Mainline steam trains in Great Britain
The most famous steam locomotive operating on the British main line is the 1923 built "Flying Scotsman". After being taken into public ownership in 2004, following a decade long refit it returned to mainline service in 2016. The fastest steam locomotive ever built, the 1938 built "Mallard", was also certified for main line operation briefly in the 1980s.
LNER Peppercorn Class A1 60163 Tornado
With a shorter rake of eleven coaches compared with the original Peppercorn A1's usage, "Tornado" is expected to achieve contemporary main line speeds. Theoretically capable of , "Tornado" may in the future gain permission to run at , making her the fastest steam locomotive on the British main line. "Tornado" is expected to see main line use until its ten-year fire-tube boiler re-certification in late 2018.