THE world’s fastest steam engine is back home after a tour of the East Coast main line to mark the 75th anniversary of her record-breaking run.

Volunteers and staff at the National Railway Museum (NRM) are now preparing the Mallard for an autumn reprise of the Great Gatherling of A4s steam engines that attracted 140,000 to the York tourist attraction.

The iconic A4 blue engine set the world steam speed record on the East Coast main line near Grantham on July 3, 1938 when she passed 125 mph.

To mark the anniversary, all six of the surviving A4s were assembled from two continents at the National Railway Museum for the Great Gathering in July, after which the Mallard headed south to visit various places associated with her, including Grantham where 15,000 people saw her.

She will now star in the Autumn Great Gathering family reunion, after she has her connecting rods put back and other maintenance work is carried out to ensure that she is in the best possible condition after her journeys.

She has been based at the NRM for many years since retiring from active railway duty.