Thanks! I can't take the credit for holding the camera on the pacing stuff (given that I was driving the car) - Josh Whitney was the passenger seat window cam operator...

Yes they are a 'symphony' of sight and sound while running at that speed - I enjoy watching all the 'bits n pieces' of the motion gear doing their thing at that speed - a true work of art.

@Shane Haddow. At the start of the pacing sequence the fireman has just started the mecanical stoker ( notice it's exhaust steam seen under the cab) and the smoke gets progressively darker.

Same

@@matthewdempsey6583 This is a bit of an exaggeration. The rated power was about 1400 HP at 40 MPH ( drawbar HP) under VR dynamometer trials. The highest power that has been reported was ( I think) 2000HP in a special run on the Ingliston bank. Of course there IS a difference between drawbar HP which is the amount left over AFTER pulling the engine itself, and the power produced by the engine. Hence the B class diesels were rated at 1600 / 1400 HP ie the diesel was rated at 1600 HP and 1400 HP was available at the motors. Less than that at the drawbar of course because it still has to move itself. The newer S class was rated at 1800/1600 and after the X class deliveries the diesel was uprated again to 2000 HP with alternator equipment. As far as the R class is concerned the West Coast modifications definitely improved the power output on R711 but some of those have now been removed.

Thanks again - I must give credit where it is due - the clouds n the sun did just what we needed at the right time, and I had Josh Whitney on the fireman's side of my car operating the open window cam :)

@@symphonyofsteam Well, I have to say that Josh's rock-steady hands, plus any inbuilt image stabilising, make the pacing shot truly memorable. Also, your mic dead-cat is perfect. Your use of zoom on the bank and opening out - fantastic. I'm a big fan of the pan and follow-through, not practised enough. (BTW, I used to live in Mooroopna, note the spelling.) A great vid, that goes into my 'saved' list.

Strangely she was only doing 80- 85kph, which is often all the carriages are limited to. When on the occasion that the carriages are (all steel) not limited the R class comfortably cruises up to 110kph, which makes it a lot harder to chase by road.

@@symphonyofsteam 115kph between Craigieburn and Seymour, 95 and 100 Shepparton to Seymour.

Ooops! Thanks for the stainless pick up, I have edited accordingly.