Old and new together in historic railway link-up

Pride and nostalgia went hand in hand as the museum provided the backdrop to the spectacle of one of Britain's best known steam engines, Mallard, being towed by the newest – the 3m A1 Pacific loco Tornado,

Mallard, an icon of Britain's rail past, was departing the museum in York for its much anticipated journey to its sister site, Locomotion in Shildon, County Durham.

Mallard is famous for breaking the world speed record for steam traction, reaching a speed of 126mph in July 1938.

Tornado was built over almost 20 years by the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust in Darlington.

The tantalising prospect of seeing two of the most famous names in steam side by side attracted railway enthusiasts from far and wide.

Museum director Steve Davies said: "I'm so pleased so many Mallard and Tornado fans made their way to York to witness their historic meeting and subsequent journey up the mainline."

Ahead of her departure, Mallard has spent much of this month in the museum workshop, where staff from both York and Shildon carried out painstaking preparations for the journey north.

The locomotive was given a full "fitness to run" examination, and all the mechanical parts were minutely checked, including both connecting rods and all 28 of the axle box bearing oil pads.

Finally, the two steam giants were united for the first time at midday on Tuesday in the museum car park, giving visitors an opportunity to get up close before their historic journey.

The build-up to the departure was steeped in nostalgia for Simon Smith from Hertfordshire – his grandfather was the assigned driver for Mallard back in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

Alf Smith, who was based at Kings Cross, London, always drove with his nameplate affixed to the side of the locomotive cab. He was a celebrity of his day, having met many famous people and been interviewed by the likes of Richard Dimbleby.

The family recently rediscovered Alf's nameplate and as a tribute to all those who drove the Mallard, museum staff carried the nameplate on the footplate as she travelled up to her new temporary home.

Simon Smith said: "Knowing granddad's nameplate is travelling on Mallard's footplate means the world to me. To the family it will be as if he was back 'cabside' himself, just as he was pictured by the Daily Mirror in his prime."

Also travelling on the footplate was the winner of the museum's free prize draw, John Baistow, 55, from York.

The chairman of the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, Mark Allatt, added: "It is a great honour for Tornado, very much 'the new kid on the block', to be associated with Mallard's move from the NRM to Locomotion."

At Shildon, work was due to start today and continue through tomorrow to get Mallard ready for display, including deep cleaning and the refitting of the connecting rods.

Mallard will be shunted into position tomorrow afternoon, ready for visitors to see from Saturday.

Museum director Mr Davies is hoping more people with a special connection to the locomotive send their stories to [email protected]