time, speed was calculated by measuring time between mile markers, so this is not recognized as a speed record.[citation needed] |
00182.4182.4 km/h (113 mph) |
1972-10-11 |
|
Germany |
BR 18 201 |
Loc |
Steam |
Unkn. |
The fastest operational steam locomotive as of 2011[update].[citation needed] |
00181.1181.1 km/h (113 mph) |
1935-04-05 |
|
USA |
Milwaukee Road class A #2 |
Loc |
Steam |
Unkn. |
Claimed[by whom?] to have sustained 112.5 mph (181 km/h) for 14 miles (23 km). Average speed for 136 miles (219 km) between Milwaukee and New Lisbon, Wisconsin was 74.9 mph (121 km/h).[26] |
00180.3180.3 km/h (112 mph) |
1935-09-29 |
|
UK |
LNER Class A4 2509 Silver Link |
Loc |
Steam |
Unkn. |
Authenticated. Some sources say 112.5 mph.[citation needed] |
00168.5168.5 km/h (105 mph) |
1935-03-05 |
|
UK |
LNER Class A3 No. 2750 Papyrus |
Loc |
Steam |
Unmod. |
First run at 100+ mph with complete, surviving documentation.[citation needed] |
00166.6166.6 km/h (104 mph) |
1934-07-20 |
|
USA |
Milwaukee Road class F6 #6402 |
Loc |
Steam |
Unmod |
A point between Oakwood, Illinois and Lake, Wisconsin. Also averaged 75.5 mph (122 km/h) on 85 miles (137 km) from Chicago, Illinois to Milwaukee, and 89.92 mph (145 km/h) for a 68.9 miles (110.9 km) stretch[26] |
00164164 km/h (102 mph) |
1904-05-09 |
|
UK |
GWR 3700 Class 3440 City of Truro |
Loc |
Steam |
Unmod. |
Claimed[by whom?] to be the first steam locomotive to reach100 mph (161 km/h).[citation needed] |
00160161 km/h (100 mph) |
1934-11-30 |
|
UK |
LNER Class A3 4472 Flying Scotsman |
Loc |
Steam |
Unmod. |
In 1934, Flying Scotsman achieved the first authenticated 100 mph (161 km/h) by a steam locomotive.[27] |
00145145 km/h (90 mph) |
1895-08-22 |
|
UK |
LNWR No. 790 Hardwicke |
Loc |
Steam |
Unmod. |
Maximum speed claimed[by whom?], although average speed record was authenticated.[citation needed] |
00131.6131.6 km/h (82 mph) |
1854-06 |
|
UK |
Bristol & Exeter Railway #41 |
Loc |
Steam |
Unmod. |
Broad gauge[citation needed] |
00131131 km/h (81 mph) |
1893-05-10 |
|
USA |
Empire State Express No. 999 |
Loc |
Steam |
Unmod. |
112 mph (180 km/h) claimed[by whom?], which would make it the first wheeled vehicle to exceed 100 mph (161 km/h).[28][29] |
00125.6125.6 km/h (78 mph) |
1850 |
|
UK |
Great Britain |
Loc |
Steam |
Unmod. |
80 mph (129 km/h) claimed[by whom?][citation needed] |
00096.696.6 km/h (60 mph) |
1848 |
|
USA |
Boston and Maine Railroad Antelope |
Loc |
Steam |
Unmod. |
First authenticated 60 mph (97 km/h),26 miles (42 km) in 26 minutes.[citation needed] |
0004848 km/h (30 mph) |
1830 |
|
UK |
Stephenson's Rocket |
Loc |
Steam |
Unmod. |
[citation needed] |
0002424 km/h (15 mph) |
1825 |
|
UK |
Locomotion No. 1 |
Loc |
Steam |
Unmod. |
[citation needed] |
000088 km/h (5 mph) |
1804-02-21 |
|
UK |
Richard Trevithick's world's first railway steam locomotive |
Loc |
Steam |
Unmod. |
[citation needed] |