As I've mentioned here before, I remember reading an article about steam engines on the Chicago - Minneapolis route where a driver wrote of one particular loco a comment about "the rear springs are very rough at 125". Whilst the Mallard probably did get up to 126 mph (202 kph) for about 100 metres, I always felt these spot speeds, especially when taken on a very steep downhill slope after a long run up, were pretty dishonest.

so it was hardly a surprise to see that an engine with about twice the power of Mallard had cruised at 125, even hauling 1000 tons.

And what an engine which incorporated all of the ideas of La Porta, Chapelon & Wardale could do ...?

keep to the Fen Causeway