Was the first man made machine to travel at 100mph....?

Question

Was it the City of Truro locomotive on a west country rail line in early 1904, where the engine driver and the fireman lost temporary control of their steam engine . Was the pressure realease valve stuck? Can anyone varify this?

ALFONSO R if it was an aircraft where and when

Answer 1

City of Truro certainly travelled very fast down Wellington Bank in 1904 but the timers only clocked 102 mph over one1/4 mile before the driver spotted men working on the track and braked, there is little doubt that a higher speed could have been reached had this not happened. City of Truro ran on to Bristol as planned where Duke of Connaught, a 4-2-2 ran the train on to london also at record speed. The engine change was required because there were no water troughs at this time and the 3500 gallons in the tenders was only sufficient for Plymouth to Bristol, it was much quicker to change engines than refill tenders.
The speed was certainly not accidental as enthusiast train timers were invited to be aboard. Several other City class engines had previously travelled very fast down the Bank so the GWR probably thought itself on safe ground when it decided to go for the Ton. It is very likely that Saint class engines were being run up to even higher speeds at around this time on light engine trial runs from Swindon Works especially down Dauntsey Incline some 10 or so miles west of Swindon.

Answer 2

It looks like it was the City Of Truro in 1904 but was not a pressure valve issue. It was done deliberately on a short downhill section near Taunton - here's a link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GWR_3440_City_of_Truro and another http://www.swindonweb.com/guid/cityoftruro.htm

Answer 3

It was the City of Truro, though couldn't verify the pressure release valve problem.

Answer 4

It was the airplane!!

Answer 5

i think so.