How fast did steam trains go in the 1890s?

As for railroads, locomotives in the 1890s could approach 80 mph.



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Despite fears of what traveling at superfast speeds would do to the human body, trains in the 1850s traveled at 50 mph or more and, somewhat surprisingly at the time, did not cause breathing problems or uncontrollable shaking for their passengers.

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As a result of these modernization and rebuilding practices and using the newer stronger steel rails both in the south and also in the north by the 1870's high speed 40-60 mph travel was almost common between almost all northern and southern cities east of the Mississippi.

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A new mode of transportation took root (interurbans). Labor made a greater push for fair working conditions. A locomotive reached speeds beyond 100 mph (New York Central & Hudson River 4-4-0 #999, which attained a speed of 112.5 miles per hour on May 9, 1893) The mighty Southern Railway was born.

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On 3 July 1938, Mallard claimed the world speed record for steam locomotives at 126 mph (203 km/h) during a trial run of a new, quick-acting brake, known as the Westinghouse QSA brake.

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Faster inter-city trains: 1920–1941 Rail transportation was not high-speed by modern standards but inter-city travel often averaged speeds between 40 and 65 miles per hour (64 and 105 km/h).

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In 1934, Flying Scotsman achieved the first authenticated 100 mph (161 km/h) by a steam locomotive.

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But it was not uncommon for the Zephyr or other trains to hit speeds of more than 100 mph in the 1930s.

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On straight and level track, they could go up to sixty miles per hour. Going up grade, or around curves would limit their speeds. Track conditions were the real limiting factor for wood fired steam locomotives.

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This powerful, aerodynamic masterpiece rocketed to 126mph in 1938, a steam speed record that was never surpassed.
  • The need for speed. Mallard is an A4 class locomotive designed by Sir Nigel Gresley. ...
  • Curator with a Camera. ...
  • About the designer. ...
  • How it came to us.


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The Glacier Express is the world's slowest train, taking more than eight hours to travel between Zermatt and St. Moritz in Switzerland at an average of 18mph. Along the way, it passes over nearly 300 bridges, travels through 91 tunnels and takes in endless stunning Alpine views.

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The Flying Scotsman Built in 1922, Flying Scotsman has been described as the world's most famous steam locomotive. Since it was first built, few parts of the locomotive have survived as many of its components have been renewed and replaced several times over.

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The building of the transcontinental railroad was a wonder. Three thousand miles over and through mountains, deserts, ravines, and rivers. When it was completed in 1869 the train traveled at the incredible speed of 22 miles an hour and the trip, all the way across the country took only 10 days!

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In 1870 it took approximately seven days and cost as little as $65 for a ticket on the transcontinental line from New York to San Francisco; $136 for first class in a Pullman sleeping car; $110 for second class; and $65 for a space on a third- or “emigrant”-class bench.

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During the very early days of steam locomotives, water stops were necessary every 7–10 miles (11–16 km) and consumed much travel time. With the introduction of tenders (a special car containing water and fuel), trains could run 100–150 miles (160–240 km) without a refill.

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