Tunnel of speed

Oil on canvas 73 x 60 cm

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Description

On 28 and 29 March 1955, the French assaulted the world rail speed record. At the time, we were told that Bo-Bo electric BB9004 and Co-Co CC7107 had both achieved 331 kph. Later, it emerged that CC7107 had ‘only’ reached around 325 kph and that the ‘little deception’ was so that the CC’s maker was not given an unfair market advantage over the BB’s. Never mind, CC7107 was first off the mark and here she is, tearing down straight track through the arches formed by the Midi Company’s famous ‘ogive’ catenary supports.