THE commonly asserted claim that the Flying Scotsman was the first locomotive to exceed 100mph was challenged in a letter to The Times last week.

Christopher Smith, of Falmouth, said the milestone was achieved 30 years earlier by the City of Truro, a Churchward 3700 class locomotive, as it descended Wellington Bank hauling 150 tons. During this secret trial, Charles Rous-Marte, of the Railway Gazette, timed it at 102.3mph.

The Flying Scotsman set two world records for steam traction, becoming the first steam locomotive to be officially authenticated at reaching 100mph in 1934 and then setting a record for the longest non-stop run by a steam locomotive when it ran 422 miles in 1989 while in Australia.

Thanks to Ben Fox for sending in the snippet.