Locomotive with the highest "mileage"

agspiers · Post by **agspiers** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 2:52 pm

I am trying to establish which main line locomotive has the highest recored in service miles on its "clock". I beleive that it is one of the A4 engines from the KX shed, but would be grateful if someone knows for sure.

I have also e-mailed the NRM but have been awaiting a reply.

Bryan · Post by **Bryan** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 5:15 pm

Would that be in service miles with BR , LNER etc or would it include any engines still in use on preserved lines / railtours etc if applicable?

agspiers · Post by **agspiers** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 8:47 pm

I am interested to know the mileage in revenue earning service - but not in preservation; so I am not after Railtours. I am aware that Railtours were around in the '60s, so if this is included I am not too worried. The question is related to when the locomotive came out of the works until her de-commissioning either under BR or at an earlier time under LNER etc.

stembok · Post by **stembok** » Sat Jul 12, 2008 8:24 pm

The LNER Pacific with the greatest accumulated mileage is reckoned to have been 4475/60106 Flying Fox (4/1923) with 2,642,860 as of 10/63 when records ceased to be maintained. She was withdrawn in December,1964. Four other A1s/A3s exceeded two and a quarter million miles during their lives. Of the A4s 60009 (6/37) had a recorded mileage of 1,643,728 in June ,1962. She was withdrawn in June,1966 so her final figure would be somewhat in excess of this. The seven Haymarket A4s did return some of the highest life mileages recorded by the class. 60022 Mallard is reported as having recorded just over 1.4 million miles and the pioneer 60014 had just over 1.5 million to its credit from 1935 -1962.
The Peppercorn A1s had foreshortened lives, but were mechanically extremely reliable engines and ran up some impressive mileages, 60135 919,000 from 11/ 1948 until 11/ 1962. One of the five roller bearing fitted A1s 60153/157 had exceeded 1,000,000 miles by 1961 in approximately 12 years from new. Though it should be said that the figures on which this claim is based have been questioned recently, Much of this information can be found in Locomotives of the LNER Part 2A. (RCTS)

hq1hitchin · Post by **hq1hitchin** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 7:28 am

Yes, but have often wondered how accurately the mileages were actually calculated, given that most steam locomotives didn't even have speedos until late on - was it just a case of a clerk working off the diagrams and hoping for the best - or was it off driver's tickets?

stembok · Post by **stembok** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 9:57 am

Mileages were calculated by pencil and paper methods and so the accuracy might be somewhat suspect on occasions, dependent upon information received - or not received - and the conscientiousness or otherwise of the person doing the actual recording and tallying of figures. All mileages should therefore be taken with a pinch of salt -sometimes a large one. Even so they do give a guide to the mileage figures achieved by different engines, being necessary for decisions such as shopping dates and works visits by locos.