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Mallard is the world's fastest steam engine, holding a speed record of 126 mph. He is a very popular exhibit at the National Railway Museum in York and is very well looked after. He is one of six surviving A4s. 

Biography

Gordon was jealous when he heard about high-speed diesel engines on the Other Railway and boasted that he can go faster. He would refer to how one of his Doncaster cousins, Mallard, reached the speed of 126 mph.[1]

Mallard was one of the many engines Thomas met when he was invited to visit the National Railway Museum. When a special railtour to the seaside was announced, the other engines were upset when Mallard argued that he should be chosen to pull the train. He stated that the seaside place helped to pay for his repairs prior. In the end, Green Arrow and Thomas chosen.[2]

Personality

In The Thomas the Tank Engine Man, Mallard is described to be a rather snooty-looking engine. In Character Encyclopedia, he is referred to as being Spencer's famous brother.

Technical Details

Real-life History

Mallard is a LNER A4 4-6-2 Pacific and built at Doncaster Works on 3 March, 1938. On 3 July of that year, while undergoing a braking test, Mallard established a world speed record of 126 mph. Mallard was specifically chosen for the record attempt, as he was the first A4 to be fitted with a Kylchap double blastpipe exhaust.

After the decline of steam, Mallard was immediately preserved and put on display at the Museum of British Transport in Clapham, London. In 1975, he was taken to the National Railway Museum. In 1988, the 50th anniversary of his record, he worked a series of railtours under the banner "Mallard 88", which included work on the Settle and Carlisle line before he was retired and put back on display.

In 2013, Mallard celebrated the 75th anniversary of his world speed record, with all of his preserved A4 siblings. As well as Mallard being painted in the LNER garter blue livery, his two transatlantic A4 siblings, No. 4489 Dominion of Canada and No. 60008 Dwight D. Eisenhower were both temporarily shipped back to England to take part in the anniversary (both returned in spring 2014). The event was also attended by fellow siblings No. 4464 Bittern, No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley, and No. 60009 Union of South Africa.

Livery

Mallard is currently painted in the LNER garter blue livery. His wheels and steel rims are painted red. He has black nameplates with "MALLARD" on them in brass and plaques on the sides of his boiler commemorating his world record. In British Railways (BR) service without wheel skirts, Mallard was first repainted into express passenger blue. He was then painted in the BR Deep Bronze green livery for the rest of his working life. For a brief period in August 2012, Mallard was painted in the LNER wartime black livery.

Appearances

Voice Actors

Trivia

  • In the 1999 annual, Mallard incorrectly has the number 4489, which belongs to classmate Dominion of Canada, which is also preserved. Dominion of Canada is unique in that he has a brass bell mounted on his smokebox, directly below his funnel and flush with his whistle.
  • Unlike his brother, Spencer, Mallard has side valances partially covering his wheels. Spencer does not have side valances, much like how the A4s looked post-1941.
  • In the Thomas Creator Collective, Mallard's HO scale model was made from a Bachmann Spencer.

Gallery

The Railway Series

Main Series

Miscellaneous

Thomas & Friends

Miscellaneous

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