Steam of Britain

Chapter 1: King's Cross

It was a bright day in Britain, and many engines on the railway were getting ready for work. And these engines had worked on the railway for many years. These engines were overhauled since they have been preserved and chosen to still work on British Railways. "Oh man," said Mallard, "I feel like I was just hit by a freight train."

Mallard is an LNER A4 Pacific designed by Sir Nigel Gresley. He is bright blue, with the numbers 4468 on his front and cab, the letters LNER on his tender, four guide wheels, six large driving wheels, and two supporting his cab. He has worked on non-stop express services called the Elizabethan. He is also the world's fastest steam engine, going on a single stretch of track for just a moment, 126 mph, becoming a credit to the railways and history books.

"Oh calm down Mallard," said Flying Scotsman, "You didn't just get torn apart and put back together to become an A1 again."

The Flying Scotsman is perhaps the most famous steam engine in the world. He is an LNER A1 Pacific designed by Sir Nigel Gresley. Like Mallard, he has four guide wheels, six driving wheels, and two small wheels supporting his cab. He is painted Apple Green, has smoke deflectors to keep steam from blocking the cab's view, with the numbers 4472 on his cab, and the letters LNER on his tender. Flying Scotsman is known for many things, including pulling the first ever non-stop express, and being the first engine to go 100 mph. He is also the only surviving member of his class, which saddens him a bit. But he remembers his brother Gordon, the A0 prototype that paved the way for his class, on Sodor. At one point, he was rebuilt to become an A3, which had a bigger boiler, and larger fire box, but was restored to an A1 in his most recent over haul.

"Oh relax," said Harry, "You guys look fine. I'm just glad to be out of the work shop."