Could steam trains go 88mph in 1885?

[bravonovember]

watching Back to the Future part 3. It's just the Mallard went 130mph but that was in 1938. what sort of speeds could trains of that era (1885)go?

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Was that the only part of the film you felt was unbelievable?

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

145 km/h (90 mph) 1895-08-22 UK LNWR No. 790 Hardwicke Loc Steam U Maximum speed claimed, although average speed record was authenticated.

So, yes (probably)

[Countdown]

Didn't the Professor use "special" coal?

[Getragdogleg]

Well, I suppose if you had a straight stretch of track with a level grade, and you weren't haulin' no cars behind you, and if you can get the fire hot enough, and I'm talkin' about hotter than the blazes of hell and damnation itself... then yes, it might be possible to get her up that fast

[Pothole]

They probably could at full stretch. The Broadway Limited of the Pennsylvania Railroad did 127.1 miles an hour between AY tower and Elida, Ohio on Monday, June 12, 1905.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Doubt the Delorean would quickly do 88 in 1985.

[bravonovember]

What sort of oil was available at the time, for the loco's bearing? Could it not of been refined for the delorean? Plenty of black powder could make a rocket.

[mrmr96]

Countdown said:

Didn't the Professor use "special" coal?

Yes, three special coloured logs - which produce a "boost" strong enough to unsteady a passenger.

[AnotherClarkey]

Pothole said:

They probably could at full stretch. The Broadway Limited of the Pennsylvania Railroad did 127.1 miles an hour between AY tower and Elida, Ohio on Monday, June 12, 1905.

Never verified, highly disputed and thought to be more like (a still very respectable) 82mph in reality.

[Guvernator]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Doubt the Delorean would quickly do 88 in 1985.

Yep I found that particularly amusing, the fact that the car actually struggled to get to 88mph when any diesel rep can do that without breaking a sweat now. In fact at one point doesn't he say something like "Let's see if you b*stards can do 90", surely even in 1985 he shouldn't have been struggling to hit that speed?

[Getragdogleg]

Guvernator said:

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Doubt the Delorean would quickly do 88 in 1985.

Yep I found that particularly amusing, the fact that the car actually struggled to get to 88mph when any diesel rep can do that without breaking a sweat now. In fact at one point doesn't he say something like "Let's see if you b*stards can do 90", surely even in 1985 he shouldn't have been struggling to hit that speed?

I think he was referring to the terrorist's VW van and its speed capabilities. Although the De-lorean was not known for its amazing turn of speed.

[matchmaker]

bravonovember said:

watching Back to the Future part 3. It's just the Mallard went 130mph but that was in 1938. what sort of speeds could trains of that era (1885)go?

Mallard did 126mph. Then broke

[Simpo Two]

Guvernator said:

Yep I found that particularly amusing, the fact that the car actually struggled to get to 88mph when any diesel rep can do that without breaking a sweat now. In fact at one point doesn't he say something like "Let's see if you b*stards can do 90", surely even in 1985 he shouldn't have been struggling to hit that speed?

Repmobiles were happily doing 100mph in 1985. In fact cars went faster them because there were no speed cameras (no nanny state) and only half the traffic. I used to think nothing of whizzing round the M25 from A12 to M40 and back; don't recall any problems!

[W124Bob]

Great Western "City of Truro" did 102mph with the Ocean Mails running up from Plymouth to Paddington in 1904 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GWR_3700_Class_3440_C... so 88mph was quite possible in 1885.