The London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) A4 Class locomotives were designed by its legendary chief mechanical engineer Sir Nigel Gresley. Designed for speed, the A4s featured three cylinders, 80” driving wheels and could generate 35,455 lbf of tractive effort. There were 35 locomotives in the class.
The 28th locomotive built was named “Mallard” after the duck due to Gresley's fondness of breeding wild birds. Built at the LNER Doncaster Works, Mallard was released and entered service on March 3, 1938 wearing the original number 4468. The locomotive wore a number of liveries throughout its career including garter blue as 4468 and LNER wartime black as 22, British Railways dark blue as 60022 from September 16, 1949, and Brunswick green from July 4, 1952.
On July 3, 1938, Mallard set the world speed record for steam locomotives at 126 mph. The record was claimed while traversing the downward grade of Stoke Bank, south of Grantham at mile post 90 1/4. Mallard was hauling a seven-coach train which included a dynamometer car with apparatus to record the speed. As of this writing in 2025, the record still stands.
My artwork depicts Mallard as she appeared in the Brunswick green livery in the late 50s. Mallard is preserved today in the original garter blue with number 4468.