The LNER Class A4 4468 'Mallard' set the world speed record for a steam locomotive on July 3, 1938, reaching 126 mph (203 km/h) on the East Coast Main Line in England. This record, which still stands, was a triumph of British engineering and design. The 'Mallard' represents the ultimate achievement of steam locomotive speed.

The 'Mallard's' speed record is a feat of human ingenuity that has been celebrated in poetry and prose. The image of a steam engine hurtling at over 125 mph captured the imagination of a generation, inspiring poets to write about the thrill of speed and the power of the machine. The record is a symbol of the human desire to push boundaries, a theme that resonates in literature.