I saw that one in service when I was a small boy over 60 years ago. There is a huge level crossing near Helpston in Northamptonshire, and we went there to see the Mallard, which went thundering past at high speed. I think it was a special train, the Flying Scotsman or something. It's been my favourite locomotive ever since.
 
Still the fastest steam train and I cannot see that changing.
 
Running Mallard on modern high speed track might be an interesting experiment.
 
I remember reading somewhere that back in the 1980s Mallard was one of two locomotives, the other being Flying Scotsman that were used in British Rail adverts. Both reputedly had identical content, but only the Flying Scotsman advert survives on YouTube...

As I understand it, the Flying Scotsman was originally the name of a train service rather than any particular locomotive, although the name has also been applied to one (much modified) locomotive. However, the Flying Scotsman train service still operates, using modern rolling stock. See: https://blog.railwaymuseum.org.uk/many-guises-of-flying-scotsman/ and: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Scotsman_(train)
 

Similar threads

Please donate to support the forum.

Back
Top Bottom