LNER Class A4 No. 4468 Mallard

London & North Eastern Railway No. 4468 Mallard, is a type of LNER Class A4 4-6-2 'Pacific' steam locomotive. The locomotive was built in the LNER Doncaster works on the 3rd of March 1938.
Mallard is one of the well-known Class A4 Pacifics designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, and currently holds the record for the fastest steam locomotive in the world. Mallard attempted and achieved the record on July 3, 1938, and was also designed for fast express passenger trains, hence the streamlining.
==History==
The A4 Pacific locomotives were designed and built in order to compete with the automobile. Back in the 1930's, the trend of the automobile greatly reduced profits, not to mention ticket sales, for the railways. The LNER fought back when they introduced a new, streamlined locomotive that was capable of making the trip from London to Edinburgh 2 hours faster than by car.
The record, set by Mallard on July 3, 1938, resulted in a top speed of 126 mph (203 kph): The record was set between Little Bytham and Essendine on the Stoke Bank, part of the East Coast Main Line (ECML). The record's validity was originally disputed by Sir Nigel Gresley himself and other critics, because Mallard only ran the record speed for a few yards (metres). It was also set going downhill and the speed documentation was not entirely accurate but was eventually proven by Sir Nigel Gresley himself. Mallard also sustained damage to the big end bearing during the run, but this was soon repaired, and Mallard was returned to service again. The Mallard's main rival for the record is a German locomotive; the DRG Class 05 No. 002. This locomotive made its run of 124.5 mph (200 kph) on a level grade crossing and has reliable documentation. Hence, the DRG Class 05 No. 002 becoming the second-fastest steam locomotive in the world. (after Flying Scotsman) There are also other claimants of the world speed record for steam locomotives (such as the Pennsylvania Railroad Class T1), but these claims have not been officially verified by dynamometer data, thus Mallard retains the world speed record for steam locomotives to the present day. 
During World War 2, Mallard was painted in Black in order to blend with the dark background at night in case of air raids. Its number was also changed to E22. 
In 1948, the "big four" were nationalized into British Railways. Mallard was renumbered to 60022 and was based at Grantham Shed. By the time of its retirement from active revenue service on April 25, 1963, it was then based at Kings Cross shed. Instead of being scrapped, Mallard was donated to the National Railway Museum in York, U.K. where it resides today.
Mallard did, however, run in preservation. It was restored to working order in 1986 and returned to steam in time for the 50th anniversary of the world steam speed record it broke, which happened on July the 3rd, 1988, two years after its restoration was completed. It also celebrated another important event, which was the 150th anniversary of the Travelling Post Office, on May the 9th, 1988. After these events, apart from some main line rail tours, it is back on display at York. It will never return to steam due to a crack in the firebox and being among one of the most popular exhibits in the N.R.M.
==Trivia==
*In 2013-14 Mallard was displayed among its five other sibling A4 locomotives during the celebrations of the 75th anniversary of Mallard's world-speed record run, held in the National Railway Museum, York, England. The six locomotives gathered were named Dominion of Canada, Bittern, Union of South Africa, Dwight. D. Eisenhower, Sir Nigel Gresley and Mallard.
*Mallard appeared in the 2018 video game "Railway Empire".
==See also==
*Gallery
==References==
*Wikipedia.
*Book: Collins Eyewitness Guides Train published by Harper Colins.
*Book: The Railway Data File published by Silverdale Books. .
*LNER.
Category:Steam locomotives
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Category:4-6-2 steam locomotives
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Category:4-6-2 locomotives
Category:Three-cylindered locomotives
Category:Built in 1938
Category:Streamlined locomotives
Category:LNER A4 Class
Category:Passenger locomotives
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Category:Preserved steam locomotives