The Mallard

I remember when I was little my dad used to tell me stories about a steam locomotive called the Mallard. Well this is it, all shiny and fully restored it sits restored in the York railway museum. If it wasn't obvious from the looks, the Mallard is a special locomotive.

The Mallard was designed by a designer called Sir Nigel Gresley. It was designed to head up an express train. To make it as fast as possible special aerodynamic bodywork was designed to get as much out of it as possible. This wind-tunnel-tested, aerodynamic body allowed it to reach speeds of over 100 mph. At retirement the mallard had hauled for nearly a million and a half miles.

The great crowning moment, indeed what made the Mallard such a legend was the fact that it held the wold steam locomotive speed record of 126 miles per hour. One which has yet to be challenged. The previous record was a german one of 124 mph.