Locomotive Performance

Review: Kings & Castles

6th September 1957: 6022 King Edward III: Newton Abbot to Paddington on the 8.30am Plymouth to Paddington, the Mayflower. Load 14, 12 from Reading. Modest running with a heavy load  [view log of 6022]

24th April 1958: 6016 King Edward V: Bristol to Paddington on the 1.50pm from Temple Meads. Load 8, 1 slipped at Reading. An easy task for the loco  [view log of 6016]

6th August 1957: 5035 Coity Castle: Birmingham Snow Hill  to Shrewsbury on the 10.10am Paddington to Aberystwyth, the Cambrian Coast Express. With load increased to 11 coaches, and an additional stop at Dunstall Park for Wolverhampton Races, 5035 ran superbly. 82 mph beyond Cosford and 49 mph at Hollinswood summit  [view log of 5035]

From the 1950's, two runs stand out. (1) 6006 King George I on the 6.10pm from Paddington to Birmingham on 5th June 1958, following a points failure at Paddington which caused a 41 minute late departure. And (2) 6004 King George III on the down Cornish Riviera Express, arriving 1 minute early at Plymouth after two signal checks and six p.w slowings. The net time was 224 minutes, and the best work was done in the final stages, over the South Devon banks.

In the Main Line Steam era from the 1980's onwards, three runs are head and shoulders above the rest. (1) 6000 King George V on the Brunel Pullman of 12th June 1983, when the climb south of Pontypool Road  from Ponthir to Llantarnam, and the subsequent climb from Abergavenny to Llanvihangel, with 400 tons, were outstanding. (2) A few weeks later 6000 was on the Bristolian Railtour, and went over Church Stretton summit northbound at 54mph, from a dead stand north of Craven Arms, and southbound at 45 mph, with 435 tons. (3) 6024 King Edward I on 26th March 1999 whilst working Pathfinder Tours Mountain King railtour. Southbound from Carlisle, with 480 tons, we passed mp 37¾, close to Shap Summit, in 40 min 38 secs, sustaining 44 mph up the 1 in 100 past Thrimby Grange. 

From the 1950's, we have (1) 5035 Coity Castle north of Wolverhampton on 6th August 1957, on an 11 coach Cambrian Coast Express. Holinswood summit was topped at 49 mph. (2) 5043 Earl of Mount Edgecombe on the 5th June 1958 Bristolian, A fast exit from Bristol, 98 mph at Little Somerford and a net time of 95 minutes to Paddington (3) 5024 Carew Castle on a 12 coach Torbay Express, Exeter to Paddington on 5th September 1958. Net time 167½ minutes with 435 tons. If I had to choose a winner, it would be 5024.

In the Main Line Steam era from the 1980's onwards, the Castles have hardly excelled, and I know of no runs that beqin to match the quality of 5035, 5043, and 5024 above.