LOCOMOTIVES CREATE HISTORY IN YORK
History will be created in York next week when the city plays host to some spectacular sights at the National Railway Museum (NRM). Two of the world’s most famous steam locomotives, Mallard and Tornado, will be united in the Museum’s car park on 22 June to give visitors an amazing opportunity to get up close to them, before they travel together to Locomotion, the NRM’s sister Museum in Shildon, County Durham, on 23 June.
Mallard is one of the most well known steam locomotives in the world - famous for breaking the world speed record for steam traction by reaching a speed of 126mph on 3 July 1938. Tornado, the new £3m Peppercorn class A1 pacific steam locomotive, was built over almost 20 years by The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust in Darlington. Frequently headlined in the press and on TV, 60163 Tornado was the subject of a BBC documentary ‘Absolutely Chuffed: The Men Who Built a Steam Engine’ and starred in an episode of ‘Top Gear’.
Steve Davies, Director of the NRM, said: "It’s going to be a spectacular sight and we’d love for Mallard and Tornado fans to come along to the Museum to watch them leave together on 23 June. Fitting in with mainline operating schedules means that we won’t know exactly when Mallard will leave until nearer the time. But the public are welcome to witness the occasion no matter what time it occurs. If it ends up being in the early hours of the morning, we realise that it won’t be possible for everyone to come along which is why we’re displaying the locomotives in our car park from 11am on Tuesday 22 June. This will give more people a chance to see Mallard and Tornado together up close and have the opportunity to take some impressive photos, which I’m sure they will treasure for a long time.”
Mallard at York in 1986 - Ian McDonald
The Museum will be open for visitors to use the toilets, and refreshments will be available from a food and drinks van on site leading up to the departure of the Mallard and Tornado. Full details including time of departure from the Museum will be announced nearer the time. Keep an eye on www.nrm.org.uk/mallard for more details coming soon.
For more information contact:
Louise McKenzie, Press Officer, NRM
01904 686281