Mallard and the A4 Class

Designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, the 35 members of the 'A4' class of Pacific locomotive built for the London & North Eastern Railway are among the most iconic locomotives ever built in Britain. With their streamlined looks, the new locomotives epitomised the styling of the 1930s when they were introduced to the East Coast main line and brought a revolution in speed to services between London and the West Riding, the North-East and Scotland. One of the class - No 4468 Mallard - has an additional claim to fame: in July 1938, Mallard broke the world speed record for a steam locomotive, set by a German design two years earlier, achieving 126mph on Stoke Bank and is a record that still stands today.

Published to co-incide with the 70th anniversary of the record run on 3rd July 1938, Mallard and the A4 Class is a pictorial tribute not only to one of the most famous locomotives ever built, but also to the rest of this enduringly popular class. With over 160 colour and mono illustrations, the book explores the origins and operational record of the locomotives both in LNER and BR service and in preservation.

Compiled by David McIntosh, a professional railwayman whose involvement in the operation of preserved steam on the main line gives him a unique perspective on the class, this lovely book is a vivid portrait of some of the best-loved locomotives ever built in Britain. This is a book which will certainly appeal to all those with an interest in the history of LNER locomotives, but in a wider sense will be fascinating reading for anyone who wants to know more about this class of record breaking steam locomotives.