Mallard

World speed record holder for steam traction Mallard and her sister locomotive Dominion of Canada side by side. I am going to indulge my fondness for the A4 class of streamlined 4-6-2 steam locos this week!

Mallard 75 - The Gathering

On the 3rd of July 1938 A4 class locomotive Mallard reached 126 miles per hours coming down Stoke Bank. That world speed record for a steam locomotive still stands. To mark the 75th anniversary of the record breaking run the other five remaining A4 class locomotives still in existence have come to York Railway Museum for two weeks to stand alongside Mallard in the great hall.

They look stunning, and this is one popular exhibition!

Full Steam Ahead

It took many years to train as a steam engine driver and after a visit to Mallard's cab I can understand why. This is just a small portion of the valves, levers, gauges and dials that the driver had to be utterly familar with. See here for further details of the long route to becoming a top link express driver on a locomotive like Mallard.