If there was one place that defined my childhood, it was York. And if there was one place in York, it would be the National Railway Museum. It was just a magical place to visit as a kid. The highlight was always this beauty, the A4 class LNER 4468 Mallard.

Just a beautiful piece of design from a different age. The Mallard holds the world speed record for a steam locomotive and rests gracefully at York’s Railway Museum.

I would never describe myself as a real train geek, but The Mallard is one I’ve loved since being a kid, even more than the more famous LNER 4472 Flying Scotsman.

Of course, being older, I’m a little more nostalgic about what the train actually represents. We Brits tend to regard the days of steam trains as a time when Britain had a bit of greatness left in it. I think that’s probably true, though I also think there’s a bit of rose tinted glass in there too. Still It’s hard to look at Britain’s modern railways without a sense of regret.

At least we can be nostalgic, thanks to the National Railway Museum.