Czech rail records
The fastest steam locomotive
Locomotive 498.106 ČSD, nicknamed Albatross, reached top speed 162 km/h on railway test circuit Velim (August 27, 1964)
Steam locomotive exhaust system
Andre Chapelon made a significant improvement with his Kylchap exhaust which incorporated a "Kyala spreader" (second stage nozzle) and third stage cowl between the blastpipe (first stage nozzle) and chimney. This became popular at the end of the steam era (early-mid 20th century) and was used on the Nigel Gresley's Mallard which holds the official world speed record for steam locomotives. Other contemporary designs include the Giesl, and Lemaître exhausts which achieve the same aim by different means.