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.
Steam locomotive exhaust system
Andre Chapelon made a significant improvement with his Kylchap exhaust which incorporated a "Kyala spreader" (second stage nozzle) and third stage cowl between the blastpipe (first stage nozzle) and chimney. This became popular at the end of the steam era (early-mid 20th century) and was used on the Nigel Gresley's Mallard which holds the official world speed record for steam locomotives. Other contemporary designs include the Giesl, and Lemaître exhausts which achieve the same aim by different means.