Plaque pays tribute to Flying Scotsman pioneer

The railway engineer who designed classic locomotives such as the Flying Scotsman and the Mallard has been honoured with a plaque marking the 150th anniversary of his birth.

Sir Nigel Gresley, born in 1876, lived and worked in Doncaster from 1905, becoming chief mechanical engineer at the London and North Eastern Railway.

A blue plaque and a newly named Azuma train were unveiled by mayor Ros Jones at the city's railway station, as part of a nationwide year-long tribute to Sir Nigel backed by City of Doncaster Council, LNER and the Gresley Society.

The mayor said it was an appropriate tribute to a man "who gave so much to our city".

The plaque was unveiled alongside an information board detailing the history of the building of the Flying Scotsman and Mallard in nearby workshops.

Jones said it would be a "lasting reminder and attraction, to those who live in and visit Doncaster, of his ongoing influence".

Sir Nigel, who was born in Edinburgh, lived in Doncaster's Thorne Road while working as Carriage & Wagon Superintendent with the Great Northern Railway.

After London and North Eastern Railway was formed, he moved to London although retained responsibility for the Doncaster rail engineering workshops.

Linda Wain, current engineering director at LNER, said: "We're delighted to see this plaque unveiled in honour of Sir Nigel Gresley - one of Britain's most iconic steam locomotive engineers, who rose to become Chief Mechanical Engineer of the LNER.

"His legacy is deeply woven into the history of Doncaster and the wider railway industry, and it's especially fitting to mark his contribution in this year of Railway 200, as we celebrate two centuries of rail innovation and achievement."

Ben Godfrey and Nina Britten, grandson and great-granddaughter of Sir Nigel, were present at the unveiling and said: "We are incredibly proud of our grandfather and great-grandfather who did so much to positively change the railway."

The train's livery features original technical drawings of Gresley locomotives from the archives of the National Railway Museum alongside artwork depicting the Mallard steam engine by John Park of Poster Creative, and a bust of Sir Nigel Gresley.

David Horne, LNER's managing director said Gresley was a "pioneer, a true innovator" who is regarded as one of the "all-time railway greats".

Ben Godfrey and Nina Britten, grandson and great-granddaughter of Sir Nigel Gresley, said: "We are incredibly proud of our grandfather and great-grandfather who did so much to positively change the railway.

Guests at the unveiling were then invited to ride on the newly liveried train's inaugural return journey to York.

The new Gresley 150 train is scheduled to make its first passenger journey when it operates the 05.30 service from Leeds to London King's Cross on Saturday.

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