2013 witnessed the reuniting of all six surviving Gresley ‘A4’ 4-6-2s including two based in North America. A decade ago, Hornby released limited edition models to commemorate the reunion and now they are being re-released – this time in limited edition Hornby Dublo form – to mark ten years since that landmark and unlikely-to-be-repeated event.
35 ‘A4s’ were built by the London and North Eastern Railway, including the world‘s fastest steam locomotive, 4468 Mallard. Displaced by ‘Deltic’ diesels, the last survivors were withdrawn in Scotland in 1966.
The Great Gathering was held at the National Railway Museum (NRM) in 2013 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Mallard’s record. For the event, 60008 Dwight D. Eisenhower and 60010 Dominion of Canada were temporarily repatriated by the NRM and given a full cosmetic overhaul.
Dwight D. Eisenhower retained BR lined green but Dominion of Canada was returned to as-built condition as 4489 with single chimney, valances and the refitting of its original Canadian five-chime whistle and Canadian Pacific Railway bell. UK-based 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley, 60009 Union of South Africa, 4464 Bittern and 4468 Mallard joined them in the Great Hall of the NRM and then Shildon from 2013 to 2014.
For r…
