This rather graceful locomotive was a much earlier locomotive used on express passenger work on the southern part of the route where 'Mallard' would later become famous. This locomotive could pull trains of up to 275 tons at an average of 50 miles per hour (80 km per hour). With lighter trains it could reach 85 miles per hour (135 km per hour).
Built in 1870, the first of 53 locomotives constructed to this design at Doncaster locomotive works, it was designed by Patrick Stirling, and was one of a number of simular designs produced on various railways around that time.
The large driving wheel gave it a good turn of speed on the light weight trains of the time. The driving wheel is 8ft 1inch (2.46 metre) diameter. Though they were a great success, they could not cope with heavier trains that came into use. This example was preserved, in the original York railway museum, and later, from 1975 in the current York railway museum.
It has had two periods in use during its time in preservation, first in the 1930s. and then again in the early 1980s.
It also became an unlikely star of the theatre, appearing in York Theatre Royal's stage-performance of The Railway Children play, in which it was seen to move into a stage set of a period station, created initially at the National Railway Museum in 2008-9, and then in the redundant Waterloo International station in 2010-11. Later performances in other locations used a different locomotive. The locomotive appeared to be in steam for its 'performances', though it was actually a steam generator that was used to produce the effect.
What an impressive locomotive. That large wheel is really quite decorative on the wheel arch. They certainly built things with style back in the day. Great shot.
Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.
It would be fascinating to see a graceful locomotive like this at work, though it is unlikely that this locomotive will be restored again.
Ian
Thank you Vesna, it is an attractive machine isn't it?
Ian