The Quest for Speed
First transmitted in 1986, Miles Kington looks at three locomotives which played a part in keeping Britain on the tracks towards the world speed record.
First transmitted in 1986, Miles Kington looks at three locomotives, including the ‘City of Truro’ and ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’, which played a part in keeping Britain on the tracks towards the world speed record. In conversation with John Bellwood from the National Railway Museum in York, Kington reflects on the pros and cons of Patrick Stirling’s Single Wheeler locomotive.
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The First Train to Reach 100mph
Duration: 02:18
91Èȱ¬ Four Steam Railways Collection
More about this programme
Sir Herbert Nigel Gresley designed nearly 30 locomotives that were introduced to the GNR and LNER lines from 1911 to 1941. His dream of opening a national locomotive testing plant for the 'attainment of increased efficiency' was delayed by the outbreak of World War II. Gresley died on 5 April 1941, but in 1948 his testing plant finally opened. The first locomotive to face the tests was named the Sir Nigel Gresley in his honour.
About 91Èȱ¬ Four Collection programmes
Broadcasts
- Tue 22 Jul 1986 20:3091Èȱ¬ Two except East, South East & Yorkshire
- Sun 12 Jul 1987 17:45
- Thu 31 Mar 2022 19:00
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