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LNER 4468 Mallard

Mallard
Number 4468 Mallard in York.jpg
Mallard at the National Railway Museum at York
Type and origin
Power type Steam
Designer Sir Nigel Gresley
Builder LNER Doncaster Works
Serial number 1870
Build date 3 March 1938
Specifications
Configuration 4-6-2
UIC class 2'C1'h3
Gauge 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia. 3 ft 2 in (0.965 m)
Driver dia. 6 ft 8 in (2.032 m)
Trailing dia. 3 ft 8 in (1.118 m)
Length 70 ft (21.34 m)
Loco weight 102.95 long tons (104.6 t; 115.3 short tons)
Total weight 165 long tons (167.6 t; 184.8 short tons)
Boiler pressure 250 psi (1.72 MPa)
Cylinders Three
Cylinder size 18.5 in × 26 in (470 mm × 660 mm)
Loco brake Steam
Train brakes Vacuum
Performance figures
Tractive effort 35,455 lbf (157.7 kN)
Career
Operators LNER, BR
Class A4
Withdrawn 25 April 1963
Restored 1986 until 1988
Disposition Displayed at the National Railway Museum, York
Type and origin
Power type Steam
Designer Sir Nigel Gresley
Builder LNER Doncaster Works
Serial number 1870
Build date 3 March 1938
Specifications
Configuration 4-6-2
UIC class 2'C1'h3
Gauge 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia. 3 ft 2 in (0.965 m)
Driver dia. 6 ft 8 in (2.032 m)
Trailing dia. 3 ft 8 in (1.118 m)
Length 70 ft (21.34 m)
Loco weight 102.95 long tons (104.6 t; 115.3 short tons)
Total weight 165 long tons (167.6 t; 184.8 short tons)
Boiler pressure 250 psi (1.72 MPa)
Cylinders Three
Cylinder size 18.5 in × 26 in (470 mm × 660 mm)
Loco brake Steam
Train brakes Vacuum
Performance figures
Tractive effort 35,455 lbf (157.7 kN)
Career
Operators LNER, BR
Class A4
Withdrawn 25 April 1963
Restored 1986 until 1988
Disposition Displayed at the National Railway Museum, York

London and North Eastern Railway locomotive numbered 4468 Mallard is a Class A4 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive built at Doncaster, 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 Sir Nigel Gresley to power high-speed streamlined trains. The wind-tunnel-tested, 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', pre-war, the A4s had to run way above 90 mph just to keep schedule on trains such as the Silver Jubilee and Coronation, with the engines reaching the magic three figures on many occasions.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 at the United Kingdom's National Railway Museum in York.

Mallard is the holder of the world speed record for steam locomotives at 126 mph (203 km/h). The record was achieved on 3 July 1938 on the slight downward grade of Stoke Bank south of Grantham on the East Coast Main Line, and the highest speed was recorded at milepost 90¼, between Little Bytham and Essendine. It broke the German (DRG Class 05) 002's 1936 record of 124.5 mph (200.4 km/h). The record attempt was carried out during the trials of a new quick acting brake (the Westinghouse "QSA" brake).


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