BITTERN: THE NEED FOR SPEED - AVAILABLE NOW
Commissioned
by Locomotive Services Limited, this exclusive film captures the
anticipation & exhilaration of the three 90mph commemorative runs to
celebrate ‘Mallard’s world speed record of 126 mph in 1938. LNER A4
Pacific No 4464 (60019) “Bittern” was selected for this series of high
speed runs to mark the occasion. This was the first time since 1968 that
a steam hauled train has been cleared to run at 90 mph; an impressive
feat for a 75 year old steam locomotive.
The film provides a rich
mixture of lineside, on-train and footplate footage of all three runs
in weather, varying from glorious sunshine to heavy storms.
The Film features:
- Preparations and test runs required to get ‘Bittern’ “90 mph ready”.
- The first run from Kings Cross to York on 29th June (including interview with Sir Nigel Gresley’s Grandson).
-
The Great Gathering of 6 A4s at the National Railway Museum in York on
3rd July 2013, 75 years to the day of Mallards record run
- The run from York to Newcastle on Dec 5th, originally postponed due to fire risk.
- Final run from York to Kings Cross on Dec 7th, with some breathtaking lineside photography.
The
film also includes: behind the scenes footage, interviews with:
Locomotive Services staff and support crew, DB Schenker crews, Steam
Railway Performance Analyst, Network Rail Planning Office, &
passengers on the trains. The story is interlaced with shots of other
LNER A4s, as well as archive film.