NOTHING LIKE A HOPELESSLY MOOT POINT.

The debate over the true world's fastest steam locomotive continues.

I put my money alongside that of [a different] Steve, with the A class Atlantics, (when on a lightweight train). Second comes 05 002, probably equal with the F7s, only the F7s did it more often! And then dear old Mallard. She strugggled down Stoke Bank at 125 mph, and no more than that according to her designer, Sir Nigel Gresley. And then collapsed in a heap at Peterborough and was towed into Kings Cross by...what else...an Atlantic!!!! Sadly not one of the Milwaukee A class, that may have done some damage on the way!

That post continues,

But who gets the last laugh? Why Mallard of course. All the others have long since gone to the cutters torch!

As if that's not enough, search the state of Wisconsin from Peshtigo to Potosi and from Trego to Pleasant Prairie and the only streamlined steamer you'll find is a Gresley Streak!

The Cold Spring Shops champion, based on this evidence, is illustrated. The discussion lays out the case.

The first run very briefly mentions an A class on test with a 6 car, 310 ton train that, "on practically level track......(reached) a maximum speed of 125 mph"

The second run, which for the present I have taken to be another test run, this time with an F7 Hudson, saw 550 tons taken over 4.5 miles at an average of 120 mph, with a maximum of 125 mph. This again is reported as being on "practically level track" This may well be the same run that is briefly mentioned by Brian Reed in his Locomotive Profiles that covers these locos.

The third run has more detail. The Baron states that in June 1942 engine 101 took 14 cars at 680 tons over the 85.6 miles from Chicago to Milwaukee in 65 minutes start to stop. The most relevant part of this run were the 48 miles, (pass to pass), reported to have been covered in 27 mins 20 seconds at an average speed of 105.4 mph. Discounting the impact of a 90mph restriction the net average was 107 mph!

Baron Gerard Vuillet also refers to the fact that the same distance 85.6 mile distance from Chicago to the Milwaukee stop was covered in 1943 with a 780 ton train in 63 minutes, with an apparent maximum of just 102.5 mph! He also states that the fastest A class Atlantic run over that route was in 59 minutes, but presumably with a much lighter train than hauled by the F7s.

I note again: moot. By 1943 the diesels were beginning to take charge of the Hiawathas, and although those topped out at 117 mph, on occasion they'd do the Milwaukee-Chicago leg in just under an hour.