What was the first fast train called?

The Race to Break the Century: Identifying the First Fast Train

The dawn of rail travel brought with it an inevitable quest: speed. The dream of connecting distant locales faster than ever before spurred engineers and railway companies to push the boundaries of locomotive technology. While numerous trains achieved impressive speeds for their time, pinpointing the first truly fast train requires careful consideration of criteria and a look at historical records.

While its tempting to label the earliest steam locomotives as fast, their speeds pale in comparison to later achievements. Truly fast trains emerged when locomotives were consistently reaching and surpassing speeds previously considered unattainable. The bar was effectively raised with the psychological and engineering hurdle of exceeding 100 miles per hour (mph).

Several contenders vie for the title, each with its own merits and controversies. The British LMS Coronation Class 6220 Coronation stands as the official record holder. In 1937, during a test run, this streamlined marvel reached a verified speed of 114 mph. This achievement was meticulously documented and widely accepted, cementing the Coronations place in railway history.

However, a competing claim exists, centered around the LNER Class A4 4461 Mallard. In 1938, Mallard allegedly reached a speed of 126 mph. This figure, while tantalizing, is clouded by concerns regarding the accuracy of the recording methods employed. Debate continues to swirl around the true speed achieved by Mallard, and its claim to the speed record remains disputed by many historians and engineers.

Therefore, while Mallard’s alleged top speed may be higher, the Coronation retains the more justifiable claim to the title. The important difference to the story lies in the documentation surrounding each claim. The LMS Coronation had a better documented and widely accepted speed.

Ultimately, the question of the first fast train is not just about raw speed, but also about verifiable data and widespread acceptance. While anecdotal accounts and unconfirmed readings might hint at even earlier achievements, the LMS Coronation Class 6220 Coronation, with its officially recorded 114 mph in 1937, is widely considered the first steam locomotive to break the 100 mph barrier and earns the recognition of the first verifiable fast train. It represented a new era of high-speed rail travel, paving the way for even faster trains to come. The feat was a culmination of design and engineering pushing at the very limits of the day’s technology.