A final gathering of over 35 crew members that manned the footplate of the world’s fastest locomotive and its sisters in their final decades on the tracks, took place at Locomotion on Saturday 22nd February.
Former railway workers gathered at the museum to meet up with footplate colleagues and take part in The Great Goodbye.
In the lead up to its Mallard 75 celebrations, of which HRH The Prince of Wales is Patron, the National Railway Museum launched a search in late spring 2013 to find drivers and other crew.
Many of the gentleman who worked at Kings Cross Top Shed and Doncaster Shed were reunited for the first time in decades at the Autumn Great Gathering in York in October 2013. The gentlemen made a special request to Locomotion to attend The Great Goodbye and say a fond farewell to the transatlantic Class A4 locomotives Dominion of Canada and Dwight D Eisenhower, which stood beside Mallard and her sister engines for the last time.
Sarah Towers, Marketing Communictaions Officer at Locomotion explained, “These gentlemen travelled a long way to take part in this event, which was an emotional reunion for many of them. “This is the last chance for them to see the six surviving Class A4 locomotives together and they are unlikely to have the chance to see Dominion of Canada and Dwight D Eisenhower together again. “They have a most personal connection with all of the Class A4 locomotives. “We are delighted that they were able to join us.”
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
