From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
The performance of a streamlined train compared to a standard train on a route including Dijon and Marseilles.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 161\1\ scan0080 | |
| Date | 31th January 1938 | |
| - 3 - Sr6/Crn.31.I.38. 4. Coming out of the Dijon tunnel, after what seemed to me like a long Turkish bath, after a dive into icy cold water, the speed of the train was 102 kms an hour. The track winds down to Dijon, and with steam cut off, the train kept on gaining speed until at 120 kms an hour, the brakes had to be applied for safety. On a standard train, such as the Blue Train on which I went some months back, the speed of the train going down this gradient, with steam cut off, dropped to 95 kms an hour, and steam has to be applied if 120 kms an hour are to be attained. These figures on the railways, although of course very low to us are very interesting, and of course owing to the masses in movement, the effect of adverse winds is far greater on the ordinary trains than it has on the streamline job. I cannot remember all the details I obtained from Monsieur Renvey, one of the P.L.M. Company's chief engineers who accompanied me, but I do recollect that the Company is very interested in this new formula, and there is even an economy in fuel, which is quite noticeable. The total weight of the convoy was 250 tons, and the average speed from Paris to Marseilles, with numerous stops, was 98 kms an hour. This speed over this long distance is not so bad, given the difficulty of getting in and out of stations. I would like to end up by saying that it beats me how these light locomotives, as they call them, remain put on the rails, and a trip on the footplate should help lots of our customers to become more lenient as regards their springing complaints !! When you come through Paris, you must make a point on your way back, if you cannot manage it on your outward trip, of seeing our efforts on the streamline body, and owing to the fact of the urgent need of getting a chassis, would you please give me an answer to my questions "par retour du courrier". As ever, [Signature] P.S. Incidentally, the increase in HP due to streamline is 300 HP. on the Train - [Signature] | ||