THE Mallard was designed by Sir Nigel Gresley.
All the A4 class engines were wind tunnel-tested and aerodynamically designed to do speeds over 100mph.
This was at a time when most steam engines could hardly reach 90mph.
On July 3, 1938, it broke the speed record for a steam locomotive when it reached 124.88mph. The record was previously held by the German DRG Class 05-02, which clocked 124.5mph in 1936.
Considering the engine and tender weighed a combined 165 tons, added to the Mallard’s train (a further 240 tons) I think we should pay credit to the driver John Duddington and to the fireman Thomas Bray, who must have worked his socks off to maintain the boiler pressure of 250 PSI.
They were going to attempt another go at breaking the record in 1939 but the outbreak of war stopped this.
I look forward to seeing them at Shildon this weekend.
JM Gowland, Heighington.
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