Historical Fastest Times
The Railway Performance Society (RPS) is devoted to the study of performance of all forms of rail traction. In addition to a quarterly magazine, MILEPOST, the RPS produces compilations of the fastest recorded times achieved between pairs of stations by scheduled passenger trains. The principal compilation is the Fastest Times Supplement, produced annually, with quarterly updates. However, with the displacement of traditional locomotive-hauled passenger trains by multiple units on many routes, it was decided to introduce a Historical Fastest Times (HFT) Supplement, which will show the fastest recorded times by forms of traction that are no longer in front-line service.
Selected data files last updated on 20 April 2006.
Eventually, it is hoped to produce separate compilations for steam, diesel locomotives and electric locomotives, and possibly also for certain types of multiple units. Coverage of UK railways is far from complete, but the amount of material already exceeds the space available each year in the HFT Supplement. Therefore, the RPS Committee has agreed that the HFT data can be made available to members on the web.
To find out more about the Railway Performance Society, please go to the RPS website at:
To view the HFT files, please click on one of the links below. You will need the Adobe Acrobat pdf file viewer installed on your computer - if you do not have this, it can often be found on the cover disc of many computer magazines.
Index of routes:
Diesel Locomotive Records |
Last update on: |
30 March 2003 |
|
30 March 2003 |
|
30 March 2003 |
|
11 May 2003 |
|
15 October 2004 |
|
30 March 2003 |
|
30 March 2003 |
|
11 May 2003 |
|
30 March 2003 |
|
19 November 2003 |
|
30 March 2003 |
|
15 October 2004 |
|
15 October 2004 |
|
30 March 2003 |
|
16 March 2005 |
|
15 October 2004 |
|
30 March 2003 |
|
30 March 2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
Steam Locomotive Records |
Last update on: |
25 Sept. 2003. |
|
S2.Former LNER (ER) - East Anglia (GER, M&GNR) |
Not yet ready. |
S3. Former LNER (ER/LMR) -GCR & joint lines. |
Not yet ready. |
S4. Former LNER (ER) - GNR & joint lines. |
Not yet ready. |
S5. Former LNER (NER) - NER & joint lines. |
Not yet ready. |
S6. Former LNER (ScR) - NBR & other Scottish lines. |
Not yet ready. |
15 October 2004. |
|
17 March 2004. |
|
S8.1 Former LMSR(LMR) - MR main lines South of Sheffield |
31 January 2004 |
S8.2 Former LMSR(LMR) - MR main lines North of Sheffield |
25 Sept. 2003 |
S8.3 Former LMSR(LMR) - MR main lines West of Derby |
Not yet ready. |
25 Sept. 2003 |
|
3 April 2003 |
|
S10. Former LMSR (LMR) - L&YR & FR lines. |
Not yet ready. |
S11. Former LMSR (ScR) - CR, GSWR & HR lines. |
Not yet ready. |
16 March 2005 |
|
S12.2. Former GWR (WR) - Paddington - Penzance. |
Not yet ready. |
16 March 2005 |
|
15 November 2003 |
|
3 April 2003 |
|
24 July 2003. |
|
NB - These sections are being renumbered. |
|
Electric Locomotive Records |
Last update on: |
11 May 2003 |
|
3 April 2003 |
|
3 April 2003 |
|
20 April 2006 |
|
20 April 2006 |
Please note that you will see the raw spreadsheet files from which the Annual HFT Supplement is produced, not the edited and carefully-formatted version that appears in print. This is to facilitate quick updating of the files. Please see the FT and HFT supplements for identification of the recorders. RPS Members who can beat the records shown should please follow the instructions in MILEPOST about how to get your records included in HFT.
This page has been compiled by Bevan Price as a service for RPS members. The web address is published in MILEPOST and may be changed occasionally, after due notice in MILEPOST.
Please use your browser's return button to exit from this page; there are no links to or from the compiler's personal website. Or go to the Railway Performance Society website.