60034 Lord Farringdon at Aberdeen Ferryhill, 1965.

60027 Merlin at Dundee Tay Bridge, 1965, showing the corridor connection through the tender that allowed crews to be changed on Scotch expresses without stopping.

Another view of 60027 Merlin at Dundee Tay Bridge, 1965. The yellow cabside stripe indicates that she is prohibited from electrified West Coast Main Line south of Crewe, where she is out-of-gauge.

The London and North Eastern Railway Class A4 is a class of streamlined 4-6-2 steam locomotive, designed by Sir Nigel Gresley in 1935. One of the class, 4468 Mallard, holds the record as the fastest steam locomotive in the world. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (878x1102, 94 KB) Summary © Chris Ward Source: http://christopher8062. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (878x1102, 94 KB) Summary © Chris Ward Source: http://christopher8062. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... Image File history File links 60027_3_Dundee_Tay_Bridge_1965. ... Image File history File links 60027_3_Dundee_Tay_Bridge_1965. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1257x982, 92 KB) Summary © Chris Ward source: http://christopher8062. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1257x982, 92 KB) Summary © Chris Ward source: http://christopher8062. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... The WCML running alongside the M1 motorway at Watford Gap in Northamptonshire A Virgin Pendolino and freight train on the WCML The West Coast Main Line (WCML) is one of the most important intercity railway lines in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system. ... Map sources for Crewe at grid reference SJ705557 Crewe is a town in south Cheshire, in the north west of England. ... A loading gauge is the envelope or contoured shape within which all railway vehicles, engines, coaches, and trucks must fit. ... LNER timetable for Autumn 1926 detailing the resumption of services after the General Strike. ... The Pennsylvania Railroads class K4s, a well known 4-6-2 type. ... Union Pacific Big Boy #4012 at work on a cold November 29, 1941 A steam locomotive is a locomotive powered by steam. ... Sir Herbert Nigel Gresley (19 June 1876 – 5 April 1941) was one of Britains most famous Steam locomotive engineers who worked for the Great Northern Railway company from 1911 to 1922 as locomotive superintendent and for the London and North Eastern Railway company (LNER) from 1923 to 1941... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar). ... Mallard at York Number 4468 Mallard is a London and North Eastern Railway Class A4 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive built in the 1930s by the LNER and designed by Sir Nigel Gresley in England. ...

Overview

Sir Nigel Gresley introduced the LNER Class A4 locomotives in 1935 to haul a new train called the Silver Jubilee between London King's Cross and Newcastle. The new service was named in celebration of King George V's 25th year of reign. Sir Herbert Nigel Gresley (19 June 1876 – 5 April 1941) was one of Britains most famous Steam locomotive engineers who worked for the Great Northern Railway company from 1911 to 1922 as locomotive superintendent and for the London and North Eastern Railway company (LNER) from 1923 to 1941... The London and North Eastern Railway or LNER was the second-largest of the Big Four railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain. ... Great Western Railway No. ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar). ... An SP freight train west of Chicago in 1992. ... A Silver Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 25th anniversary. ... This GNER train serving Kings Cross is named White Rose after the traditional symbol of Yorkshire. ... This article is about a city in the United Kingdom. ... George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 - 20 January 1936) was the first British monarch belonging to the House of Windsor, as a result of his creating it from the British branch of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. ...

During a visit to Germany in 1933, Gresley had been inspired by the high-speed, streamlined "Flying Hamburger" diesel multiple unit trains, and indeed the LNER had considered purchasing similar trains for use from London to Newcastle. However, the diesel units of the time did not have the desired passenger carrying capacity and the capital investment in the new technology was prohibitive. The DRG Class SVT 877 Flying Hamburger - or in German Fliegender Hamburger - was Germanys first fast diesel trainset; and it is credited with establishing the then-time fastest regular railway connection worldwide. ...

Gresley was sure that steam could do the job equally well and with a decent fare-paying load behind the locomotive and so, following trials in 1935 with one of Gresley's A3 Pacifics No.2750 Papyrus, which recorded a new maximum of 108mph and completed the journey in under four hours, the LNER gave the green light to Gresley to produce a streamlined development of the A3. Initially four locomotives were built, all with the word 'silver' as part of their names, the first being 2509 Silver Link; the others being 2510 Quicksilver, 2511 Silver King and 2512 Silver Fox. During a press run to publicise the service, Silver Link achieved a speed of 112.5 mph, breaking the British speed record.^{[citation needed]} The London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) Class A1/A3 is a class of 4-6-2 steam locomotives, designed by Nigel Gresley. ... Silver Link was a A4 Class locomotive of the LNER. It was the first A4 the LNER built, in 1935 it achieved a run of 112 miles an hour On 29th September 1935 Silver Link makes its inaugural journey from Kings Cross. ...

Design

The A4 pacifics (with the 4-6-2 wheel arrangement) were designed for high-speed passenger services. The application of internal streamlining to the steam circuit, higher boiler pressure and the extension of the firebox to form a combustion chamber all contributed to a more efficient locomotive than the A3, consumption of coal and water being reduced. A further improvement to the design was the double-exhaust Kylchap blastpipe first introduced on 4468 Mallard, built in March 1938. This device improved the free-steaming capabilities of the locomotives further, and the final three locomotives of the class (4901 Capercaillie, 4902 Seagull and 4903 Peregrine) were also fitted with the Kylchap exhaust from new, and eventually the rest of the class were fitted with it (by BR) in the late 1950s. The Pennsylvania Railroads class K4s, a well known 4-6-2 type. ... A selection of early 20th century locomotive types according to their Whyte notation and their comparative size The Whyte notation for classifying steam locomotives by wheel arrangement was devised by Frederick Methvan Whyte and came into use in the early 20th century. ... Coal Coal (IPA: ) is a fossil fuel formed in swamp ecosystems where plant remains were saved by water and mud from oxidization and biodegradation. ... Impact from a water drop causes an upward rebound jet surrounded by circular capillary waves. ... The Kylchap steam locomotive exhaust system was designed and patented by the famous French steam engineer André Chapelon, using a second-stage nozzle designed by the Finnish engineer Kylälä and known as the Kylälä spreader; thus the name KylChap for this design. ... The blastpipe is part of a steam locomotive that discharges exhaust steam from the cylinders into the smokebox beneath the chimney in order to increase the draught of the fire. ...

This class of locomotive was also noted for its streamlined design, which not only improved its aerodynamics, thus increasing its speed capabilities, but also created an updraught to lift smoke away from the driver's vision, a problem inherent in the earlier A3 design.^{[citation needed]} The distinctive design made it a particularly attractive subject for artists, photographers and film-makers. The A4 Class locomotives were known affectionately by train spotters as "streaks". A streamliner is any vehicle that incorporates streamlining to produce a shape that provides less resistance to air, and is more pleasing to the eye. ... This article is about the hobby of train spotting, for other uses see Trainspotting. ...

The streamlining side skirts (valances) of all the A4 locomotives were removed during the Second World War to improve access to the valve gear for maintenance and were not replaced.

World Record

Plaque on Mallard in commemoration of breaking the world speed record of 125 mph.

On July 3, 1938 4468 Mallard; the first of the class to enter service with the Kylchap exhaust, set a world speed record of 126 mph (201.2 km/h), pulling six coaches and a dynamometer car. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1878x1845, 2461 KB)Mallard speed record plate Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1878x1845, 2461 KB)Mallard speed record plate Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... is the 184th day of the year (185th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Mallard at York Number 4468 Mallard is a London and North Eastern Railway Class A4 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive built in the 1930s by the LNER and designed by Sir Nigel Gresley in England. ... The Southern Pacific Railroads dynamometer car #137, July 1937. ...

Although the dynamometer car indicated a top speed of 126 mph (202.8 km/h), Sir Nigel Gresley never accepted this as the record-breaking maximum. He claimed this speed could only have been attained over a few yards (metres), though he was comfortable that the German speed record of 124.5 mph (200.4 km/h) had been surpassed.

At the end of the record attempt, the middle big end (part of the motion for the inside cylinder) was found to have run hot, the bearing metal having melted, which meant that the locomotive had to stop at Peterborough rather than continue on to London. Deficiencies in the setup of the Gresley-Holcroft derived motion meant that the inside cylinder of the A4 did more work at high speed than the two outside cylinders, and this overloading was mostly responsible for the failure. However, given that the driving wheels went through 500 revolutions per minute at its full speed, this is perhaps forgivable.^{[citation needed]} Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority in the East of England, with an estimated population of 161,000 as of 2006. ... Designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, chief mechanical engineer of the LNER, Gresley Conjugated Valve Gear allowed a 3-cylinder locomotive to derive the valve motion for the inside cylinder from that of the outside cylinders. ...

Improved methods of aligning the Gresley conjugated valve gear in the 1950s led to tighter tolerances for the bearings used within it and consequently to almost total eradication of the overloading of the middle cylinder.

Locomotive Data

The first four locomotives included the word 'silver' in their names, because they were intended to haul the 'Silver Jubilee' train. The next batch of A4s were named after birds, particularly those that were fast flyers; Gresley being a keen ornithologist. Five (4488 - 4492) were named after commonwealth countries to haul the new Anglo-Scottish 'Coronation' train and three (4495 - 4497); intended to haul the new 'West Riding Limited' received names with 'golden' in the title, these being connected to the wool trade: Golden Fleece and Golden Shuttle, although Golden Plover's link was a little more tenuous. 60009 Union of South Africa is an LNER Class A4 steam locomotive. ... 60010 Dominion of Canada is an LNER Class A4 steam locomotive. ... 60008 Dwight D Eisenhower is an LNER Class A4 steam locomotive. ... 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley is an LNER Class A4 steam locomotive. ... 60019 Bittern is an LNER Class A4 steam locomotive. ... Number 4468 Mallard is a London and North Eastern Railway Class A4 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive built in the 1930s by the LNER and designed by Sir Nigel Gresley in Doncaster, England. ...

A4 No.4498 was the hundredth Gresley pacific to be built and someone had the idea of naming it after the designer himself, which was a nice gesture. Unfortunately however this did start a rash of renamings of other A4s, usually of directors of the LNER and many of the more obscure bird names (and a few of the better ones: Kestrel, Osprey for example) were exchanged for somewhat less inspiring names.

One Locomotive was withdrawn after a German bombing raid on York in 1942 The Second World War No.4469 Sir Ralph Wedgewood, which at the time, had been overhauled and was based at Gateshead. It was running local trains to run her in, and was stabled in York North Shed (now the NRM where it suffered a direct hit. However, its tender survived and was later coupled to a Thompson A2/1. Locomotives arranged around the turntable in the Great Hall. ... The London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) Thompson Class A2 was a class of steam locomotive designed for express passenger work. ...

The first four withdrawals were: 60014 Silver Link, 60028 Walter K Whigham, 60003 Andrew K. McCosh & 60030 Golden Fleece. The rest of the class were withdrawn over the 1962-66 period the last five in service were: 60004 William Whitelaw, 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley, 60009 Union Of South Africa, 60019 Bittern & 60024 Kingfisher, these last two named being the final two to go in September of 1966

Preservation

60009 Union of South Africa.

A total of six A4s have survived to preservation, making them more numerous in preservation than any other LNER class. Two of these are in North America; 60010 Dominion of Canada in the Canadian Railway Museum and 60008 Dwight D Eisenhower in the American National Railroad Museum. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1280x960, 556 KB) Union of South Africa in British Railways Green livery at Bridgnorth station on the Severn Valley Railway. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1280x960, 556 KB) Union of South Africa in British Railways Green livery at Bridgnorth station on the Severn Valley Railway. ... 60010 Dominion of Canada is an LNER Class A4 steam locomotive. ... The Canadian Railway Museum is a transportation museum in Saint-Constant, Quebec that has the largest collection of railway equipment (140 railway vehicles) in Canada. ... 60008 Dwight D Eisenhower is an LNER Class A4 steam locomotive. ... Chinese-built 2-8-0 on display at the National Railroad Museum on April 26, 2004. ...

60019 Bittern is an LNER Class A4 steam locomotive. ... 60019 Bittern is an LNER Class A4 steam locomotive. ... 60019 Bittern is an LNER Class A4 steam locomotive. ... 60019 Bittern is an LNER Class A4 steam locomotive. ... Taken at Alton station. ... Number 4468 Mallard is a London and North Eastern Railway Class A4 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive built in the 1930s by the LNER and designed by Sir Nigel Gresley in Doncaster, England. ... Number 4468 Mallard is a London and North Eastern Railway Class A4 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive built in the 1930s by the LNER and designed by Sir Nigel Gresley in Doncaster, England. ... Number 4468 Mallard is a London and North Eastern Railway Class A4 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive built in the 1930s by the LNER and designed by Sir Nigel Gresley in Doncaster, England. ... Number 4468 Mallard is a London and North Eastern Railway Class A4 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive built in the 1930s by the LNER and designed by Sir Nigel Gresley in Doncaster, England. ... Locomotives arranged around the turntable in the Great Hall. ... York is a city in North Yorkshire, England, at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss. ... 60009 Union of South Africa is an LNER Class A4 steam locomotive. ... 60009 Union of South Africa is an LNER Class A4 steam locomotive. ... 60009 Union of South Africa is an LNER Class A4 steam locomotive. ... 60009 Union of South Africa is an LNER Class A4 steam locomotive. ... LMS Ivatt Class 2MT 2-6-0 no. ... 60010 Dominion of Canada is an LNER Class A4 steam locomotive. ... 60010 Dominion of Canada is an LNER Class A4 steam locomotive. ... 60010 Dominion of Canada is an LNER Class A4 steam locomotive. ... 60010 Dominion of Canada is an LNER Class A4 steam locomotive. ... The Canadian Railway Museum is a transportation museum in Saint-Constant, Quebec that has the largest collection of railway equipment (140 railway vehicles) in Canada. ... 60008 Dwight D Eisenhower is an LNER Class A4 steam locomotive. ... 60008 Dwight D Eisenhower is an LNER Class A4 steam locomotive. ... 60008 Dwight D Eisenhower is an LNER Class A4 steam locomotive. ... 60008 Dwight D Eisenhower is an LNER Class A4 steam locomotive. ... Chinese-built 2-8-0 on display at the National Railroad Museum on April 26, 2004. ... It has been suggested that Green Bay Police Department be merged into this article or section. ... Official language(s) None Capital Madison Largest city Milwaukee Area  Ranked 23rd  - Total 65,498 sq mi (169,790 km²)  - Width 260 miles (420 km)  - Length 310 miles (500 km)  - % water 17  - Latitude 42°30N to 47°3N  - Longitude 86°49W to 92°54W Population  Ranked... 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley is an LNER Class A4 steam locomotive. ... 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley is an LNER Class A4 steam locomotive. ... 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley is an LNER Class A4 steam locomotive. ... 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley is an LNER Class A4 steam locomotive. ... A diesel train on the NYMR Goathland station. ...

In popular culture

A4s have appeared numerous times in popular culture:

• The 1954 British Transport Film Elizabethan Express follows the post-war revival of non-stop London to Edinburgh runs. It stars A4 No.60017 Silver Fox, and features interesting footage of the water trough and corridor tender in use.
• The 1959 version of The Thirty-Nine Steps features some wonderful colour photography of A4 No.60010 Dominion of Canada in the brunswick green livery.
• Carry on Regardless of 1961 parodied this scene, briefly featuring another A4.
• More recently, a stylised animated A4 is seen in the opening titles of the early David Suchet Poirot adaptations. This is undoubtedly based on the original art deco posters for the Silver Jubilee service.
• A similar animated A4 was seen in the opening credits of the ITV programme The South Bank Show, in which it is seen at the head of a Pullman train racing beneath Marilyn Monroe's skirts. This appears to be inspired by an art deco poster for the Coronation Scot.
• Two steam engines of this type, Mallard and Spencer, have appeared in the Thomas the Tank Engine books and TV Series, originated by the Rev. W. Awdry. Mallard is alluded to in the book "Gordon the High Speed Engine" by Christopher Awdry as one of Gordon's "Doncaster cousins" who did 126 miles an hour, before actually appearing in the later book "Thomas and the Great Railway Show." Spencer, who bears a strong resemblance to Silver Link, appears occasionally in the TV series (so far three appearances), and is portrayed as a rather snooty character.
• The locomotive 2509 Silver Link appears in an early scene in the Will Hay film, Oh! Mr. Porter, in which Hay accidentally ruins its naming ceremony.
• A painting of 22 Mallard by Paul Gribble appears on the cover of the 1993 Blur album Modern Life is Rubbish.
• The locomotive appears in the various versions of the computer game, Transport Tycoon and its sequel Chris Sawyer's Locomotion.
• The A4 Class has also appeared in all the computer games in the Railroad Tycoon series, apart from the Deluxe edition.
• An A4 appears in an animated Irn-Bru Christmas 2006 advert, a parody of The Snowman, where it is seen passing over Glenfinnan Viaduct, despite the fact that the class is too heavy for the West Highland Line [1].

Elizabethan Express was a 1954 British Transport Film that followed the non-stop British Rail service from London to Edinburgh. ... The 39 Steps is a 1959 thriller directed by Ralph Thomas, starring Kenneth More and Tania Elg based on the novel The Thirty-Nine Steps by John Buchan. ... 60010 Dominion of Canada is an LNER Class A4 steam locomotive. ... Brunswick green is a common name for green pigments made from copper compounds, although the name has also been used for other formulations that produce a similar hue, such as mixtures of chrome yellow and Prussian blue. ... Carry on Regardless is the fifth Carry on // Plot Summary for Carry On Regardless The Helping Hands agency employs some very strange people to perform some very strange jobs! Even the simplest of tasks get bungled by the incompetent but lovable staff, as they get given jobs ranging from taking... David Suchet OBE (born May 2, 1946) is an English actor best known for his television portrayal of Agatha Christies Hercule Poirot in the television series Agatha Christies Poirot. ... Agatha Christies Poirot (U.S. title Poirot) is a popular British television series starring David Suchet as Agatha Christies detective character Hercule Poirot. ... Asheville City Hall. ... It has been suggested that Channel 3 (UK) be merged into this article or section. ... The National Theatre is one of the collection of arts buildings that make up the South Bank Centre. ... The interior of a Pullman car on the Chicago and Alton Railroad circa 1900. ... Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926 – August 5, 1962), was a Golden Globe Award-winning American actress, singer, model and pop icon. ... Asheville City Hall. ... The Coronation Scot was a named express passenger train of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway inaugurated in 1937 for the Coronation of King George VI which ran until the start of the war in 1939. ... Number 4468 Mallard is a London and North Eastern Railway Class A4 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive built in the 1930s by the LNER and designed by Sir Nigel Gresley in Doncaster, England. ... Spencer Spencer is the sleekest and fastest engine ever to visit Sodor, and looks the part with his streamlined silver casing. ... Thomas the Tank Engine. ... The Reverend W. V. Awdry OBE (15 June 1911 – 21 March 1997) was a clergyman, railway enthusiast and childrens author, best known as the creator of Thomas the Tank Engine. ... Silver Link was a A4 Class locomotive of the LNER. It was the first A4 the LNER built, in 1935 it achieved a run of 112 miles an hour On 29th September 1935 Silver Link makes its inaugural journey from Kings Cross. ... A publicity shot for the film The Ghost of St. ... Oh, Mr Porter! (with minor variations in punctuation) can refer both to a song and a film inspired by the song. ... Number 4468 Mallard is a London and North Eastern Railway Class A4 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive built in the 1930s by the LNER and designed by Sir Nigel Gresley in Doncaster, England. ... An album cover is a cover used to package commercial audio recordings such as the printed cardboard covers that were typically used to package 12 gramophone records from the 1960s through to the 1980s when the 12 record was the major format for distribution of popular music. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Blur are an English rock band formed in Colchester in 1989. ... Modern Life Is Rubbish is the second album by the British rock band Blur, released on May 10 1993. ... Screenshot of Transport Tycoon Transport Tycoon (TT) and Transport Tycoon Deluxe (TTD) are computer games in which the player is in control of a transport company, and can compete against rival companies to make as much profit as possible, by transporting passengers and various goods by road, rail, sea or... Chris Sawyers Locomotion is a computer game by independent game developer Chris Sawyer. ... Screenshot from Railroad Tycoon Railroad Tycoon is an economic simulation and computer strategy game. ... Irn Bru Irn Bru is the most popular caffeinated soft drink in Scotland. ... The Snowman is a childrens book by British author Raymond Briggs, published in 1978. ... View from the Jacobite steam train in typical weather conditions. ... The West Highland Line (Scottish Gaelic: Rathad Iarainn nan Eilean - Iron Road to the Isles) is one of the most scenic railway lines in Britain, linking the fishing port of Mallaig on the west coast to Glasgow. ...

Other notable A4s

• LNER 4469 Sir Ralph Wedgwood
• LNER 2509 Silver Link

Sir Ralph Wedgwood was a A4 Class locomotive of the LNER. It was damaged during a Baedeker air raid on York during the Second World War on April 29th 1942. ... Silver Link was a A4 Class locomotive of the LNER. It was the first A4 the LNER built, in 1935 it achieved a run of 112 miles an hour On 29th September 1935 Silver Link makes its inaugural journey from Kings Cross. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Preserved LNER Class A4 steam locomotives

• LNER Encyclopedia Page covering the history and development of the LNER A4 Pacifics
• Detailed list of the names, numbers and production dates of LNER A4 locomotives
• Railuk database
• Screenshots from Elizabethan Express

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... The Wikimedia Commons (also called Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ...