Mallard and the A4-Pacifics

‘Mallard’ and its fellow A4-Pacifics is a story of Britain learning from the USA, Germany, Finland, France and other countries, then building on what had been done for more speed - and winning. By the mid 1930s, speed and ‘streamlining’ gripped people’s minds. Railways found themselves caught up in this too. Trying to do something about it, Nigel Gresley, who was the man in charge of designing the A4-Pacifics, sought ideas in Germany and France. He came back to Britain with the answer - to streamline these locomotives like a racing car. It was a great success. Then people wanted to know how fast Mallard could go.