Speed running backwards for steam locomotives depends on several things, including:

-- The design of the locomotive and tender
-- Visibility to the rear when the tender is leading

The German 2-10-0 class 52, built in many thousands of copies during WW II, had a narrow tender bunker that gave about the same visibility backwards as along the boiler looking forward. it was authorized to run at 80 km/h (about 50 mph) both forward and backward. It often worked branch lines without turning facilities and made the return trip running backward.

There are many stories of class 52 exceeding the official top speed of 80 km/h.

There are still quite a few of these around in operable condition in various European countries. On an excursion in Austria, I rode behind a 52 that was running backward on the home trip -- and I would have guessed that the engine was really pushing the official speed limit. (Track speed was higher.)


Of course, if the backward move is with a diesel on the other end, visibility to the rear is not an issue.

-- Ernest