Model railway enthusiasts will be looking to break a world speed record this weekend.
At the Festival of British Railway Modelling at Doncaster Racecourse this weekend (Feb 9th/10th 2019), a live steam model of the famous steam locomotive Mallard will attempt to smash through the existing astonishing model train speed record of 186mph.
The original A4 class Mallard was built at Doncaster and is the holder of the world speed record for steam locomotives at 126 mph (203 km/h). This record was achieved on 3 July 1938 on the slight downward grade of Stoke Bank south of Grantham on the East Coast Main Line, and the highest speed was recorded at milepost 90¼, between Little Bytham and Essendine.
Hornby live steam models were discontinued in 2008 but members of the OO Live Steam Club continue to run them and members will be at the Festival this weekend to try and break the record set December last year by Alistair Proudfoot.