steam train at speed # 246

To Ash Vale, on 10 March 2020, to wave farewell to Flying Scotsman. My attempt to film it on the Mid Hants Railway was frustrated by a downpour and rain on the lens. Ash Vale, not the prettiest of stations, has long platforms, which was just as well as a service train rolled in as 60103 was approaching. Thankfully it had four coaches, rather than the possible twelve! Flying Scotsman, breaking loose from its 25 mph limit on the MHR was working up a gallop - almost a steam train at speed!

[UropaLula]

How lovely to see that mother bring her young son especially to see the magical steam train

[gupvcki]

Nice. Well done SWR driver for not loitering and the acknowledgement of FS.

[lazyoldmanathome]

You have not seen a steam train at speed until you have seen one rocking from side to side with the force of the pistons. I still remember this as a boy.

[neiljopson]

That was slow! In the late 1950’s I used to go train spotting at Didcot. One day the “Cheltenham Flyer” came through at what I was told was about 90mph. No smoke. No steam. Just a rhythmic and rapid thud, thud, thud. I never saw a repeat from any train again. I expect the number is in my Ian Allen trainspotters book, which my brother who is a volunteer at Quainton now has.

[UKWMO]

If there’s one thing I’ve learnt about watching a steam locomotive on the mainline is don’t stand on the opposite platform but I’m so glad that 450 unit left the platform before it arrived and didn’t obscure everyone’s view! 😂

[SpeciaK]

Great Train so glad its back on the line 😁

[mohdibrahim]

Great video outstanding share to see this video childhood memories back🌹👍

[EMuksteam]

Great capture Will. Shame about the weather. Oh how lucky you were not to be bowled.worth getting wet for. Hope you are all keeping well. Best wishes C&A

[bigmikeswiss]

A great reason, to enjoy a glass of Single Malt. 😋.

[willhayfield]

You’re right - I should have called my web thread ‘steam trains at a particular speed’. There are even a few correspondents who think that the lead number - in this case 246 - indicates the actual speed LoL…look out for ‘Hayfield’s shorts’ instead - suitably generic - but I’m afraid I won’t be wearing them.

[Alfieallen-wiff]

There really needs to be an investigation into the term “at speed” this steamer wasn’t even out of second gear.

[JulianJLW]

Well, it was certainly going at a particular speed. Just not a very fast one.

[juliandales]

Why the American cow pusher style whistle, it's not Casey Jones's cannon ball express. This was never the practice on BR or pre grouping.

[theotherandrew]

Half the video showed a diesel unit, the other half was the steam engine pulling just a single coach. Somewhat underwhelming.

[sset]

Apparently even the trains drive on the wrong side there 🙄