3440 ‘CITY OF TRURO’:
MAINLINE 2004

One of the most famous locomotives in preservation, ‘3440’s claim to fame was a reputed 102.4 mph down Wellington Bank in Somerset with the up Ocean Mails on May 9th 1904. If true, this was the first steam locomotive to exceed 100 mph. The validity of speed recording has always been open to doubt, but events of 2004 have caused sceptics to re-open their examination of the facts.

‘City of Truro’ is a 4-4-0 designed by G.J.Churchward for the Great Western Railway, and entered service in 1903. For many years, it has been part of the National Collection, and after original withdrawl from service in the 1931 has seen limited use on the mainline in the late 1950’s and late 1980’s. A further restoration to working order has taken place in time to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its famous run.

After running in on the Gloucester Warwickshire Railway (CT13 & 14), it made its loaded test run on May 2nd, only one week before the anniversary date (CT1 & 2). Two special trains were organised for the following weekend. The first was on Saturday 8th May, when 3440 hauled a 7 coach train from Bristol to Kingswear. The return run took place on Monday 10th May. Unfortunately, engineering work on the main line on Sunday 9th prevented 3440 re-tracing its route down Wellington Bank exactly 100 years after its famous run. Nevertheless, it was a great achievement for a 101 year old steam engine, limited now to 60 mph, to be able to share its time on the West of England main line with 125 mph diesel units. See CT3 to CT9.

An even more significant event occurred towards the end of the year, due to track renewal in Cornwall. In 1986, British Rail chose to make a dubious economy by singling the mainline to Penzance from Probus to Burngullow (between St.Austell and Truro) to avoid renewal of worn out track. This single line section has subsequently proved to be a bottle-neck, causing considerable ‘knock-on’ delays to passenger services in the West Country. Consequently, £14 million has been spent on re-doubling this section of track, and the formal re-opening took place on 30th November 2004.

A special train, carrying the Minister of Transport, was commissioned by the Strategic Rail Authority for this re-opening, to be hauled at their specific request by ‘City of Truro’. This led to a number of special workings to get the locomotive into Cornwall and back. Most significantly, it gave the opportunity for 3440 to haul a teain over the infamous South Devon banks for the first time for more than 40 years. It did so in spectacular fashion, making with its 5 coach train the fastest recorded ascent of Dainton Bank in steam preservation history, with a speed of 35 mph at the summit of the 1 in 36 bank.

There was more to come. On its return run from Plymouth, 3440 could once again re-trace the steps of its record breaking run down Wellington Bank. Although not as steep as the Devon banks, the climb up to Whiteball summit includes a final two miles at 1 in 115. 3440 made the climb and breasted the summit at a virtually steady 60 mph.  This was with a heavier load than when it made its run in 1904. If 3440 had made such a climb in 1904, then it is entirely plausible that it could have achieved the speed with which it is credited. SRI1 to SRI9 record the runs for this event.

3440’s final outing in 2004 was a gentle ‘jolly’ on the Birmingham – Stratford – Leamington – Nuneaton – Birmingham ‘circle’, shown in CT10 –CT12.