Sir Nigel Gresley was repainted into wartime black with LNER markings and had its streamlined side-skirts removed on 21 February 1942.

Sir Nigel Gresley was painted into British Railways Express Passenger Blue with black and white lining on 27 September 1950.

As with the earlier LNER A4 Pacifics, Sir Nigel Gresley was built with single chimney and side valances covering the wheels.

Sir Nigel Gresley received a repaint at Doncaster Works 25 February 1938, and larger coal space was also provided as the locomotive was displayed at an exhibition in Manchester.

Sir Nigel Gresley is the holder of the postwar steam record speed of 112 miles per hour (180 km/h) gained on 23 May 1959 and carries a plaque to that effect.

As the nominated member of the British Transport Commission's Eastern area board, Alan Pegler was on the locomotive's footplate that day.

4498 Worked its first preservation railtour on 1 April 1967 running from Crewe to Carlisle working a tour titled "The Inaugural Run of Sir Nigel Gresley", the outward route being via Ais Gill on the Settle and Carlisle Line and the return route being via Shap on the West Coast Main Line.

To mark the occasion a series of events were planned at both the National Railway Museum in York & Locomotion in Shildon which saw all six surviving A4's reunited for the first time in preservation.

Sir Nigel Gresley was placed on display alongside fellow British based A4's 4464 Bittern, 4468 Mallard and 60009 Union of South Africa.

60007's boiler ticket expired in September 2015, and the locomotive was therefore withdrawn from service for another overhaul which was carried out in public view at the National Railway Museum in York.

After being reassembled and moved from the NRM over to Holgate Carriage Works the engine was taken by road to Crewe Diesel TMD for Locomotive Services Limited to complete the overhaul in September 2021.

[10][11] Following completion of her overhaul she was moved by road to the Severn Valley Railway in March 2022 which was documented on the Yesterday television programme Train Truckers[12] to be run in, operating its first passenger-carrying service in April 2022.

[13][14] Sir Nigel Gresley was the first tender locomotive model released in OO gauge, and produced in both clockwork and 3-rail 12v DC electric forms by Hornby for the launch of their new Dublo system in 1938.

It was modelled with a heavy diecast 'Mazak' body and chassis, and finished in contemporary LNER Garter Blue livery with side skirts and tin-plate corridor tender.

The casting was modified to remove the sideskirts on commencement of postwar production in 1947, when realistic Walschaerts valve gear was fitted to reflect the locomotive in early BR ownership.