It's been two weeks since I returned from Europe and yet I haven't recovered from my "post-Europe hangover." During the journey I flew on six aircraft, traveled in two German trains and four English trains, rode in nine taxis, cruised two rivers, made countless trips on the London Underground, and walked many miles. As you'll have noted, I'm a "railfan" as well as a car enthusiast, thus one of the highlights was a side trip to the city of York in order to visit the world's greatest railway museum. A trip made even more enjoyable by the 125 mph, electrically-driven express train that connects London with Glasgow. Swift, silent and smooth, it was a reminder that British and European passenger trains are vastly superior to ours. This being a classic car site I'm hoping to lure you into this blog with a shot of the sole automobile on display at the National Railway Museum. But stay with me, friends. If you like handsome machinery you'll enjoy these photos. The car is a Chrysler Airflow, the gracious steam engine is the Duchess of Hamilton. The juxtaposition of the two is part of a special display devoted to the art of steamlining as it was practised in the 1930s.



My all-time favorite railway engine is the Mallard, designed by the brilliant Sir Nigel Gresley. It holds the world speed record for steam engines at 126 mph, set back in 1938! Interestingly the museum questions whether the title is really deserved, pointing out that there were several American engines which may have been capable of a higher speed, yet fast running in the US had to be kept secret because it was illegal. To which I would add that the only speed records that count, whether in autos, trains, boats or any form of transport, are those that are officially recorded. The Mallard was pulling a special speed-recording car during its hell-for-leather dash with driver Joe Dunnington at the controls.



Compare the Mallard in the background with George Stephenson's trend-setting Rocket, the first steam engine in regular service, designed back in 1829. The National Railway Museum's example is a replica, carefully built to the same standards as the original. Totally functional, it has been run in steam and may run again, as will several of the museum's classic engines.



In a simple blog I can't possibly do justice to the amazing number of railway engines on display in the Locomotive Shed. This image shows two historic steam engines framing a Sterling Single Express passenger locomotive being turned twice-daily on a roundhouse demonstration. I had a mere two hours to explore this multi-faceted museum; hardly enough for a casual visitor. If ever I get a chance to visit the UK again, the National Railway Museum will be first on the list.



An entire hall in the National Railway Museum contains Royal Carriages, built by private railway companies to obtain the Royal Seal of Approval. The Royal Train, from Queen Victoria's era to the present, has always been lavish and exclusive. And fortunately never destroyed, at least in part, as examples have been preserved. Here you can peek into the private compartments of privileged early travelers.



I've been traveling by train since I was 5-years-old, thanks to family privileges. Dad was a communications engineer with the Canadian National Telegraphs, a subsidiary of the Canadian National Railways, largest system in the world. So when I saw this elegant carriage I knew I belonged to that earlier era. This is me, just prior to being tossed out by the NRM's railway police.