NRM REvEALS fiRST hiNT of whiCh ENgiNES CoUlD RuN AgAiN – ANd ThoSE that may not

“We’ve taken the decision that Mallard is very much for the museum.”

That is the summary of National Railway Museum assistant director and head curator Andrew McLean, who says that its review into the collection is “pretty close” to completion.

By the end of March, the museum will have completed a document that will highlight which of its locomotives either “can be operated on the main line, on heritage railways or for static display only.”

One of those that fits the latter category is ‘A4’ Mallard, which is highlighted as an exhibit that will be retained in York for the foreseeable future.

Older machines slated for static display include “Hardwicke, the Midland Compound and Stirling Single – we’re just not in that world any more. It was easier in the 1970s when there was less regulation.”

Other engines, like 1829-built Agenoria, will also be officially ruled out from being restored to working order for the very first time.

However, while he says that the museum has “so many other priorities”, ‘V2’ No. 4771 Green Arrow, which last ran in 2008 and has a badly wasted monobloc cylinder casting, is not being totally ruled out from ever running again.

“It has well known issues… and we’ve identified it as a potential [to steam] but it doesn’t have potential in the short term.

“It’s unlikely in the near future… but the [exploratory] work being done by [senior curator of rail transport and technology] Anthony Coulls and other people shows that it’s not insurmountable.”

Short-terms plans for the Gresley 2-6-2 may involve a new display for it in York.

“We want to try and get a proper grip on the collection with this guidance document. Our primary function is to be a museum, not to operate locomotives.”

He has also reiterated that there are no plans to dispose of any further locomotives from the collection.