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LNER A4 Class Locomotive Mallard No.4468 at NRM York

LNER  A4 Class Locomotive Mallard No.4468 at NRM York
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London and North Eastern Railway locomotive numbered 4468 Mallard is a Class A4 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive built at Doncaster, England in 1938. The locomotive is 70 ft (21 m) long and weighs 165 tons, including the tender. It is painted LNER garter blue with red wheels and steel rims.

Mallard is the holder of the world speed record for steam locomotives at 126 mph (203 km/h). The record was achieved on 3 July 1938 on the slight downward grade of Stoke Bank south of Grantham on the East Coast Main Line, and the highest speed was recorded at milepost 90¼, between Little Bytham and Essendine. It broke the German (DRG Class 05) 002's 1936 record of 124.5 mph (200.4 km/h). The record attempt was carried out during the trials of a new quick acting brake (the Westinghouse "QSA" brake).

The A4 class was designed by Sir Nigel Gresley to power high-speed streamlined trains. The wind-tunnel-tested, aerodynamic body and high power allowed the class to reach speeds of over 100 miles per hour (160 km/h), although in everyday service it rarely attained this speed. Whilst in BR days regular steam-hauled rail services in the UK were officially limited to a 90 mph 'line speed', pre-war, the A4s had to run way above 90 mph just to keep schedule on trains such as the Silver Jubilee and Coronation, with the engines reaching the magic three figures on many occasions. Mallard covered almost one and a half million miles (2.4 million km) before it was retired in 1963.

It was restored to working order in the 1980s, but has not operated since, apart from hauling some specials between York and Scarborough in July 1986 and a couple of runs between York and Harrogate/Leeds around Easter 1987. Mallard is now part of the National Collection at the United Kingdom's National Railway Museum in York.

m̌ ḫ, @ngélique ❤️, Erhard Bernstein, and 4 other people have particularly liked this photo


12 comments - The latest ones
 Roger (Grisly)
Roger (Grisly) club
Great info and a lovely shot of this iconic locomotive Doug
7 years ago.
Doug Shepherd club has replied to Roger (Grisly) club
Thanks very much Roger, i'm glad that you like it.
Best wishes, Doug
7 years ago.
 Ste
Ste
Very nice indeed Doug and saved in fav's by me

best wishes ... Steve
7 years ago.
Doug Shepherd club has replied to Ste
Many thanks Steve, much appreciate the visit and kind comment.

Best wishes, Doug
7 years ago.
 Andy Rodker
Andy Rodker club
Fine shot, Doug. Best wishes, Andy
7 years ago.
Doug Shepherd club has replied to Andy Rodker club
Cheers Andy, Your kind comments are appreciated, as always.

Best regards, Doug
7 years ago.
 Erhard Bernstein
Erhard Bernstein club
Very impressive!
7 years ago.
 Doug Shepherd
Doug Shepherd club
Thank you for your visit and kind comment Erhard Bernstein, much appreciated.

Best wishes, Doug
7 years ago.
 @ngélique ❤️
@ngélique ❤️ club
ça brille ! **********
7 years ago.
Doug Shepherd club has replied to @ngélique ❤️ club
Thank you for the visit and kind comment, much appreciated.
7 years ago.
 Christiane ♥.•*¨`*•✿
Christiane ♥.•*¨`*•✿
Love the light and all the reflections ....
Excellent one, Doug ! *****
7 years ago.
Doug Shepherd club has replied to Christiane ♥.•*¨`*•✿
Thank you Christiane, much appreciate your visit and kind comments.

Best wishes, Doug
7 years ago.

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