Mallard

Mallard
First Appearence	Flash Gordon
Creator(s)	Christopher Awdry
Character Overview
Name(s)	Mallard
Nicknames	The Fastest Steam Engine in the World (by Gordon)
Gender(s)	Male
Country	The Mainland
Current Status	Displayed
Relative(s)	Gordon (cousin) Spencer (twin brother) Flying Scotsman (cousin) Ryan (cousin)
Friends	Gordon Spencer Flying Scotsman
Technical Details
Basis	Mallard LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard
Gauge	Standard Gauge
Power type	Steam
Vehicle	Locomotive
Type	Tender engine
Fuel type	Coal
Configuration	4-6-2
Wheels	20
Top Speed	126 mph
Designer(s)	Sir Nigel Gresley
Builder(s)	LNER Doncaster Works
Year built/Age	March 3, 1938 (age 80)
Arrived on Sodor	2018
Visited Sodor	August 2018
Number	4468 98868 (TOPS Number)
Owner(s)	National Railway Museum

Mallard is the world's fastest steam engine, holding a speed record of 126 mph. He is a very popular exhibit at The National Railway Museum in York, and is very well looked after. He is 1 of 6 surviving A4s. 

Bio:

Mallard was built on 3rd March 1938, at Doncaster Works under the London and North Eastern Railway. On the 3rd of July that year, while undergoing tests, he established a world speed record of 126 mph. He was renumbered to 22 by Edward Thompson's number scheme in 1946, then E22 in the Locomotive Exchange Trials and finally to 60022 in British Railways days.

After the decline of steam, Mallard was immediately preserved and Put on display at the Museum of British Transport in Clapham, London. In 1975 he was taken to The National Railway Museum, where he sat until 1986, when he was overhauled and taken onto the Main Line. In 1988, the 50th anniversary of his record, he was retired and put back on display. He has not run since.

It was announced in March 2010 that Mallard was to be moved to Locomotion, The National Railway Museum in Shildon, on 23rd June 2010. He was pulled by the brand new steam locomotive Tornado; his departure from the museum was a result of the planned redevelopment of the NRM's Great Hall, which was cancelled due to unsuccessful funding.

Mallard returned to York in July 2011. He was due to travel to the DB Museum in Nuremberg, Germany for a speed exhibition later in the year, but due to expenses, the event was cancelled. Mallard was one of the engines at Railfest in June 2012.

Mallard celebrated the 75th Anniversary of his World Speed Record in 2013, with all of his Preserved A4 Siblings. As well as Mallard receiving a new coat of LNER garter blue, his two transatlantic A4 siblings, No. 4489 Dominion of Canada and No. 60008 Dwight D. Eisenhower were both temporarily shipped back to the United Kingdom to take part in the anniversary (both returned in spring 2014). The event was also attended by fellow siblings No. 4464 Bittern, No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley, and No. 60009 Union of South Africa.

In The Summer of 2018, Mallard visited Sodor to take part in The Great Railway Show, but he didn't make any new friends fast. He was arrogant, and rude, and was constantly looking to put down the other engines.

But things went too far when Mallard decided to rest in Vicarstown Sheds before he had to go to the mainland and compete in the speed competition. Ashima, Ivan and Vinnie were sleeping with him as well. But when the wind picked up (Ashima and Ivan evacuated the sheds. The doors slammed shut and Mallard woke up). Mallard thought it would be time to head to the mainland for his competition, but Gator and Toby tried to convince the speed demon that getting on the spinning turntable was going to be quite a challenge (the wind was so powerful, that the turntable bridge was spinning on it's own). But Mallard objected their pleads, and claimed that once he got on it, he will put an end to its rotating. But Toby and Gator declined to THAT sense of bravery. The argument continued until Vinnie woke up with all the commotion. Vinnie told Mallard to get out of the sheds, when Spencer puffed in. He was on his way to watch Mallard race, but Mallard was now fed up. He told Spencer to try and jam the turntable so he could get on. But Spencer denied his brother's favour. He wanted Mallard to do that himself. But Mallard declined THAT favour, too. So, to settle the argument, Vinnie volunteered to do stick his buffers out and try to jam the turntable.

It took a while, but the turntable eventually spun in his direction, and Vinnie managed to get his wheels on the tracks. But Mallard got so desperate for his race, that he moved forward, shoving Vinnie off the track and into Spencer, derailing them and blocking his path. His smile faded abruptly. But the wind, however was still howling, and Mallard could feel he tender being constricted as the turntable tried to turn. But it couldn't take the pressure and the tender was ripped from the tracks, overturning and trapping Toby and Gator. Now he had really done it this time.

By nightfall, the workmen could remove Mallard and his tender from the turntable. He was going to need extensive repairs with a badly bent frame. The Fat Controller... (That's Sir Topham Hatt to you.) (Oh, sorry.) Sir Topham Hatt scowled Mallard, and Spencer pushed him back to the Mainland so that he could be repaired and put back on display.

Technical Details:

Basis:

Mallard is Based on The Real LNER A4 4-6-2 Pacific of The Same name, No. 4468 Mallard.

Livery:

Mallard is currently Painted in The London and North Eastern Railway's Garter Blue Livery with Red Wheels and Steel Rims. He has Black Nameplates with his name in gold and plaques on both sides of his boiler commemorating his world record. In British Railway service, Mallard first wore The British Railways' Garter Blue Livery, followed by The Express Passenger Blue Livery. He Then wore The British Railways' Brunswick Green Livery for the rest of his working life and for a brief period in August 2012, was Painted in the Wartime Black Livery.

Appearances:

• Season 15: Flash Gordon, Toby's Turntable Fable, Polar Express Coming Through! (mentioned)
• Season 16: Bulstrode Barges In (not named; does not speak)

United Kingdom

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