Mallard and Tornado tomorrow.

[CallySleeperKid]

Times are up for tomorrows movement of Mallard from NRM at York to NRM at Shildon.

http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t10/t0623p.htm

Mallard will be dead in tow behind Tornado, departing York NRM at 14.50, arriving Shildon at 17.29, with Tornado returning (19.19) via York (arrive 22.29, depart 23.44) to Crewe (03.20).

No doubt this movement will be videoed and photographed all along the run, I was just wondering if anyone from the site was going along to see it?

Will more than likely be a once in a lifetime movement, and a chance to see Mallard out on the mainline once again, where she belongs!

Gutted I can't make it along somewhere along the line, in all honesty, I totally forgot about it!

 

[wensley]

I live in Northallerton so will most definately be going along - can't wait, am hoping for some good pictures

 

[CallySleeperKid]

I live in Northallerton so will most definately be going along - can't wait, am hoping for some good pictures

Yeah, ill be looking forward to seeing some photos and videos tomorrow night, I would imagine there will be plenty popping up.

 

[Geezertronic]

I imagine that for all the respectful photographers there will be the usual village idiots that appear during special movements like this, hopefully they won't wreak it for the masses...

 

[wensley]

Quite true. I'm off into the countryside as there will undoubtedly be a load of idiots at stations messing about and spoiling this event for everyone.

 

[Templecombe]

who cares Tornado isn't worthy of pulling Mallard

 

[TheExmoorBeast]

Ah, I wondered what that was about! I passed the NRM yesterday after a trip to Durham (lovely place!) and saw them both outside the halls with a crowd around them both and Tornado being given a wash & polish!

 

[Geezertronic]

who cares Tornado isn't worthy of pulling Mallard

Would you care to tell us all why?

 

[4468]

Mallard is the greatest loco and I think it should go all around the UK and maybe one day also run under its own steam.

 

[wensley]

Here she is:
http://www.clagmonster.fotopic.net/c1864134_1.html

 

[CallySleeperKid]

Here she is:
http://www.clagmonster.fotopic.net/c1864134_1.html

Congratulations, first photo posted! Looks superb.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
A few videos appeared on Youtube already, got to be the pick......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CE8qed3t2NU

Also one from the official NRM channel.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW93hsrkaQE

Both of good quality and must be the pick of what's online so far, but am expecting a hell of a lot more before the nights out.

 

[43167]

Had a busy couple of days with these 2. Went to see them on display yesterday. And today went to saw them in the yard & then depart York & arrive at Darlington. Quite a crowd turned out at Darlington to see them, not just enthusiasts ethier. Did the 1400 KX-AB HST and was able to get a photo from the train.

Full marks to NR who put them in the loop at Darlington and giving everyone a chance of getting some good shots.

 

[Vulcan]

I went to york today, not expecting to go to the museum, but I did anyway. I saw Tornado, Mallard and Prince William leave, and took these pics:

and a video of them departing:


In the Great Hall, Gladstone has taken Mallard's position at the front. It's nice, but it doesn't fill the gap quite as well as the A4

The convoy went forwards out of the yard, then reveresed into York station, then went back out with Tornado leading towards Darlington. This was about the time I was leaving the museum, and I overheard one 'expert' in the car park who had just seen it tell his companions 'Did you see that? There was a Great Western green engine, an LNER blue Mallard, a coach and a diesel' :roll:

Also, I eat my words about what the NRM has done with the turntable. Its not a theatre thing at all, but an exhibition about the railways' involvement in shipping; The turntable has been decked out (no pun intended) to look like a ferry, and people can walk though it to see the exhibition.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

I used to travel between Edinburgh and London on trains hauled by Mallard and the rest of the class. Even more often, would simply see them at locations around Edinburgh, where I grew up.

Mallard is the greatest loco and I think it should go all around the UK and maybe one day also run under its own steam.

A lovely idea! Tho' unlikely, as we probably all know.

It/She does provoke some extreme views at times - it's probably worth remembering that although Mallard did, technically, break the speed record for a steam locomotive, it was under very contrived and, ultimately, disasterous circumstances.

I don't want to lower our admiration of those fine machines, but that so-called speed-record was the result of weeks of testing trial runs, at ever increasing speeds, running south from Doncaster, and with out-of-service short trains, while the line was clear of any other services. These carried only staff, a "dynometer car" to record the speed and pressures, and empty stock which was only there to assist with breaking.
On the Sunday afternoon in question, she was simply pushed too hard, down Stoke Bank with just 6 coaches behind in an attempt to see just how fast the set could go, and then, to measure how well the complete consist could break and come to a stand.
All of you familiar with the ECML know that Stoke is the steepest descent on the English part of the line. And when it comes to speed, gravity always helps!

In fact, what happened that afternoon was, that the prior speed record was exceeded, but in the process, the big end of her/its central cylinder failed. And that was the end of it. The power drive to the wheels was broken. The test had failed.
Mallard had to be draged back to Doncaster. Rather the same as she/it was dragged today!

Mallard is a fine icon for engineering achievement, and also looks very, very elegant. But mechanically, it wasn't quite as robust and powerful a machine as we've become to remember her/it.

 

[Bittern]

Mallard is the greatest loco and I think it should go all around the UK

That would be a problem in Northern Ireland.

 

[Vulcan]

That would be a problem in Northern Ireland.

haha, nahh, It'd just be a bit bumpy as it rattles over the sleepers

 

[Bittern]

<Snip>

But none of that matters. The fact is Mallard did to 126 mph. It doesn't matter if she was hauling staff + dynometer car, passengers + ninjas or whatever, nor does it matter that she was pushed "too hard". The simple fact is she made the 126 mph and thus broke the record.

 

[Vulcan]

I think the point was Mallard did 126.5mph by chance, rather then by design. And we have forgotten this slightly and the loco now has this 'all powerful' image that it perhaps doesn't quite fully deserve.

Don't get me wrong though, I absolutely love the thing. Its possibly my favourite individual steam loco of all time and I was saddened to see it leave York to go live at that poor excuse of a museum Shildon.

On a similar theme.... I bet Tornado could beat the record if it had the chance.

 

[Bittern]

I don't think Steam locos will be getting the chance to come near that record anytime soon.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

. . . and I was saddened to see it leave York to go live at that poor excuse of a museum Shildon.

I wonder if we'll see property prices start to climb upwards in Shildon Village now?

What with all the Mallard admirers felling better by being closer to their beauty?

(Nah. Probably not)

 

[Vulcan]

I don't think Steam locos will be getting the chance to come near that record anytime soon.

I dunno, if Tornado was somehow allowed onto HS1, I bet it could get close at the very least. However that said, I wouldn't it to take Mallard's crown.

 

[Bittern]

As much as it pleases me to see Mallard out in the oipen again (even if it is only in videos behind Tornado and *shudder* a 47) I am severly gutted Mallard's been moved. She was my big reason for wanting to visit the NRM at York. Now if I go and she's not there, it'll just feel a bit...empty.

Edit: I also didn't know that Tornado was back in steam. Good to see!

 

[43167]

Must admit. When I was in the Main Hall and not seeing Mallard in its place was strange. However if the NRM wants to occasionally move locos between its 2 sites then surely Shildon deserves to host the collections centre piece for a while

Its not moved forever, its for 18months to 2 years while the NRM does some work in the Main Hall.

 

[networkrail1]

just out of curiosity why couldnt mallard be rebuilt to run again.

 

[wensley]

I have got the videos up now

5Z48 with "Mallard" in train passing Birkby
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO0PCNgbVv8&feature=channel

5Z37 return with 60163 leading at Low Gates, Northallerton
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sds3N63WvDw&feature=channel

 

[Vulcan]

just out of curiosity why couldnt mallard be rebuilt to run again.

It could, but when theres already Bittern, Sir Nigel Gresley and Union of South Africa (basicly every other preserved A4 in the UK) in mainline running condition, theres not a lot of point in rebuilding Mallard to run as well.

 

[John Webb]

There's no doubt that 'Mallard' was deliberately taken out in 1938 to beat the world steam record then existing, I certainly don't think it can be called 'chance' as Vulcan above says. There is now much documented evidence from that day showing how under the disguise of 'braking tests' there was every effort to ensure the record would be broken.
Yes, 'Mallard' suffered damage as a result, but it was a problem the A4s faced even in service running during their life-time.

 

[Bittern]

It could, but when theres already Bittern, Sir Nigel Gresley and Union of South Africa (basicly every other preserved A4 in the UK) in mainline running condition, theres not a lot of point in rebuilding Mallard to run as well.

The thing I'm not too pleased with is that they're all in BR liveries. Bitten and Union in BR Green and Sir Nigel in BR Blue. Mallard would at least add some kind of variety to it with her LNER Garter blue.

Or they could at least restore one of the running A4s to Garter Blue. Union's out for restoration now, isn't she? A perfect chance for a change of livery right there,

 

[Vulcan]

There's no doubt that 'Mallard' was deliberately taken out in 1938 to beat the world steam record then existing, I certainly don't think it can be called 'chance' as Vulcan above says. There is now much documented evidence from that day showing how under the disguise of 'braking tests' there was every effort to ensure the record would be broken.
Yes, 'Mallard' suffered damage as a result, but it was a problem the A4s faced even in service running during their life-time.

What I was saying is, the engine was pushed beyond its limits to achieve that speed, rather then it really being designed to go that fast. It was only by chance that the driver decided to ignore the smell of overheating bearings and push Mallard further to take the record. Also bear in mind that the loco didn't have a speedo in LNER days, so the driver wouldn't have known until seeing the dynamometer car readings how fast he had gone. Had it been another, less brave, driver behind the regulator, he may have eased off sooner and things would have turned out a lot differently.

 

[CallySleeperKid]

I have got the videos up now

5Z48 with "Mallard" in train passing Birkby
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO0PCNgbVv8&feature=channel

5Z37 return with 60163 leading at Low Gates, Northallerton
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sds3N63WvDw&feature=channel

A couple of good quality videos there mate.