Magnificent Mallard: The world's fastest steam locomotive

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23137106

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Three-quarters of a century ago, a locomotive built in Doncaster set a world speed record for steam rail travel on a stretch of track just south of Grantham. That 1938 record - of 126 miles per hour - remains to this day.

To mark the 75th anniversary of the achievement, the National Railway Museum in York has arranged for Mallard to meet its five surviving sister locomotives from the A4 Class - which ran on the East Coast Mainline from the 1930s to the 1960s.

Ahead of the museum's Great Gathering on Wednesday 3 July - look back at how the record was set, with one of the museum's curators Ed Bartholomew.

Mallard and the other five surviving A4 Class locomotives can be seen at the National Railway Museum, York, from 3-17 July 2013.

All images subject to copyright. Images courtesy Getty Images, Press Association and National Railway Museum.

Music by KPM Music. Slideshow production by Paul Kerley. Publication date 2 July 2013.

National Railway Museum - York