How fast do steam engines go?

Answer 1

The Pennsylvania RR ran a 4-4-2 Atlantic at an unofficial record speed of 127 MPH, just edging the Mallard, but the Mallard's time was official. I have read accounts of Milwaukee Road's F7 4-6-4 Hiawatha engines hitting the high side of 125 MPH. There are some people who think they were the fastest steam locos ever built. Pennsy built an S1 6-4-4-6 Duplex in 1939 which another group of people think was the fastest steam engine built. It ran on a stationary treadmill at the 1939 New York World's Fair, it must have been an awesome sight sitting still with its drivers spinning and its rods thrashing. PRR employees called "The Big Engine."

Average steam freight engines would run up to about 50 MPH with a train, coal trains might run 35 MPH and fast merchandise trains might do 65 MPH. Average steam powered long distance passenger trains would run 60 to 85 MPH. Limiteds might run up to 100 MPH and a handful of premier trains might occssionally hit 110 to 115 MPH. Anything faster than that was a rare event. After the Federal Railway Administration clamped down on safety, you had to have cab signals in the U.S. to do over 90 MPH.

Answer 2

Some Modern Superheated Steam Turbines,Can Carry Aircraft Carriers The Size Of Citys 50 - 60 MPH Thats Pretty Damn Fast In The World Of Steam Engines

Answer 3

Theoretically, steam powered locomotives can go as fast as they want. Practically, they could hit 90+ mph on a downhill grade with a tailwind.

LITTLE KNOWN FACT
Another answer, along different lines, is the steam engine powered automobile. Through the early 1900's it was not clear what propulsion system for autos would win out: the steam engine or the internal combustion engine.

For example the Stanley Steamer was a beautiful steam-powered automobile produced by the Stanley Motor Carriage Company. In 1906, the Stanley Rocket set the world land speed record at 127.7 mph (205.5 km/h) at the Daytona Beach Road Course, driven by Fred Marriott, picking up the Dewar Trophy in the process. This is the longest-standing officially recognised land speed record for a steam car. The Steamer enjoyed a boom in the early 1900s before eventually being overtaken technologically by the internal combustion engine. The Stanley Steamer was so popular it engendered a cartoon by the same name, featuring an indefatigable little steam auto overcoming all sorts of obstacles and nefarious characters. A pleasant memory on the American scene now sadly long past and long forgotten...

Answer 4

Fastest Steam Train

Answer 5

The answer will depend on the following :- Type of engine;- steam turbine or steam reciprocating engine Type of drive :- propeller or paddles (side or stern) Type of ship :- River, coastal or deep sea freighter Size of ship :- This would also include deadweight of the ship And finally how early in the development of steam engines do you want. As an example of the many different speeds that could be achieved by steam engines trans-atlantic mail boats and passenger liners could achieve speeds of up to 35 knots, whilst freighters were often limited to about 8 knots. I see that various answers and speeds have been given and all are right in as far as they go with the ships quoted.

Answer 6

Fastest Steam Locomotive

Answer 7

The highest speed of steam engine was recorded 126 miles/hr on Sunday,3rd July 1938.The engine named "Mallard "of London and North Eastern Railway(4-6-2 express passenger tender locomotives),holds the world speed record for steam traction.It raced down Stoke Bank on the East Coast.Main line between Grantham&Peterborough touching126m.p.h{202.8km.p.h}

Answer 8

I believe for train locomotives they have had them up in the 100 mile an hour range although I think 40-50 MPH was more normal. For ships with steam turbines and oil fired boilers about 40-42 knots is the speediest (about 45 MPH) I was on a Fast Sealift Ship which is a container ship the government took over for rapid military cargo delivery that we had up to 33 knots (38-39 MPH).
Rumor has it nuclear powered ships like the Nimitz can go 50 Knots or even more. Its a question of how much strain the hull and propellor shafts can take! A guy I knew who was on it during our little tiff with Libya in 1985 told me they were ordered to the Gulf of Sidra at all possible speed, even to leave their escorting destroyers and cruisers behind. They could go about 30 knots. He told me the Nimitz passed them and they looked like they were standing still!!

Answer 9

Depends. Big steam engine ships could go 24-25 mph. The mallard train engine could go 90MPH, but set a spead record of 126MPH. If you built up enough pressure you could probably make a steam engine go pretty fast.

Answer 10

are you talking about a steam engine in a car or in a locomotive?
Steam engine powered cars have not been build for more than 50 years, but I am old enough to remember seeing one go right up the side of a house, steam has tremendous power, I imagine they could build a steam powered car that can rival any speed limit set by a combustion powered car