Friday Night Steam

A bit of history for 'ya!

Source:

History of Technology

Published on Jun 12, 2016

A locomotive or engine is a rail transport vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine,[1] first used in the early 19th century to distinguish between mobile and stationary steam engines. A locomotive has no payload capacity of its own, and its sole purpose is to move the train along the tracks.[2] In contrast, some trains have self-propelled payload-carrying vehicles. These are not normally considered locomotives, and may be referred to as multiple units, motor coaches or railcars. The use of these self-propelled vehicles is increasingly common for passenger trains, but rare for freight (see CargoSprinter). Vehicles which provide motive power to haul an unpowered train, but are not generally considered locomotives because they have payload space or are rarely detached from their trains, are known as power cars. Traditionally, locomotives pulled trains from the front. However, push-pull operation has become common, where the train may have the locomotive at the front, at the rear, or have locomotives at both ends.

Great Western Railway 3440 City of Truro Steam Locomotive

Get closer to GWR’s record-breaking City of Truro, which once clocked-up 102.3mph between Plymouth and London Paddington.

4-4-0

The Great Western Railway 3440 City of Truro Steam Locomotive is a 4-4-0 locomotive designed by George Jackson Churchward and built at Swindon works in 1903 as one of 10 ‘City Class’ locomotives.

Record Breaking

The City of Truro was recorded at a speed of 102.3mph between Plymouth and Paddington in May 1904 – a record-breaking run.

British Railways Western Region

She continued in service until 1931 before her first preservation at the Railway Museum in York. Returning to service in 1957 for special excursions and some standard services on British Railways Western Region, she was finally retired at Swindon in 1961 before being returned to the National Railway Museum.

Restoration

Her latest restoration in 2004 marked the centenary of her speed record, since which she has hauled several trains on UK main lines.

:o)