MALLARD - How the Blue Streak Broke the World Speed Record by Don Hale.
JUST over eighty years ago on the East Coast main line, the streamlined A4 Pacific locomotive Mallard reached a top speed of 126mph a world record for steam locomotives that still stands. Since then, millions have seen this famous locomotive, resplendent in her blue livery, on display at the National Railway Museum in York.
Here, Don Hale tells the full story of how the record was broken: from the nineteenth-century London Scotland speed race and, surprisingly, traces Mallard's futuristic design back to the Bugatti car and the influence of Germany's nascent Third Reich, which propelled the train into an instrument of national prestige.
*The book is now available on Amazon: *An abbreviated second book - MALLARD - The railway marvel that beat the world is also available via Amazon: https://amzn.to/42Ep4zY
Don Haled also celebrates Mallard's designer, Sir Nigel Gresley, one of Britain's most gifted engineers. Mallard is a wonderful tribute to one of British technology's finest hours.
This book remarkable contains a host of exclusive photographs from Mallard's GREAT GATHERING at York Railway Museum where she was temporarily reunited with her remaining sister locos, and photos from the incredible journey some of them made from Canada and the USA. It also include a rare collection of German locomotives that challenged Mallard in the mid 1930s under Nazi banners to reach this unique speed record.
Mallard author Don Hale pictured in the cab of A4 Sir Nigel Gresley on the North Yorks Moors Railway
Don Hale is an author and former investigative journalist who has written many books about a host of varied subjects. A former professional footballer, Don was also a journalist for over 40 years and was the editor of about five regional newspapers. He won a number of regional and national awards during his career including the 'Journalist of the Year' prize on three separate occasions including the prestigious 'What the Papers Say' award.
In 2001 he was also the Observer 'Man of the Year,' as voted for by the Sunday newspaper's readers.
His latest book - Murder in the Graveyard - released in June 2019 - is a true account of his extensive campaign to overturn the conviction of Stephen Downing, a man jailed in 1973 for a murder he did not commit. Don spent 8 years on the case and helped to quash the conviction. He has since worked on three other successful miscarriage of justice cases, and has been involved in several human rights campaigns.
Don Hale's MALLARD was also used as the authority for the Discovery Channel, and National Geographic for Trains, fast, faster etc.
Another top selling genre has been SHERLOCK HOLMES and the Ghost Ship Mystery - which is an inquiry into the controversial role of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. A more recent book, which is again about to be completely revamped is his fascinating story of Buster Crabb, the naval spy who disappeared in bizarre circumstances in 1956. This new book entitled - Buster Crabb - Ian Fleming's favourite spy and the inspiration for James Bond was released in the spring of 2020.
**NOW SEE SOME EXTRA PHOTOS ON YOUTUBE
MALLARD - How the blue streak broke the world speed record
These are some exclusive photos of Mallard, the blue streak that won the world speed record in July 1938 with a magnificent 126.2 mph to beat the Nazi backed German Reichsbahn record.
It was a magnificent achievement which still stands today. During 2013, Mallard invited several of her remaining sister locos to a special gathering at the NRM in York, where she is pictured, in addition to earlier shots during her record run. The book - MALLARD - How the Blue Streak Broke the World Speed Record - is now available via Amazon written by Don Hale.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAUDkFNgU3s
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