Press Office
National Railway Museum prepares for 2008 Summer of Steam
The National Railway Museum (NRM) in York is starting to put together plans for a summer of steam for 2008.
From 24 May to 1 June 2008 the Museum is going to be hosting an event to mark the 40th anniversary of the last steam hauled passenger train in 1968 and as part of the event visitors will see the newly restored NRM locomotive Oliver Cromwell as the star of the show!
Visiting locomotives and vehicles from around the country will assemble at the Museum to mark the anniversary of the last days of mainline steam, the survivals and revivals that followed and the effects felt by the people and communities involved. More details will be available in the coming months.
A month later, on 5 and 6 July 2008, the NRM will be host to one of the most spectacular sights in the history of steam locomotive preservation, when the Museum welcomes 3 operational ‘A4’ Class locomotives to stand side-by-side with the world record holding Mallard.
Every enthusiast will want to see this rare photo opportunity to record the sight of four streamlined locomotives on show at the NRM in York.
This unique sight will be part of an event to mark the anniversary of the record-breaking run by Mallard in 1938. A journey will be hauled from London to Edinburgh and back, via York, on 5 and 6 July 2008 - the weekend closest to the anniversary. The remaining three operational ‘A4’ Class locomotives in the UK will be used to haul different stretches of this journey. This journey will be organised by Steam Dreams.
Director of the National Railway Museum, Andrew Scott, said:
“In this year of anniversaries there seems no better way of celebrating the 70th anniversary of Mallard's world record than by bringing the 'A4s' together in such a spectacular way. At the NRM we are delighted to participate in this historic reunion at York that will allow both travellers and visitors to experience a remarkable event."
Notes to Editors
- The ‘A4’ trips will be run by Steam Dreams. For further information please contact 01483 209888 or visit www.steamdreams.com
- Mallard holds the world speed record for steam traction on rail. The record was set on the 3rd July 1938 when the locomotive was recorded travelling at 126 mph.
- For the ‘A4’ Class event, the three operational locomotives involved will be Union of South Africa, Bittern and Sir Nigel Gresley.
- These ‘A4’ Class locomotives are remarkable for being surviving examples of 1930s streamlined railway locomotives.
31 August 2008