Loco to mark speed milestone

Rail enthusiasts gathered today to see a historic locomotive mark a milestone by racing at the fastest speed travelled by as steam train in almost half a century.

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The Mallard line-up

Mallard was one of 35 near-identical A4-class locomotives designed by renowned engineer Sir Nigel Gresley - the man behind the Flying Scotsman.

The six survivors include Dominion of Canada, which now sits next to Mallard at the National Railway Museum after it was shipped from Montreal last October and restored especially for the anniversary.

Sister engine: Dominion of Canada Credit: Calendar news

The Dwight D Eisenhower - another transatlantic expat - has also rolled back into York from America and been treated to a scrub-up for the occasion. Union of South Africa, the Sir Nigel Gresley and the Bittern have joined them around the museum's Great Hall turntable for The Great Gathering.

Bittern travelled from London Kings Cross under its own steam on Saturday after it was granted special permission to make a celebratory 90mph run up the East Coast Main Line to York - 15mph over the normal limit for steam trains. It reached a top speed of 92mph and arrived on time.

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Mallard record: background

For no more than a couple of minutes on July 3rd, 1938, Mallard thundered along at speeds that have remained unmatched by any steam locomotive for three-quarters of a century. A handful of men in soot-stained overalls had pushed the roaring engine to 126mph, marking the pinnacle of steam power.

Despite its unique place in history, Mallard was one of 35 near-identical A4-class locomotives designed by renowned engineer Sir Nigel Gresley - the man behind the Flying Scotsman. Organisers say the anniversary celebration is a "a once-in-a-lifetime" event.

What we're planning is a major celebration - people will be coming from four corners of the earth. The gathering of the six locomotives is the jewel in the crown really. Mallard didn't really set out on that run to be a record-breaker, They went to see what they could get out of it and it had a test car on the back which was noting down all the measurements."And they got the chance really on Stoke Bank. And they went for it. They knew that the only chance they could get to go that fast was on this part of the line.

The record was made over not more than a couple of miles. It was quite a short distance but it was enough to get Mallard's place in the record books.

– Anthony Coulls, senior curator of rail vehicle collections

Pilgrims gather at NRM

World's press descend on the National Railway Museum Credit: Calendar news

Dozens of journalists have turned up at the NRM to witness the historic event. They and pilgrims from all over the world including Canada, the US and Australia have gathered to celebrate Mallard's achievement and witness a sight never seen before, which fulfills the dreams of rail fans everywhere.

Mallard takes pride of place at The Great Gathering

All eyes on the Mallard Credit: Calendar news

The Mallard takes pride of place in the National Railway Museum today. It's to mark the 75th anniversary of the engine setting the world steam record of 126mph in 1938.

Mallard is on display alongside five sister engines for the next fortnight. The exhibition of the six engines is being called The Great Gathering.

The Mighty Mallard Credit: Calendar news

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Special visitor at National Railway musuem

The National Railway Museum in York had a very special visitor today, in the shape of the classic steam train, 'Bittern.'It set off from King's Cross and despite being seventy-six years old managed to top ninety miles an hour on its way north.

The fastest steam train is the Mallard which got up to one hundred and twenty-six miles per hour near Grantham in nineteen thirty-eight. Both trains will be on display at the museum from Wednesday.

Loco gets permission to speed

The locomotive Bittern, sister train of the Mallard, prepares to depart Kings Cross Credit: PA

An historic locomotive was granted special permission by authorities to exceed the 75mph limit for speed trains today as it made a commemorative journey to York. The run marks Mallard setting a record speed of 126mph near Grantham on July 3 1938.

The Bittern, which was carrying 250 passengers left Kings Cross for York this morning.

"Today is the culmination of a lot of months of preparation to make this happen, to go at high speed and to give the passengers a bit of a flavour of what high-speed steam was like.

This country's very famous for its engineering skills and steam was its cradle. We are very proud of steam heritage and railways in this country and this was shown again today by the support we have received."

Richard Corser, general manager at organiser Locomotive Services Ltd

Steam Loco makes speed history

The Mallard in 1938 before it departed on the record run Credit: PAwire/National Railway Museum

Train lovers from around the country gathered today to see a historic locomotive race up the East Coast main line at the fastest speed travelled by a steam train in almost half a century.

Bittern, an A4-calss engine, built in 1937 is almost identical to the world's fastest steam loco Mallard. It left Kings Cross for York this morning during which it was expected to hit speeds of 90mph.

The run commemorates Mallard setting a record of speed of 126mph near Grantham in 1938 - a feat that remains unbeaten 75 years later.

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