A HISTORIC locomotive has completed a 90 mile per hour run on the section of track where her sister engine Mallard set the record for fastest steam train 75 years ago.

Bittern, a 1937 A4-class engine, is now being given star treatment in preparation for the 75th anniversary celebrations of Mallard breaking the steam speed record at the National Railway Museum.

Mallard has already been reunited with another of the last six remaining A4-class engines at the museum, the Dominian of Canada, and from Wednesday, July 3, all locomotives will be together in a Great Gathering.

The Bittern completed its run from London Kings Cross to York on Saturday (June 29), and was given special permission by authorities for the run to exceed the 75mph limit for steam trains, getting up to 90mph.

Mallard set a record speed of 126mph near Grantham on July 3, 1938 – a speed that remains unbeaten to this day.

Dwight D Eisenhower has reached York from the US and along with the Dominion of Canada, has been restored for the anniversary.

Union of South Africa and the Sir Nigel Gresley will also join them at the museum for the anniversary gathering until Wednesday, July 17.

The locomotives can be viewed again at Locomotion: The National Railway Museum, Shildon, in February.