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| Mallard anniversary: Steam locomotive Bittern marks record run | Mallard anniversary: Steam locomotive Bittern marks record run |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A 1937 steam locomotive has run along the section of track where a another locomotive set an unbeaten world record 75 years ago. | A 1937 steam locomotive has run along the section of track where a another locomotive set an unbeaten world record 75 years ago. |
| Bittern, an A4-class engine, a contemporary of Mallard, the world's fastest steam locomotive, set off from King's Cross station for York. | Bittern, an A4-class engine, a contemporary of Mallard, the world's fastest steam locomotive, set off from King's Cross station for York. |
| Mallard set a record speed of 126mph near Grantham on 3 July 1938, which remains unbeaten to this day. | Mallard set a record speed of 126mph near Grantham on 3 July 1938, which remains unbeaten to this day. |
| Up to 250 people are on board the train, expected to reach 90mph. | |
| It had been given special permission by authorities for the run to exceed the 75mph limit for steam trains. | |
| Steam locomotives were phased out in the late 1960s. | Steam locomotives were phased out in the late 1960s. |
| Bittern set off from platform four at King's Cross at 07:30 BST, stopping at Potters Bar in Hertfordshire, to pick up more passengers. | Bittern set off from platform four at King's Cross at 07:30 BST, stopping at Potters Bar in Hertfordshire, to pick up more passengers. |
| Richard Corser, general manager at organiser Locomotive Services Ltd, said: "Today is the culmination of a lot of months of preparation to make this happen, to go at a high speed and to give the passengers a bit of a flavour of what high-speed steam was like. | Richard Corser, general manager at organiser Locomotive Services Ltd, said: "Today is the culmination of a lot of months of preparation to make this happen, to go at a high speed and to give the passengers a bit of a flavour of what high-speed steam was like. |
| "This country's very famous for its engineering skills and steam was its cradle." | "This country's very famous for its engineering skills and steam was its cradle." |
| Bittern and Mallard are two of 35 A4s designed by engineer Sir Nigel Gresley, but only six survive. | Bittern and Mallard are two of 35 A4s designed by engineer Sir Nigel Gresley, but only six survive. |
| The surviving locomotives will be reunited at the National Railway Museum in York to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Mallard's record on 3 July. | The surviving locomotives will be reunited at the National Railway Museum in York to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Mallard's record on 3 July. |
| Dominion of Canada was shipped from Montreal last October while Dwight D Eisenhower has reached York from the US and both have been restored for the anniversary. | Dominion of Canada was shipped from Montreal last October while Dwight D Eisenhower has reached York from the US and both have been restored for the anniversary. |
| Union of South Africa and the Sir Nigel Gresley will also join them at the museum. | Union of South Africa and the Sir Nigel Gresley will also join them at the museum. |
| Anthony Coulls, the museum's senior curator of rail vehicle collections, said: "What we're planning is a major celebration - people will be coming from four corners of the Earth. | Anthony Coulls, the museum's senior curator of rail vehicle collections, said: "What we're planning is a major celebration - people will be coming from four corners of the Earth. |
| "The gathering of the six locomotives is the jewel in the crown." | "The gathering of the six locomotives is the jewel in the crown." |