The complete steam news magazine

Sutherland and that 'Abercorn' rerun

When I originally read Steve Leyland’s account of Duchess of Sutherland’s road test on 10 October 2009, I thought the old pair 'did great', even if they did have some assistance on the front with firing on the most heavy periods of the climb from Milnthorpe and Shap summit! Comparing the two runs with regard to the rear–end assistance inferred to by Mr Davis, l think we can discount that happening.

There was a very close parity. Sutherland was an hour slower than No 6234 at Milnthorpe. because of the restart from the water stop at Carnforth, a cool restart. By Oxenholme speed difference had been reduced by another 12.5mph, and fell by a further 15mph on the climb to Grayrigg summit, against No 6234’s 4lmph.

So this, a lesser loss of speed on the first part of the climb to No 6233, with a comparative loss of speed of 27.5mph, as against No 6234's loss of 33mph over the same 12.7 miles from Milnthorpe to Grayrigg summit, No 6233 then accelerated to Tebay (no stopping for assistance here!) with a very heavy train. With a locomotive at least 70 years old, that had been stuffed and mounted at one time in its career, I think it’s a very creditable performance.

Having spent from July 1947 to 8 July 1967 on the footplate, I only have one regret, l was not with them on the footplate to witness the climb of Shap - it was a great effort by everyone.

With regard to the time of 5min 57secs, it was a very fast time, particularly with such weight behind the tender. l have taken a look at some times, and the fastest is 6mm 22secs from Tebay to Shap summit with steam. The slowest is No 71000, with 12min 9secs. The average with the five Duchess class engines is eight minutes 20secs. So the 5min 57secs quoted in the article does seem exceptionally fast. It is a distance of 5.5miles: with the weight of her train No 6233's speed would have soon been reduced to the 35.8 it achieved at the summit of the climb, so if this is the correct figure, it makes the whole effort even more incredible! I hope Mr Davis is a little happier now with my appraisal of the whole affair. It wasn't a rerun, but a happy coincidence, that a comparison of what was achieved 70 years ago, could be compared with main line preserved steam performance today.

It just proves that they scrapped them 30 years too soon, and closed half the main lines in the country to pay for rushed modernisation.

Alan Ackehurst
Meadowlands
Guildford