Hornby R30268 Class A4 LNER 4468 Mallard 85th Anniversary Edition

Tech SpecsItem Scale 1:76 Scale 00 GaugeFinish PaintedColour BlueGauge OODCC Status DCC Ready 21 pin socket (This is NOT DCCfitted)Operator LNERDesigner Sir Nigel GresleyWheel Configuration 4-6-2Livery LNER Garter BlueMinimum Curve (mm) Radius 2Class A4 ClassBuffer Type Sprung Metal BuffersCoupling Type NEM Tension Lock  Product InfoThe LNER Gresley A4 is one of the most iconic expresslocomotives in Great Britain, with its streamlined casing a classic symbol ofthe attitude towards speed and design in the 1930s, which saw increasedcompetition to the railways from road and air travel. The LNER Board knew thatthey had to make travel between the major cities faster, comfortable and morereliable.Nigel Gresley, the LNER’s Chief Mechanical Officer,travelled on the Fliegende Hamburger diesel locomotive in Germany and wasimpressed by its streamlining, although he realized it was only efficient athigh speeds. Gresley was certain that a modified A3 Pacific, with streamlining,could haul greater loads than other locomotives at the same speed or faster anda series of trials were conducted to confirm the A3’s suitability.With the trials successfully completed, the LNER Board gaveGresley the go-ahead to create the "Silver Jubilee" streamlinedtrains, the first of the new streamlined A4s.The streamlining of the A4s’ steamcircuit, higher boiler pressure and extension of the firebox to create acombustion chamber made them more efficient than the A3 as they consumed lesscoal and water- especially later on when they were also fitted with a Kylchapdouble chimney. This improved their free steaming capabilities further. Their streamlined design not only made them capable of highspeeds, but created an up draught of smoke, obscuring the driver’s vision, amajor problem on the new Class A4 engines. The story goes that during windtunnel testing, after several unsuccessful efforts to get the smoke to liftclear, a thumbprint was inadvertently left on the clay model just behind thechimney. This succeeded in clearing the smoke and was incorporated into thefinal design.The most famous of the A4 locomotives is surely 4468Mallard, the locomotive that broke and still holds the world record for thehighest speed achieved by a steam locomotive. This record was achieved at theheight of the streamlined battle between Gresley’s A4 and the StreamlineCoronation of Stanier’s LMS. Mallard would go onto serve under BR as 60022 before beingwithdrawn in early 1963 having been earmarked for preservation as early as1960, its historical significance recognised and understood. The LNERGresley A4 is one of the most iconic express locomotives in Great Britain, withits streamlined casing a classic symbol of the attitude towards speed anddesign in the 1930s, which saw increased competition to the railways from roadand air travel. The LNER Board knew that they had to make travel between themajor cities faster, comfortable and more reliable.Nigel Gresley, the LNER’s Chief Mechanical Officer,travelled on the Fliegende Hamburger diesel locomotive in Germany and wasimpressed by its streamlining, although he realized it was only efficient athigh speeds. Gresley was certain that a modified A3 Pacific, with streamlining,could haul greater loads than other locomotives at the same speed or faster anda series of trials were conducted to confirm the A3’s suitability.With the trials successfully completed, the LNER Board gaveGresley the go-ahead to create the "Silver Jubilee" streamlinedtrains, the first of the new streamlined A4s.The streamlining of the A4s’ steamcircuit, higher boiler pressure and extension of the firebox to create acombustion chamber made them more efficient than the A3 as they consumed lesscoal and water- especially later on when they were also fitted with a Kylchapdouble chimney. This improved their free steaming capabilities further.Their streamlined design not only made them capable of high speeds, but createdan up draught of smoke, obscuring the driver’s vision, a major problem on thenew Class A4 engines. The story goes that during wind tunnel testing, afterseveral unsuccessful efforts to get the smoke to lift clear, a thumbprint wasinadvertently left on the clay model just behind the chimney. This succeeded inclearing the smoke and was incorporated into the final design.The most famous of the A4 locomotives is surely 4468Mallard, the locomotive that broke and still holds the world record for thehighest speed achieved by a steam locomotive. This record was achieved at theheight of the streamlined battle between Gresley’s A4 and the StreamlineCoronation of Stanier’s LMS. Mallard would go onto serve under BR as 60022before being withdrawn in early 1963 having been earmarked for preservation asearly as 1960, its historical significance recognised and understood.The Hornby Class A4 is fitted with a five pole motor, aswell as the new for the class flickering firebox feature and a new for 2023locomotive to tender connection.