The Mallard that Didn't Quack!

This week i read the story that the A4 Pacific class steam engine Bittern is to be allowed to travel at 90 miles an hour even though steam engines are normally limited to 75 mph in England.

If you don't know this class of engine, take a look and you will see why The Mallard has been my favourite steam engine since i was a child.

I can't remember the year it happened but The Mallard was being used to pull a train going to Blackpool (?) snd it was going to pass through but not stop at my home town, Todmorden.

That was a real highlight. The Mallard duly arrived and, bliss and rapture, was held at a signal as it turned onto the Burnley line so we got to admire it for that bit longer.

No photos to mark the event. Then again, i should search the archives of the Tod Rag to see if they kept theirs!

There was an oaf and a rebel that day. As the train stopped, this clown ripped up a small piece of paper and chewed it. He then took the pump from the bike he was riding, drew the pump handle back and stuffed the soggy paper in the outlet at the end of the pump. He then pushed the handle back with great force and the paper pellet turned ballistic, doing no damage and causing no harm to anyone. Made him feel big I suppose.

The Mallard ... fantastic engine.

DW 

UPDATE: 30th September 1961 ...

"A4 'Mallard' turns onto the Burnley line with the Alan Pegler sponsored 'Northern Rubber' special on 30 September 1961. The caption suggests that the A4 left the WD banker 'standing' but in fact the banker in the shape of 90348 banked in the normal manner, and there is photographic evidence by E F Bentley showing the WD buffered up to the Devon Belle observation car and under way at the rear of the train."

Taken from a book referred to here:

http://www.hall-royd-junction.co.uk/Hall_Royd_Prototype/Bibliography.html