Joe Duddington

[Mallard4468]

Does anyone have any information about Joe duddington

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I am interested to know how many people are aware of the name Joe Duddington and what it means to them

 

[Spamcan81]

Joe Duddington was the driver who took Mallard to the world steam speed record on July 3rd 1968. Not forgetting fireman Tommy Bray and Inspector Jenkins who were on the footplate at the time.

 

[Mallard4468]

Thank you, as I am new to this forum, I was trying to get a feel for how well known Joe is and how people felt about his impact in steam history

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And I would never diminish Tommy Brays part in the making of history

 

[High Dyke]

With such a turnover of staff on the various railway companies these days, there will be a number who won't have a clue about Joe, Tommy or anyone else involved on the day. Sadly.

 

[Mallard4468]

That is such a great shame. I do have reason to ask and your answer saddens me a little

 

[Spamcan81]

Thank you, as I am new to this forum, I was trying to get a feel for how well known Joe is and how people felt about his impact in steam history

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And I would never diminish Tommy Brays part in the making of history

I think it’s a shame that the commemorative plaque on Mallard doesn’t mention the crew.

 

[Mallard4468]

I fully agree. And they have never been commemorated for their part in world history. Like I say, I have reason to find out

 

[Spamcan81]

I fully agree. And they have never been commemorated for their part in world history. Like I say, I have reason to find out

Joe was buried in an unmarked grave but not so long ago money was raised to give him a proper headstone.

 

[Mallard4468]

That’s correct and quite rightly so. I know that element really well and was getting a feel for views about Joe

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Or even views on how important Mallard is to the railway fellowship

 

[Harvester]

Fireman Tommy Bray must take a lot of the credit that Sunday. A temporary speed restriction meant the train went through Grantham at only 24 mph, hence it was worked hard up Stoke bank with a full regulator to reach the desired 75 mph at the summit. It required a huge back breaking firing effort to accomplish this and keeping the boiler pressure high, for the final downhill push.

 

[Spamcan81]

Fireman Tommy Bray must take a lot of the credit that Sunday. A temporary speed restriction meant the train went through Grantham at only 24 mph, hence it was worked hard up Stoke bank with a full regulator to reach the desired 75 mph at the summit. It required a huge back breaking firing effort to accomplish this and keeping the boiler pressure high, for the final downhill push.

I’m sure I read that Inspector Jenkins also lent a hand firing.

 

[WesternLancer]

Wasn’t there a BBC documentary made in the 80s commemorating 50th anniversary of the run (hopefully on I player or you tube) which includes a voice recording of the driver describing how he broke the record.

From memory I recall hearing that very clearly.

I think I once had a video of the program.

Edit: 'Mallard: A Drake's Progress' - Anglia TV made c1990, written and presented by John Huntley - copies on youtube (see my post with link below)

 

[eastdyke]

I’m sure I read that Inspector Jenkins also lent a hand firing.

It was recorded in this piece published in Lincolnshire Life [July 2013]:

A record-breaking run - Lincolnshire Life

On 3rd July 1938 driver Joe Duddington (then aged 61) climbed into the cab of Mallard and booked its place in history by reaching a new world record for steam locomotives of 126mph on Stoke Bank – south of Grantham on the East Coast Mainline. Mallard’s achievement in clinching the world speed...

www.lincolnshirelife.co.uk

Extract:

The train left from Wood Green waterworks sidings on its outward journey. It went as far as Barkston and turned on the triangle there. Packed lunches were eaten at the siding in Barkston and at this point Jenkins and Bray made the fire up – right to the doors of the firebox, paying particular attention to build up the corners of the firebox, difficult to reach underway, and especially if firing not through the open door, but ‘over the flap’ as was normal practice at the time.

 

[778]

Fireman Tommy Bray must take a lot of the credit that Sunday. A temporary speed restriction meant the train went through Grantham at only 24 mph, hence it was worked hard up Stoke bank with a full regulator to reach the desired 75 mph at the summit. It required a huge back breaking firing effort to accomplish this and keeping the boiler pressure high, for the final downhill push.

If the 24mph speed restriction was not in place could Mallard have gone faster than 126mph? The article mentions that the record was broken at 116mph, but I thought that a German Loco managed 124.5mph 3 years earlier?

 

[norbitonflyer]

The article mentions that the record was broken at 116mph, but I thought that a German Loco managed 124.5mph 3 years earlier?

114 was the previous British record, I think.

 

[Mallard4468]

Thank you for the comments and really interesting to see that the record is talked about and what Mallard achieved. My Great Grandfather, Joe, was chosen because Sir Nigel knew he was the one with experience and ability to nurse “the old girl” to take the world record. I am very proud of him and of course Tommy to do what they did and put Mallard into British history

 

[Harvester]

If the 24mph speed restriction was not in place could Mallard have gone faster than 126mph? The article mentions that the record was broken at 116mph, but I thought that a German Loco managed 124.5mph 3 years earlier?

The reference would have been to the LMS record of 114 mph held by Coronation 6220. It is quite interesting to compare the run with that of 60007 on 23/5/1959 on a Stephenson Locomotive Society special. Bill Hoole had past Grantham at 75 mph on the latter, which he held to Stoke summit without having to thrash the engine. Mallard passed the summit at 74.5 mph (not 85 mph) and both were doing just over a 100mph at Corby Glen with 60007 running the better at this stage with plenty in hand. At 112 mph a few miles further on, Bill was told to ease off by the inspectors on the footplate, when speed passed the prearranged 110 mph.

 

[Ghostbus]

From memory I recall hearing that very clearly.

As do I. Sounded very unassuming but surprisingly posh!

 

[Spamcan81]

The reference would have been to the LMS record of 114 mph held by Coronation 6220. It is quite interesting to compare the run with that of 60007 on 23/5/1959 on a Stephenson Locomotive Society special. Bill Hoole had past Grantham at 75 mph on the latter, which he held to Stoke summit without having to thrash the engine. Mallard passed the summit at 74.5 mph (not 85 mph) and both were doing just over a 100mph at Corby Glen with 60007 running the better at this stage with plenty in hand. At 112 mph a few miles further on, Bill was told to ease off by the inspectors on the footplate, when speed passed the prearranged 110 mph.

Bill was convinced that he could have had the record that day had he been allowed to go for it.

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Thank you for the comments and really interesting to see that the record is talked about and what Mallard achieved. My Great Grandfather, Joe, was chosen because Sir Nigel knew he was the one with experience and ability to nurse “the old girl” to take the world record. I am very proud of him and of course Tommy to do what they did and put Mallard into British history

And quite rightly proud of him. Took a lot of nerve to take the loco into uncharted territory.

 

[DarloRich]

“Once over the top I gave Mallard ‘er ‘ead and she jumped to it like a live thing. Then 108, 109, 110. ‘Go on old girl,’ I thought, ‘we can do better than this.’ So I nursed her and we shot through Little Bytham at 123 and in the next mile and a quarter the needle crept up further… 124, 125 and then for a quarter of a mile, why, they tell me the folks in the car held their breath, 126! 126? That was the fastest a steam locomotive had ever been driven in the world!”

Sir Nigel Gresley, Mallard And The Steam World Speed Record - Northern Life Magazine

The 1930’s was the Golden Age of the railways, a time of great developments and iconic locomotives, driven by the race to provide the fastest service to

northernlifemagazine.co.uk

 

[norbitonflyer]

What would Joe have thought of the fact that within 40 years trains would routinely be doing 125mph - up Stoke Bank!

 

[WesternLancer]

As do I. Sounded very unassuming but surprisingly posh!

I recall a northern accent. I’d like to find the programme details. Not managed that yet EDIT - now located - see below in thread

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Sir Nigel Gresley, Mallard And The Steam World Speed Record - Northern Life Magazine

The 1930’s was the Golden Age of the railways, a time of great developments and iconic locomotives, driven by the race to provide the fastest service to

northernlifemagazine.co.uk

That’s the transcript of the recording I recall I’m pretty sure. Thanks.

 

[matchmaker]

114 was the previous British record, I think.

By "Coronation", 29th June 1937. Arrived in Crewe rather too fast!

 

[norbitonflyer]

I recall a northern accent.

Born, and lived all his life, in Doncaster.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Hello @Mallard4468
Many thanks for sharing your family tie to Joe Duddington.
This page on LNER.info gives a brief story of his deserved place in UK railway history:

LNER Encyclopedia: The Gresley A4 Pacifics

Describes the streamlined Gresley A4 Pacifics

www.lner.info

I've attached the pertinent info, as the web page covers the A4 locos in more general terms too.

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Joe Duddington was the driver who took Mallard to the world steam speed record on July 3rd 1968.

Was that a secret and highly unofficial run, one month before British Railways' "Fifteen Guinea Special" steam finale?

 

[norbitonflyer]

Or even views on how important Mallard is to the railway fellowship

Indeed - the public for some reason find 4472 far more of a draw than 4468, or indeed any other steam locomotive, but it was nothing special.

• Not the first Pacific in the UK (The GWR's Great Bear was, and the North Eastern Railway was building a small feelt at the same time as the GNR)t in
• Not even the first of its class (that was 4470), of a class that eventually numbered 79
• One of several (and not the first) to make an unsubstantiated claim to be the first to reach 100mph. ("City of Truro" wants a word)
• Not the most powerful locomotive of its time (when exhibited at the British Empire Exhibition in 1924, it was shown up by Caerphilly Castle (GWR 4073) which, although smaller, could boast a bigger tractive effort).

Its main distinction was as the first privately-owned preserved main line steam locomotive on BR and, thanks to a unique deal between Alan Pegler and British Railways, for several years the only one permitted on BR track. It never ran in LNER service in the condition Pegler kept it, as an A3 No 4472 in pre-war LNER livery - it was not converted to A3 specification until 1947, by which time it had been renumbered 103. (It is sometimes, and more authentically, exhibited as BR No 60103, but this is less popular with the masses)

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Was that a secret and highly unofficial run, one month before British Railways' "Fifteen Guinea Special" steam finale?

... and 15 years after he passed away.

 

[E27007]

Does anyone have any information about Joe duddington

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Feb 2025 ==

I am interested to know how many people are aware of the name Joe Duddington and what it means to them

Jo was a celebrity, on his last day at Carr loco, British Pathe sent a film crew, and Mallard was his loco:
here is the link:

Jo Duddington British Pathe

Jo died 1953, but not in Doncaster, a fact which required plenty of detective work to establish his final resting place.
His death was reported far and wide of the British Empire, including Australia.

I carried out the research which revealed, Jo was buried in an unmarked grave of his first wife Mary Alice d 1921, at Doncaster Hyde Park Cemetery.
The Friends of Hyde Park Cemetery raised funds for the grave to be restored and a headstone erected.

Tommy Bray died in 1966, he was cremated and his ashes interred at Rose Hill Cemetery Doncaster

 

[Mallard4468]

This is fantastic information you are all kindly submitting and thank you very much. It is very interesting to hear of his death being reported elsewhere in the world. To my knowledge, my Great Grandfather passed away of a heart attack in his beloved fish and chip shop ( which is still that today ) in Dunscroft, Doncaster. I would be keen to see what reports of his death exist as I am only aware of limited information of this fact.

 

[WesternLancer]

This is fantastic information you are all kindly submitting and thank you very much. It is very interesting to hear of his death being reported elsewhere in the world. To my knowledge, my Great Grandfather passed away of a heart attack in his beloved fish and chip shop ( which is still that today ) in Dunscroft, Doncaster. I would be keen to see what reports of his death exist as I am only aware of limited information of this fact.

I would have thought it would have been reported in the railway press if not wider press too.

Some forum members have access to online newspaper archives and thus may be able to search them.

 

[Mallard4468]

I actually fronted the campaign for a headstone for my Great Grandfather and am still researching more about the World Record so I thank everyone for adding to my family history and the achievements of a pre-war record breaker