Battle of the locomotives

PUFF OF SMOKE

Sir, The story of the City of Truro speed record of 102.3 mph in 1904 rests entirely on the accuracy and veracity of the recorder, Charles Rous-Marten, and despite its popularity is simply mythology (letter, Feb 29). On the other hand, the record by Flying Scotsman in 1934 was fully authenticated by a dynamometer car recording. To claim to have recorded the speed to a tenth of a mile per hour with the equipment available in 1904 also taxes one’s credulity. City of Truro was a fine locomotive for its time, it is doubtful whether the design capacity of City of Truro could produce enough power to achieve more than 93-94mph flat out on a falling gradient. Sorry to be a spoilsport, but this story has emerged time and time again. It belongs to the fiction section of any library.