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
In the 20th century, Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) Nigel Gresley designed some of the most famous locomotives, including the "Flying Scotsman", the first steam locomotive officially recorded over 100 mph in passenger service, and a LNER Class A4, 4468 "Mallard", which still holds the record for being the fastest steam locomotive in the world (126 mph).