Geograph - photograph every grid square

The 'World's Fastest Steam Locomotive' , 'Mallard' with a transitional number, at King's Cross in 1948

View westward to 'Bottom' Locomotive Yard from York Road platform. 'Mallard', which had achieved its record of 126 mph on 3/7/38, was one of three Gresley A4 Pacifics chosen for the 1948 Exchange Trials comparing the performance of the best engines of the Big Four Railways on each other's lines soon after Nationalisation. Here just before the trials it is freshly painted in garter-blue with its new number '22' in stainless steel and an 'E' (for Eastern) painted above the number. Naturally, 'Mallard' was preserved after withdrawal in 4/63 and is exhibited in the National Collection at Shildon. On the left is one of the N2 0-6-2Ts and on the right an N1 0-6-2T - the work-horses of suburban and empty stock duties.