Great Steam Trains: 4. Mallard & the A4 Pacifics

Disgrifiad Cymraeg / Welsh Description

Mae stori'r trenau Mallard a'r A4-Pacifics yn un am Brydain yn dysgu gan UDA, Yr Almaen, Y Ffindir, Ffrainc a gwledydd eraill, gan adeiladu ar hynny yng nghyswllt cyflymder - ac ennill. Erbyn canol y 1930au, roedd teithio'n gyflym wedi gafael yn nychymyg pobl a chafodd byd y rheilfyrdd ei gario gan y cyffro hwn.

Disgrifiad Saesneg / English Description

Mallard & 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 gripped people's minds. Railways found themselves caught up in this too. Trying to do something about it, they, sought ideas in Germany and France.

Dosbarthu

Byddwn yn dosbarthu eitemau sydd mewn stoc o fewn 3 diwrnod gwaith, fel arfer drwy Royal Mail Tracked 48. Ar gyfer archebion o flaen llaw, byddwn yn dosbarthu’r eitem o fewn 3 diwrnod gwaith ar ôl ei derbyn gan ein cyflenwr.

Dispatch

In-stock items will be dispatched within 3 business days, usually by Royal Mail Tracked 48. For pre-orders, we’ll dispatch within 3 business days of receiving the item from our supplier.

Bywgraffiad yr Awdur / Author Biography

TOM FARRIS is a master story teller. He has a long history of bringing technical matters to life. He lives with his wife in mid Wales where they enjoy life in the community.

Adolygiad y Cyhoeddwr / Publisher Review

‘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. To find out, the railway used a downhill run called ‘Stoke Bank’ north of Peterborough. In 1938, with a train full of passengers, the driver and fireman working together squeezed a record-breaking speed out of the locomotive – then something in it broke. It then had to be driven slowly to Peterborough station where it was towed away. The locomotive that was designed like a racing car raced no more.