Nothing understated about the Royal Train! I wonder if this was the locomotive that brought Queen Victoria to dinner in York in 1854? Rumour has it that she stopped to dine at The Station Hotel, a meal paid for by the city. At the insistence of some of the city counsellors the Royal Household was later sent a bill for the food. Victoria never visited the city again and the blinds of the Royal Train were always drawn as it passed through York on the way to Balmoral!
Last but not least the two A4s named after individuals. Originally called Golden Shuttle, Dwight D Eisenhower was re-named after the 2nd World War Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe. Usually to be found in the National Railroad Museum in Wisconsin she, like Dominion of Canada, has made the transatlantic journey to be with her sister locomotives for Mallard's 75th anniversary.
Sir Nigel Gresley is named after the designer of these iconic (not a word I use lightly!) steam engines as she was the 100th Gresley Pacific locomotive to be built.
Standing next to Bittern is one of the two A4s painted in British Railways Brunswick Green livery. Originally called Osprey she was renamed within a couple of months to commemorate the newly formed Union of South Africa. She was named Osprey again in the 80s and 90s for political expediency.
Bittern set a new speed record for a British preserved steam locomotive on the main line just last month when she reached 92.5 miles per hour. Looks like the old girl still has a bit of oomph left!
Next in line are left to right Dwight D Eisenhower, Union of South Africa and Bittern. Both Dominion of Canada and Union of South Africa were named after Commonwealth countries and were used to pull the "Coronation Service"
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!
Thirty four A4 locomotives were built in total. Dominion of Canada was built in Doncaster in 1937, that is just 25 miles from where she stands today, but she must have travelled hundreds of thousands of miles between then and now. Most of the A4 locomotives were named after birds, Dominion of Canada was to have been called Buzzard but received the name Woodcock instead. A Canadian Pacific railway whistle was fitted to her in honour of her change to her final name. She was withdrawn from service in 1965.
She is normally to be found at Exporail, Quebec but is back in the UK for 2 years.
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