DIE SCHNELLSTE DAMPFLOK. Nothing is quite so charming as a pointless argument about the greatest achievements of an out of date technology. But I do commend this site, which makes the provisional argument that the steam speed record belongs to a German streamlined Baltic. Here is that candidate.

Baltic 05-002 leaves Hamburg.

The author's thesis is as follows.

A comparison is made with UK A4 class pacific Mallard which is said just passed the 124.5 mph of 05 002 on 3rd July 1938, as Mallard's designer, Sir Nigel Gresley only counted the 125 mph as the true maximum. But Mallard's dash was down Stoke bank against 05 002's near level track epic, and Mallard failed with an overheated big end bearing immediately after its top speed. The comparison will ask if horsepower calculations support the partly erratic dynamometer car speeds recorded for Mallard, and whether railway "politics" or national pride influenced the speeds reported for that loco.

The achievements of the USA's Milwaukee "Hiawatha" A class Atlantics and F7 Hudsons will be examined: locos recorded at speeds very close to the European records. Did one of these locos have the capability and opportunity to set the world speed steam record?

The site is quite well researched, although the author has not yet analyzed a footnote in Baron Vuillet's book that refers to the 125 mph an F-7 maintained over five miles with a test of a 1938 Hiawatha consist.

And let's compare and contrast the test trains. The German trains never exceeded 255 Imperial tons on the drawbar. That's a five coach Milwaukee Express. A real Hiawatha looks like this.

Swift of foot was Hiawatha
With each stride two miles he measured.

Note that regular service Hiawatha trains put 450 Imperial tons plus on the drawbar. In the case of any ties, the honors ought to go to the locomotive that could move a heavier train at the same speed. Anybody can build a sports car or a jet sled to go fast. But to build something that can pull a serious train at those speeds is a real accomplishment.

The site offers one interesting nugget about the large German Pacific 18-201, which holds the speed record for steam in the 21st Century.

This locomotive began life as a large 4-6-6T (did the Germans have a case of Boston and Albany envy?) But doesn't that partial skyline casing and the smoke deflectors give at least a nod to the Boston and Maine P-4a Pacifics?