'The Mallard', London & North Eastern Railway locomotive no 4468, 1938.
© National Railway Museum / Science & Society Picture Library -- All rights reserved
On Sunday 3rd July 1938, The Mallard raced past Little Bytham at 123 mph (198 kmh), then over the next 1and a quarter miles (2 km) its speed rose until for one quarter mile (0.4 km) stretch it touched 126 mph, (203 kmh). The Mallard had achieved a world speed record for steam traction. It is seen here outside the National Railway Museum in York in 1993. The A4 Pacific clas Mallard was designed by Sir Nigel Gresley (1876-1941), the chief engineer of the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER).