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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 7, Issue 6 (October 1, 1932.)

The World's Speed Record — A Famous Run By The G.W. Railway's “Cheltenham Flyer.”

The World's Speed Record
A Famous Run By The G.W. Railway's “Cheltenham Flyer.”

With the introduction of the winter train service in September last, the 2.30 p.m. train from Cheltenham to Paddington, known the world over as “The Cheltenham Flyer,” was accelerated between Swindon and Paddington to cover the distance of 77 1/4 miles in 67 minutes. This service constituted the fastest start-to-stop run in the world.

On. Monday, June 6, the train broke all railway speed records with a time of 56 minutes 47 seconds, at an average speed of 81.6 miles per hour, and further demonstrated the locomotive efficiency of the Great Western Railway. Such a journey speed has never previously been equalled by steam, so far as railway records go.

The running times of the train were recorded by Messrs. Humphrey Baker and Cecil J. Allen, both using split-second chronographs and being independently checked. The log accompanies this article.

The train was hauled by a 4-cylinder 4—6—0 engine of the “Castle” class (No. (5006, “Tregenna Castle”), and the load consisted of five passenger coaches and a restaurant car, the total weight being 186 tons. Driver Ruddock and Fireman Thorp, of Old Oak Common, were in charge on the footplate, accompanied by Inspector Sheldon.

A further experiment was made with the corresponding train in the down direction, the train selected being the 5.0 p.m. Paddington to Cheltenham express, which was stopped at Swindon for the purpose. Another “Castle” engine (“Manorbier Castle”), in charge of Driver Burgess and Fireman Gibson, also of Old Oak Common, and accompanied on the footplate by Inspector Sheldon, was used. The journey time for the 77.3 miles occupied 60.01 minutes, an average speed of 77.28 miles per hour. In this case, the gradient is a gently .rising one. A speed of 70 miles per hour was attained in 4 1/2 miles (just beyond Acton), and 80 miles per hour at Southall (9 miles). The highest speed on this journey was 84.9 miles per hour.

In order to bring the observers quickly back to London, the 5.15 p.m. two-hour express from Bristol to Paddington was stopped at Swindon to pick them up, and a third run of considerable merit was performed page 37 with a much heavier load. The train, 267 tons to Reading, and 230 tons from that station to Paddington, completed the run of 77.3 miles in 66.3 minutes, from start to stop. On this journey a slight signal check was sustained at Didcot, and a slack at Reading, through the platform line, to enable the slip-coach to be detached.

Where The “Cheltenham Flyer” Was Built. Erecting Shop, Swindon Locomotive Works, Great Western Railway, England.

Where The “Cheltenham Flyer” Was Built.
Erecting Shop, Swindon Locomotive Works, Great Western Railway, England.

The Train Log.
3.48 p.m. Express Swindon to Paddington (2.30 p.m. ex Cheltenham).

June 6, 1932. Engine: 4-cyl. 4-6-0 No. 5006, Tregenna Castle. Driver Ruddock, Fireman H. Thorp. Load: 6 coaches—186 tons tare, 195 tons full.

miles. min. sec. m.p.h.
0.0 Swindon start 0 00
1.0 Mile-post 76 1/4 pass 2 10
2.0 Mile-post 75 1/4 pass 3 15 64.3
3.0 Mile-post 74 1/4 pass 4 09 69.2
4.0 Mile-post 73 1/4 pass 4 58 75.0
5.0 Mile-post 72 1/4 pass 5 4.5 78.9
5.7 Shrivenham pass 6 15
7.3 Mile-post 70 pass 7 24 81.8
10.8 Uffington pass 9 51
12.3 Mile-post 65 pass 10 56 84.9
13.4 Challow pass 11 42
16.9 Wantage Road pass 14 05
17.3 Mile-post 60 pass 14 21 87.8
miles. min. sec. m.p.h.
20.8 Steventon pass 16 40
22.3 Mile-post 55 pass 17 41 90.0
24.2 Didcot pass 18 55
27.3 Mile-post 50 pass 20 55 91.4
28.8 Cholsey pass 21 59
32.3 Mile-post 45 pass 24 15 91.4
32.6 Goring pass 24 25
35.8 Pangbourne pass 26 33
37.3 Mile-post 40 pass 27 34 90.5
38.7 Tilehufst pass 28 28
41.3 Reading pass 30 12
42.3 Mile-post 35 pass 30 51 91.4
46.3 Twyford pass 33 31
47.3 Mile-post 30 pass 34 12 89.5
52.3 Mile-post 25 pass 37 38 87.4
53.1 Maidenhead pass 38 08
57.3 Mile-post 20 pass 41 06 86.5
58.8 Slough pass 42 10
62.3 Mile-post 15 pass 44 36 85.7
64.1 West Drayton pass 45 51
67.3 Mile-post 10 pass 48 13 82.9
68.2 Southall pass 48 51
71.6 Ealing Broadway pass 51 17
72.3 Mile-post 5 pass 51 48 83.7
75.3 Mile-post 2 pass 53 56 84.4
76.0 Westbourne Park pass 54 40
77.3 Paddington stop 56 47

(From the Great Western Railway Magazine, July, 1932. Courtesy Mr. S. G. Bonsor, London).