Mallard

Perhaps there should be a race between a Bulleid Merchant Navy class, Duchess of Hamilton and Mallard. I would put my money on a Merchant Navy against Mallard any day. The stories are that no-one ever found out the max speed possible on a MN because the locomotives were still accelerating at the point that the driver had to ease off, or lost their nerve...

(I am now running for cover ...)

 

Damm right, Bring back Blue Peter, Green Arrow throw in the Atlantics, the sterling Single we will not rest until everythings Apple Green ....

 

This begs the question "how much of the loco that is 4468 now, was the 4468 that flew down Stoke Bank back in 1938?"

 

Difficult to argue with that Ralph as far as the general public is concerned.

 

You can never have enough LNER locos on the main line, especially if they have three cylinders and derived motion.

 

Amusing answers please ? will kick off with
The rods fell off....
The cut off went into 30% reverse all on its own...

Seriously im sure the mns could have gone faster than recorded but at the end of the day they ar as aerodynamic as bricks and at 120mph that starts to make a serious difference....

 

LNER men were obviously made of sterner stuff then.

 

Are the two Amercan boilers in Good nick ? Sure they dont want to part with the locos, but if there no plans to steam them a trans atlantic boiler swap ? whats the chances that 4498s boiler now is the original one...

 

I retract my earlier statement about having 5 LNER locos on the mainline is enough, I agree, the more the better, maybe I should say PACIFICS 5 out of a possible 7 isnt bad is it? Only Blue Peter and Mallard won't be on the mainline by then (excluding export A4s). But agreed, the more LNER locomotives the better!

 

It would be nice, for the anniversary that is, to have City of Truro, Flying Scotsman, Duchess of Hamilton AND Mallard all in steam at the same event, and, if the spirit is willing, at least some token run by Mallard over her old stamping ground, with a rake of teak coaches in tow. Surely, just for the occasion, Network Rail, the Rail Regulator and the HSE could waive some of the OTMR/TPWS rules to save destroying/altering the locomotive design?

In the dreams of many, perchance the 'spare' A4 boiler could be restored and used just for this special occasion, being taken off Mallard and put back onto Bittern after the event? A quick fix/loan that could endure Mr Hosking and the NRM to all railway enthusiasts.

How many of us would dip into our pockets to see an 'original' A4 with eight or nine teaks rattling up and down the East Coast Mainline again, even if only just for one journey?

 

lol dream on buddy =)

 

I'm sure the LNERCA will be only too happy to make its teak train available!

 

yeah, looking past the massive barriers of rules and regs. I would love to see it. We can always dream.

 

I suspect that strictly, seeing it would be quite straight forward, certainly compared with an yone being able to experience it from onboard!

Steven

 

My pipe dream is to see the Silver Jubilee recreated. IMHO the "silver" livery applied to the first four A4s was simply stunning and the best locomotive livery ever.

 

agreed SpamCan - It is truly fantastic. Is a shame none of the coaches survive.

 

The thing with the pre-war trains (LNER and LMS) was that the coaching stock was part of the effect. Whilst a garter blue A4 is ok add the two tone blue coaches with the stainless steel trimings and side shirts and the effect is magnificent.(same for the LMS train in blue or red). Looking at one of the rly mags this week there is a picture of some 00 models of A4's in all the different liveries and one shows the Apple Green version. That would go well on the NYMR and the SVR with the teaks. That said I like number 7 in BR blue. . .

 

what would it take to see Mallard operational again ? the backing of the NRM and a desire from the NRM to actually see it happen, and someone with the funds to ensure it can be done, the loan of Jeremy Hoskins spare A4 boiler already overhauled would be a massive start being as the mechanical side is supposingly good , but would you be willing to see another A4 lose out to ensure her return, after all, there is not going to be enough work long term for 4 A4'S but a short term 5 year active spell after which she return to static condition, or did an preservation railway tour till the ticket expired to keep the coppers coming in might be an option , mind you having 4472 and 4468 doing the SSE might just put the NRM in a win win situation, imagine turning up at york to be told 4472 is out for wash out so youve got 4468 today who would complain at that?

 

Or the option of copying 3440 / 3717; a full overhaul followed by 5 years main line action then a rundown to overhaul / exhibition by 5 years gracing suitable heritage lines ( i.e. those with LNER teak rakes ) where a wider public can see 4468 at its best.