New world record set by miniature locomotive team in South Africa

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A South African engineer and his team have smashed the world record for the longest distance covered by a coal-fired miniature steam locomotive in a 24 hour period.

On December 10, Andries Keyser, from Pietermaritzburg, and nine friends set a new record of 205 miles – beating the one set in the UK in 1994 of 167 miles.

The 30-year-old’s attempt to break the world record started the day before at 3pm at the Pietermaritzburg Model Engineering Society’s multi-gauge track.

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The locomotive which set a new world record. PIERRE RETIEF/ANDRIES KEYSER

His team reached 167 miles four hours ahead of time, completing 881 laps and averaging about one minute and 49 seconds per lap.

The team used a one-third scale replica of a locomotive that ran between Beira, Mozambique and Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) in 1895.

Andries, a professional miniature train maker, built the 400kg locomotive over five years.

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He is now compiling paperwork and video footage to submit his team’s feat to the Guinness Book of World Records.

Andries said he believes that a team in Britain is planning an attempt to take the record back.

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