A4 locomotives Dwight D Eisenhower, Mallard, and Dominion of Canada (from left to right) at the National Railway Museum, York
On 3 July 1938, A4 class locomotive Mallard raced down Stoke Bank at 126mph to set a new steam locomotive world speed record. That record still stands. On 3rd July 2013 history was made again in York as the world’s fastest steam locomotive, Mallard, was united with its five surviving sister engines in the National Railway Museum’s Great Hall. Two of the streamlined giants were repatriated from North America and are fresh from a complex cosmetic restoration which has seen them transform from sixties shabbiness to the glamour of their heyday. As the Museum’s 75-day countdown to the anniversary of Mallard breaking the world steam speed record finally reached its end, pilgrims from all over the world including Canada, the US and Australia were amassed to celebrate Mallard’s achievement and witness a sight never-seen-before which fulfilled the dreams of rail fans everywhere. Only six of the 35 A4 locomotives built survive in the world. Dwight D Eisenhower and Dominion of Canada have been temporarily repatriated (until early in 2014) from their home museums in Canada and the US for the celebrations. The other three A4 locomotives are: Union of South Africa, Bittern and Sir Nigel Gresley
Size: 3375px × 4500px
Location: Leeman Road, York, United Kingdom
Photo credit: © Niall Ferguson / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 4-6-2, a4, blue, canada, dominion, dwight, eisenhower, garter, gathering, great, gresley, lner, locomotive, mallard, museum, nigel, pacific, railway, record, sir, speed, steam, york
