Rail icon Sir Nigel Gresley statue unveiled at Londons King's Cross Station

The bronze sculpture of rail engineer Sir Nigel Gresley was originally due to feature a duck next to the eminent engineer because he designed the Mallard locomotive.

But the bird was missing when the statue was unveiled at London King’s Cross station on the 75th anniversary of Sir Nigel’s death because his family, and others, were not keen on its inclusion.

More than 3,200 people signed a petition which called for the duck to be reinstated, claiming it would spark interest in the engineer’s achievements.

But the Gresley Society Trust, which commissioned the statue, confirmed last year that it would not be included.

Around 200 people gathered on the concourse at King’s Cross to catch a first glimpse of the finished sculpture, which was unveiled by members of the Gresley family and Network Rail chairman Sir Peter Hendy.

Born in 1876, Sir Nigel became chief mechanical engineer of the London and North Eastern Railway. His Flying Scotsman was the first steam locomotive to exceed 100mph in service, while the Mallard achieved a then-world record speed of 126mph in 1938.

He died in 1941 aged 64.