Railway museum sets Mallard on track for steam gala date

THE record-breaking Mallard locomotive is to be displayed away from National Railway Museum sites for the first time since the 1980s, with the engine released for an appearance at a historic steam event later this month.
By The Newsroom
Published 2nd Apr 2012, 07:00 BST

Mallard will be among the star attractions at the Barrow Hill Steam Gala over the weekend starting April 13 and the decision by NRM to release the locomotive is regarded as a coup for the north Derbyshire museum, based around the last remaining operational ‘roundhouse’ on England’s railway system.

The engine, built in Doncaster in 1938, holds the world speed record for a steam locomotive and was in service until 1963, but since the 1980s has been displayed only at the NRM museum at York or its premises at Shilden.

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Barrow Hill spokeswoman Alexa Stott said: “There was talk last year of it touring Germany, but that didn’t come off. It is a coup for us, the NRM have put their faith in us. This event will appeal not just to steam enthusiasts, but also to families.

“Thousands of people come to our events. I think it was felt that we were to be trusted and that if it was going to go anywhere, Barrow Hill was the place it should go.”

The Barrow Hill roundhouse, or turntable, was saved as a museum in the 1990s.

Tickets for the show, over three days, are available by telephone 0844 581 4939.

Related topics:DoncasterEnglandDerbyshire