The_Mayflower_03_Plymouth_arrival Castle 4-6-0s No.7029 and 5043 are 
seen at Plymouth, having converted the Mayflower's 25-minute late 
departure to an eight-minute early arrival! The twelve coach, 450-ton 
train, in the GWR's chocolate and cream livery, had every seat filled, 
with the 500 passengers being treated to loud and rousing assaults upon 
the inclines of South Devon: Wellington Bank (4 miles, maximum grade 1 
in 80); Dainton Bank (3 miles, maximum grade 1 in 36); Rattery Bank (8 
miles, maximum grade 1 in 46). Steam on Britain's main lines is limited 
to a maximum of 75 miles per hour (mph) and the two Castles were able to 
maintain that speed for mile upon mile, with a little excess - on two 
occasions briefly reaching 80 mph. All along the 127-mile route, many 
hundreds of people were at stations and numerous other vantage points to 
see the train pass. Such is the film star quality in Britain, of the 
steam locomotive! roger.griffiths@hotmail.com