Thanks to the many who have replied to my initial request.
Top speed has to have something to do with boiler pressure and cylinder
size, along with driver wheel dia
I should think. Your timing Krel, would have been on 3801 which would
not behave like a "real" 38 due to
various design differences now.
None the less, whether its 3801 or in my case 3809 which I attempted to
chase at one stage, they slip along pretty quick and on modern roads
with little men hiding behind trees, catching the same 38 twice between
Sydney and Newcastle should now be a thing of the past unless the driver
(of the 38) likes you!
While we're talking about records, I also understand that both 57 and 60
class have lifted 1500 ton trains. In the case of the 57s, they were
always pulling couplers, but by the time 60's came along the railways
had figured, more or less, how to make couplers stay in wagons where
they were meant to be!
My grandfather was in trouble several times soon after the 57s came out
for breaking station windows with long BLASTS on the whistle. I
understand they changed its design because it was so loud, but one was
still used at Clyde in the 50's to denote shift changes, and on a still
morning you could hear it at Bankstown - true!
Graham