Talk:Railway speed record

Pagemove?

Why is this page called a "land speed record"? I've only ever seen rail records described as such, never a s "land speed" anything. So, IMO, this page should be moved to Rail speed record--which, I see, some bright spark has created as a redirect to (yet again) a name only used by WP... TREKphiler ^{any time you're ready, Uhura} 05:27, 27 November 2018 (UTC)

Fastest steam locomotive .... title vacant

AFAIK the title of the "fastest steam loco ready-to-run" (sry for my bad english) is vacant, after retirement of the german 18 201 end of 2018 because of expired certificates for frame and steam vessel. I don't know which is actually the fastest steam loco "ready-to-run". Any idea? - AxelKing (talk) 16:40, 27 February 2019 (UTC)

What does the sanctioning body say about trains no longer in service? Doesn't the record still stand, owned by the last holder, in any event? TREKphiler ^{any time you're ready, Uhura} 09:55, 5 March 2019 (UTC)

TGV 001

The prototype TGV 001 was gas-turbine electric. Apparently a top speed of 318 kilometres per hour (198 mph), on 8 December 1972. So should that record be listed in the fuel-electric section? --Craobh àrd (talk) 20:03, 1 November 2021 (UTC)

Absolute world speed record table

This table is not right. The point about absolute speed records is that speed monotonously increases with time. That is if you sort the table by speed then when you sort by date it should not change. There are a couple of anomalies that are caused by different categories. For example Mallard set the record for steam traction in 1938 two years after a diesel-electric went faster. Similarly, a French train set the record for a wheeled train in 2007 that was 6 kph slower than a maglev train in 2003. However there are also many cases of trains being recorded despite their being slower than an earlier train in the same category. These entries have no place in a table of records and should be removed. I intend to do just that after a reasonable consultation period.

I further suggest that the absolute speed record table be reduced to absolute speed records. This would remove category records such as Mallard and TGV POS Set No. 4402 along with all the non-records. Each category could then have its own table. We could also have a summary table giving the fastest in each category. OrewaTel (talk) 04:04, 15 July 2022 (UTC)

InterCityExperimental '88

The article is missing an entry for the 1988 InterCityExperimental world record from all three concerned sections (all passenger trains, conventional wheeled, electric). Jlnstrk (talk) 01:04, 4 January 2023 (UTC)

I have added an entry using de:ICE-Weltrekordfahrt_am_1._Mai_1988 as a source. Please check my work because I am not fluent in German. Ich habe Wörter mit de:ICE-Weltrekordfahrt_am_1._Mai_1988 hinzugefügt. Bitte überprüfen Sie meine Arbeit, da ich nicht fließend Deutsch spreche. OrewaTel (talk) 06:30, 4 January 2023 (UTC)

FYI, I updated the entry with links to the relevant english wikipedia articles. Klizza (talk) 06:43, 25 May 2023 (UTC)

While doing so I noticed that the FS Class ETR 500 run of 2009 claims to be the world record in a tunnel with 362 km/h, which cannot be true as the ICE Experimental already reached over 400 km/h in a tunnel as part of its world record run in 1988. I assume it's all because there is no international body that officially tracks world records on rails and there are no well defined categories. Klizza (talk) 06:50, 25 May 2023 (UTC)

Why no speed records listed for non OLE electric powered trains?

I think the British Rail Class 442 are the fastest third rail-powered train at 108 mph, and the London Underground A60 and A62 Stock are the fastest fourth rail-powered trains at 70 mph. I Like The british Rail Class 483 (talk) 15:30, 10 July 2023 (UTC)

Simple answer, find some sources. --Redrose64 🌹 (talk) 17:57, 11 July 2023 (UTC)

@Redrose64 Here is some scoures for the 442s 108 world record. https://www.bloodandcustard.com/BR-5WES-442.html https://www.modernrailways.com/article/south-western-second-mass-extinction-event http://extra.southernelectric.org.uk/features/rolling-stock/442/442intro01.html#:~:text=All%20vehicles%20are%20air%2Dconditioned,rail%20train%20in%20the%20world. I Like The british Rail Class 483 (talk) 11:37, 31 July 2023 (UTC)

One sided emphasis

Too much emphasis is given to experimental trains. But not any info in the intro, dedicated for the fastest conventional trains that actually transport people and are practical. Needs improvement there. AlanGrieve (talk) 15:32, 12 September 2023 (UTC)

Missing record

The Dalkey Atmospheric Railway set a land speed record in the 1830s or 1840s, but it's not here - it managed 9200' in 75s for an average speed that definitely beats every prior record. I don't think that that it wasn't intended (they accidentally had one of the cars disconnected from everything else when they started up the engine) should disqualify it. 107.1.50.202 (talk) 15:50, 8 November 2023 (UTC)

This fact is more deserving of an entry than some of the specialist vehicles that were built to go fast rather than make a useful journey. Unfortunately this page is a mess with various non-record high speed runs being placed in amongst real records. If you can find a good place to put it then go for it. OrewaTel (talk) 00:16, 9 November 2023 (UTC)