Performance of The Rebuilt Locomotives
There is no doubt that rebuilding the class solved most of the maintenance problems whilst retaining the good features, thereby creating excellent locomotives. However, as a result of the implementation of Walschaerts valve gear, the rebuilts were prone to hammerblow on the track caused by the additional weights incorporated to balance the outside valve gear, an issue that had not arisen with the self-balanced arrangement of the original locomotives. On 26 June 1967, 35003 Royal Mail recorded the highest speed ever for the class. Hauling a train comprising three carriages and two parcels vans (164 tons tare, 180 tons gross) between Weymouth and Waterloo, the mile between milepost 38 and milepost 37 (located between Winchfield and Fleet) was covered in 34 seconds, a speed of 105.88 mph. This was also the last authenticated speed in excess of 100 mph achieved by a steam locomotive in the United Kingdom.
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