HOME | DD

Description

LNER 4468 Mallard is a LNER Class A4 4-6-2 steam locomotive built by the London & North Eastern Railway at Doncaster Works , England in 1938. It is historically significant as the holder of the world speed record for steam locomotives at 126 mph (203 km/h).
The A4 class was designed by Nigel Gresley to power high-speed streamlined trains. The wind-tunnel -tested,[1] 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. While in British Railways days regular steam-hauled rail services in the UK were officially limited to a 90 mph 'line speed', before the war, the A4s had to run significantly above 90 mph just to keep schedule on trains such as the Silver Jubilee and The Coronation ,[2] with the engines reaching 100 mph on many occasions.[3] [4] Mallard covered almost one and a half million miles (2.4 million km) before it was retired in 1963.
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 now part of the National Collection and preserved at the National Railway Museum in York .

Description

LNER 4468 Mallard is a LNER Class A4 4-6-2 steam locomotive built by the London & North Eastern Railway at Doncaster Works , England in 1938. It is historically significant as the holder of the world speed record for steam locomotives at 126 mph (203 km/h).
The A4 class was designed by Nigel Gresley to power high-speed streamlined trains. The wind-tunnel -tested,[1] 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. While in British Railways days regular steam-hauled rail services in the UK were officially limited to a 90 mph 'line speed', before the war, the A4s had to run significantly above 90 mph just to keep schedule on trains such as the Silver Jubilee and The Coronation ,[2] with the engines reaching 100 mph on many occasions.[3] [4] Mallard covered almost one and a half million miles (2.4 million km) before it was retired in 1963.
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 now part of the National Collection and preserved at the National Railway Museum in York .