A4 Pacific "Mallard", a photo from North Yorkshire, England

Photographer's Note

Now that we're all confined to our houses and have a little more time on our hands, I think the time has again come for me sheepishly to return, very much like the Prodigal Son, to the TrekEarth fold.

And what better way to return than with a photograph taken during our most recent trip before "lockdown" last month. Our trip was to York and this picture was taken in the National Railway Museum there.

This is the "Mallard", a Class A4 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive and the masterpiece of Sir Nigel Gresley, one of Britain's most famous and successful steam locomotive engineers. And this particular streamlined locomotive still holds the World Speed Record for Steam Locomotives at 126 mph (203 km/h) which was achieved on England's East Coast mainline on 3rd July, 1938.

Rather poor light in here, so: ISO 6400, 1/40 sec at f/7.1, focal length 35mm.

Please click here for a larger version of this photograph!

ikeharel, holmertz, Royaldevon, jhm, jean113, weetrees, COSTANTINO, macjake, pierrefonds, ktanska heeft deze opmerking als nuttig gemarkeerd

Critiques | Translate

CLODO (45118) 2020-04-01 12:38

Hi John

A post after 4 month absence! You have time now you are confined to look into your archives. Super shiny colors the boys are happy.
Excellent note (TE bug, as usual:)
CLODO

Tue (93556) 2020-04-01 13:54

Hello John,
Wow, what a beautiful train. I really like its design as well as its bright colours. The blue combined with the red wheel in particular. You captured it from a great angle as well, which also very nicely included the large steel structure of the building and the red bridge. The father and his children add an excellent sense of scale also. Great work.
Lars

lousat (140058) 2020-04-01 14:39

Hi John,welcome back to TE thanks to the cloister imposed by the virus. And in fact it is nice to celebrate this return with a photo from your last trip, a well-preserved historical locomotive, interesting to know that it was the fastest in the history of steam locomotives. The photo is excellent despite the difficult light.Have a good night and thanks,Luciano

jemaflor (148334) 2020-04-01 23:33

Hi John,
Interesting old locomotive, beautiful with this blue color and the good brightness, well photographed with these visitors, tfs.

ikeharel (114715) 2020-04-01 23:59

Hello John,
A marvelous museum display of the Mallard in a stunning blue color. reading the note, realized how it had preceded it's era both with its aerodynamic-design and when achieved world speed record back in 1938.
A fine photo with good light management, scaled and enliven by the father and sons alongside.
Have a nice new day, stay well.
Ike

holmertz (103710) 2020-04-02 0:58

Hello John,
How very nice to see you back here, even if it was only under the pressure of a world wide pandemic. ;-)
So this may have been not just the fastest steam locomotive ever built, but also the most elegantly designed. The blue sides and the red wheels must have made an impression in the 1930's, and they still do. I wouldn't expect a photo from inside a railway museum to be charming, but this one is, thanks to the man and his two children. They really adorn the view, and at least the father plays an active part in the composition. The diagonal created by the train and the arch of the bridge across the tracks give the photo a nice structure.
Kind regards,
Gert

Silvio1953 (223069) 2020-04-02 3:16

Ciao caro John, great perspective on fantastic train, wonderful colors, splendid light, fine details and excellent clarity, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

Royaldevon (86526) 2020-04-02 3:32

Hello John,

How good to see you back on the site and to learn that you have been off, adventuring around the north of England!

It's ages since I visited this museum but it's obviously worth considering a revisit!

This is more than a stunning locomotive, it is a real work of art, with its sleek lines and bright colours. Have you noticed how the front lamps appear like eyes and its buffers, like outstretched hands.

From this view, we see its sleek lines, its massive, red wheels and get an impression of its shiny, metal exterior. You have placed it on a fine diagonal, for a sense of depth and perspective.
The inclusion of the tight knit family works well. They are standing on the guiding rails, then pointing our attention towards the engine.
The high ISO has given you a clear, sharp photograph, in poor lighting conditions and no noise.

With home confinement (sounds like a pregnancy! 😂), maybe we'll see more of you on TE. How are you coping, looking after Yvonne's mother?

Yes, there have been a lot of changes; no Beta, no map updates (which I hope will be remedied) but, I do like to see where friends have been, learn about places I know I will never visit and share my photographs.

Keep safe,
Bev :-)

jhm (211738) 2020-04-02 6:34

Hello John,

It's always very pleasant friends tosee coming back, also in this difficult time of COVID-19
You show nice this nice image of the train.
Nice picture, also perfect done.
Sharp and clear, nicely done. TFS.

Friend, keep safe,
John.

jean113 (28325) 2020-04-02 7:16

Hello John, don't feel sheepish! We all have occasions when things have to be re-prioritised. Good to see you back.
The Mallard, made in Doncaster, and they are very proud of that fact.
This is a great view of this record breaker; the light is managed superbly.
The fine streamlined lines and the bright blue and red really stand out.
The father and children are 'the icing on the cake' completing this excellent shot.
Informative notes.
Kind regards, Jean.

Gerrit (62042) 2020-04-02 15:52

Hello John,
what a magnificent locomotive in what seems to be a fantastic and big railway museum.
thanks and regards,
Gerrit

weetrees (170) 2020-04-02 17:11

lovely composition and welcome back, though I fear you are still here more than me ;-)
I note a lot of familiar names from day gone by still alive well and commenting on the images.
the colours are rather resplendent, picked out beautifully by the camera and its beautiful glass

COSTANTINO (117908) 2020-04-02 22:37

Hello dear John and have a nice time
and a happy new day
original version
you were lucky to take such a photo
before lockdown last month...
I red carefully your useful notes
for this beautiful train
regards
Costantino

emka (158936) 2020-04-02 23:12

Hello dear John, the Prodigal Son,

I am so happy to see you here back. Splendid locomotive, what a pity it is not in use anymore. What a strange colour for the locomotive. I didn't know that there was this museum in York. Lovely composition with the father showing this gem to his children. Spectacular view.
Stay safe at home

MAlgo

macjake (98544) 2020-04-05 2:12

Hi John
Where have you been my friend! wow, great to see you back on TE. I guess it took home-confinement to do so hahahaha...all joking aside, I hope you're well, and all your loved ones. Its a great time to catch up on all the Family Guy episodes :)
203 kh/hr, that's pretty darn fast! love the paint job, love the curves and lines, she's a beauty! great shot, great subject. The unit i'm working on in the hospital is now transitioned to a Covid-19 unit...sigh. what can you do? its been tough, its been busy, its been stressful. Stay safe my friend! cheers
Craig

pierrefonds (115645) 2020-04-06 16:22

Hi John,

The presence of the persons has an effect of scale. The point of view is showing the details of the Mallard locomotive. The light is enhancing the beauty of the colours. Have a nice day.

Pierre

ktanska (45116) 2020-04-16 11:03

Hi John,
It is a magnificent steam locomotive. And this bright special livery is so unusual to steam locos. Dim light is totally unrecognizable on this shot, this looks fantastic. I visited National Railway Museum in 2014. But the Mallard was in much tighter location at that time. So I had no chance to take such a shot it deserves.
Kari