When Trains Were Men

Dr. X posts this from the the Bluebell Railway:

"As my sons plunder their Thomas the Tank Engine gifts today, I wondered if these toy trains had any basis in reality. Indeed they do - they all are based on real locomotives. Even the odd-looking Toby is based on an actual turn-of-the-century shunting engine.

"The most awesome engine of all just has a cameo in the series. It is the Gresley A4 Pacific which holds the world speed record for a steam-powered train. The streamlined Mallard recorded a top speed of 125 mph (Wikipedia article is here).

"I wouldn't mind having a couple of these running between San Francisco and L.A."