A1 PROJECT ON-TRACK FOR LAYING FRAMES OF FIRST MAINLINE STEAM LOCOMOTIVE FOR
OVER 30 YEARS IN MARCH 1994

Locomotive specification finalised and support coach acquired.  Appeal for specialist volunteers!

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, the registered charity which is building the new ex-LNER Class A1 Pacific No. 60163, today confirmed that it is on-track to lay the frames of the new steam locomotive in Doncaster in March 1994, the first new mainline steam locomotive to be built in Britain since 1960.

David Champion, Project Manager, A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, commented, “Thanks to the tremendous help that we have received from Doncaster Council since we signed our partnership agreement with them in July of this year and the boost that this gave to our project teams, we have continued to attract large numbers of new covenantors to the project.”

“The Trust is therefore delighted to be able to announce that the frames of No. 60163 will be laid in Doncaster in March next year which puts us firmly on-track for completing the locomotive on schedule for the 50th anniversary of the completion of the first of the class in 1998.”

26 of the 49 original Class A1 Pacific locomotives were built in Doncaster,  with the remaining 23 built in Darlington. They were designed by Arthur H Peppercorn, the Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London and North Eastern
Railway (LNER) but were not built until 1948/9, after the nationalisation of the railways. The A1s were the last of the East Coast Mainline’s series of thoroughbred express passenger steam locomotives  a tradition which included the
Stirling Singles, the Ivatt Atlantics and the Gresley Pacifics. Examples of all of these Doncaster built locomotives have been saved for preservation, except the Peppercorn A1s which were scrapped, following dieselisation of the railways, in the 1960s with the last, No. 60145 Saint Mungo going in 1966.

David Champion continued, “Doncaster is a very special place for railway enthusiasts it is where many great steam locomotives, including Flying Scotsman and Mallard, were built and maintained. We are pleased that 1994 will mark the start of construction of the next Peppercorn A1 in the great railway town of Doncaster.

No. 60163 will not be a replica, but the 50th Class A1 locomotive, and it and the locomotives that follow from Doncaster over the coming years will help to generate new jobs and interest in this area. It is these new steam locomotives that will safeguard the future of nostalgic steam railtours and provide the motivepower for the nation’s preserved steam railways as existing preserved steam locomotives become too delicate to be used on a regular basis.”

The Locomotive’s Specification

Following thorough research into the background to the design of the Peppercorn Class A1, the Trust is also able to confirm the general specification to which the locomotive will be built:

• All decisions on specification must be subject to the twin criteria of quality and authenticity
• The locomotive will be built to the highest quality, as exemplified in BS 5750
• The design will follow the appropriate LNER or BR drawings
• Dimensions shall be in imperial measurements with screw threads of the original pattern, as far as possible
• Limits and fits shall normally follow those on original drawings, if given, or otherwise those given in the LMSR limits and fits book, unless a copy of the BR limits and fits for ex-LNER locomotives is found
• The design shall be compatible with the requirements of an experienced insurance company and of mainline use in Great Britain
• Materials shall normally be the original specification, where known and available, or the modern equivalent
• Materials may be changed to save weight or increase strength where these are thought necessary or highly desirable
• Authenticity means that all deviations from the original specification must be justified, whether historically or for reasons of quality, current regulations or cost, on the grounds of the likely work the locomotive will be doing during its working life.

David Elliott, Head of Engineering, A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, commented, “The establishment of the above specification for the construction of the locomotive means that we are now able to progress with the small number of
changes that are necessary. In particular, we are currently looking at three areas: the frames, with an in-depth study into the cause of the well documented cracking from which the class suffered; the suspension, with an examination of the rough riding problems; and the boiler, where we have already decided that we will be building an all welded steel boiler and firebox.”

The Support Coach

The Trust is also able announce the purchase of a support coach for use with the locomotive on its completion. The coach is BR Mark One BSK number 35457, formally part of the Heaton Football Set, which was build at Wolverton in 1963. Over the winter the coach will be fitted with air brakes, messing facilities and an electrical system to be operated via a shore line for use when stationary, and it will be given a bogie and brake exam.

Ian Storey, owner of Black Five No. 44767 George Stephenson has donated 50% of the purchase price of the coach in return for use of the it until No. 60163 is completed. The purchase was made now because of fears that suitable, reasonably priced coaches would not be available at a later date.

Calls for help

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust is appealing for help from suitably experienced volunteers to carry out the following roles:

• Personnel Manager: Principle tasks: to keep records of all volunteers and keep them regularly informed of developments; to keep up-to-date a volunteer and paid employee skills database to aid the engineering management team in matching tasks to be done with the relevant individuals; and to manage the recruitment of paid staff as and when they are needed.
• Project Planner:  Principle tasks: to create and maintain on an on-going basis the project plan using appropriate computer software  preferably with access to own computer hardware/software although this can be supplied if necessary.
• Marketing Team Members: People with expertise in direct marketing, advertising (media buying, copy writing and design), public relations and sponsorship needed to help with project marketing activities. Activities planned for 1994 include on-going public relations campaign, advertising to railway and heritage press and direct mail to known railway enthusiasts.

In addition the Trust is also interested in hearing from anyone who has access to A0 electrostatic plotting equipment and anyone who may have ex-A1 artifacts and is prepared either to donate them or lend them as patterns to assist
manufacture.

David Champion concluded, “The Trust has put together the necessary expertise for building steam locomotives and has a dedicated and professional team we are now seeking more covenantors and sponsor to speed construction.”

A1SLT SIGNS PARTNERSHIP WITH DONCASTER COUNCIL

Locomotive will be built in Doncaster – A1 Steam Locomotive Trust Limited awarded Charitable Status.

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, which is building the new ex-LNER Class A1 Pacific No. 60163, today signed a Partnership Agreement with Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council.

At a press conference held today (Friday 9 July 1993) at The Mansion House, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust Limited and Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council agreed that:

• The locomotive would be built in its spiritual home of Doncaster or its environs and they would both use their best endeavours to ensure the successful completion of the Project
• They would encourage the Project to promote long term job creation, economic regeneration and tourism within the Council’s administrative area
• They would seek and encourage the involvement in the Project of persons who have skills in the construction of steam locomotives
• The Council would assist the Trust in obtaining grants towards the completion of the Project and the Trust would actively publicise the involvement of the Council.

Commenting on the signing of the Partnership Agreement, Councillor John R Quinn, Mayor of Doncaster, said, “The Partnership Agreement is a meeting of minds and hearts.  Of minds, because the Council is impressed with the business-like approach to this exciting and innovative concept – the building of completely new steam engines. And of hearts, because we felt strongly that the Industrial Heritage of this great Railway Town must be conserved.

“Heritage is much more than just artifacts, it is the specialist skills that have been acquired over generations, a communal pride in doing the job to perfection, it is the soul of Doncaster.”

David Champion, Project Manager of the A1 Project added, “Doncaster is a very special place for railway enthusiasts – it is where many great steam locomotives, including Flying Scotsman and Mallard, were built and maintained. The signing of this agreement with Doncaster Council means that the next Peppercorn A1 – and whatever we build after it – will be built in the great railway town of Doncaster, where the first members of its class were built in 1948/9.”

“No. 60163 will not be a replica, but the 50th Class A1 locomotive, and it and the locomotives that follow from Doncaster over the coming years will help to generate new jobs and interest in this area. It is these new steam locomotives that will safeguard the future of nostalgic steam railtours and provide the motivepower for the nation’s preserved steam railways as existing preserved steam locomotives become too delicate to be used on a regular basis.”

Councillor Quinn continued, “The Partnership between the Council and The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust will help regenerate the town by providing a means of skills retention, job creation and promotion of Doncaster’s place in the tourist industry. This scheme will assure Doncaster’s position as a mecca for all those who are thrilled by the thoroughbreds of the world of steam.”

At the press conference Peter Kelly, the Editor of Railway Magazine, who is on a John O’Groats to Lands End bike ride to raise awareness f and funds for the Project, delivered the Partnership Agreement and messages of support from interested organisations including the National Railway Museum. He was riding a 1906 bicycle and dressed in period costume. Nigel Harris, Editor of Steam Railway magazine, addressed the press conference on the importance of new steam locomotives to the railway movement.

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust was also pleased to be able to announce that as of 21st June 1993 it had been awarded charitable status by the Charity Commissioners. This gives the Trust several significant financial advantages.

The press conference was followed by an Official Reception where the Project’s Technical Team demonstrated how they are using the latest Computer Aided Design (CAD) technology to produce a modern mainline steam locomotive in the 1990s.

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, which is building the new ex-LNER Class A1 Pacific No. 60163, continued to move forward during March and April 1993.

ENGINEERING UPDATE

Drawings – During the two weeks after Easter, the engineering team has been digitally scanning approximately 800 original A1 drawings into a Computer Aided Design (CAD) system at the National Railway Museum in York. The system, which consists of a digital scanner linked to a computer, enables electronic copies of the drawings to be made without damage to the originals. The scanned drawings can be converted into vector form for modification using the CAD system.

David Elliott, Head of Engineering of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust commented, “The A1 Project is achieving yet another first in railway preservation by the use of CAD. The flexibility of this latest technology will allow us to save huge amounts of time in producing copies of drawings for component manufacturers and in making modifications to correct A1 faults such as rough-riding just as the LNER/Eastern Region would have done if steam had continued”

More Engineers join the A1 Project – Bob Meanley, a specialist in boiler design and project engineer working professionally on the design and construction of power stations, has joined the engineering team. Best known for his
work in the Birmingham Railway Museum where he is responsible for the design of the ‘Bloomer’ replica, Bob also designed the all-welded boiler for the Ffestiniog Railway’s new `Double Fairlie’  David Lloyd George.

Bob has agreed to be in charge of redesigning the boiler of 60163 to an all-welded design with a steel firebox, in order to comply with modern safety and manufacturing standards as well as to reduce cost, weight and maintenance.

Other valued recent recruits to the engineering team include Bob Alderman, an engineering programme manager with Westland Helicopters; Steve Bell, a safety consultant with the nuclear industry; Eric Layfield, who recently retired as power equipment engineer with Railfreight  Distribution having started his career as a premium apprentice at Doncaster works; and Ray Pettit who is a consultant in engineering information management systems.

CONSTRUCTION

Locomotive – The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust currently plans to begin the construction of No. 60163 with the laying of the locomotive’s frames in the UK in early 1994. The planned completion date for the 50th class A1 is Summer 1998 – the 50th anniversary of the roll-out of the first A1.

Tender – The construction of the tender has already begun with the acquisition of  Flying Scotsman’s spare tender (number 5332). The next stage in the construction of the tender is the grit blasting of the frames back to the bare metal. Drawings are currently being produced on the CAD system for the modification of the frames to accept roller bearing axleboxes and hornguides.

Support Coach – Due to the rapid decline in the number of serviceable Mk1 coaches owned by British Rail, the
A1 Steam Locomotive Trust has reached an agreement to purchase a vacuum braked Mark 1 BSK (Brake Second Corridor) for use as No. 60163’s support coach.

HUGE INTEREST IN A1 PROJECT AT EXHIBITIONS

The marketing team of the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust had a stand at the International Model Railway Exhibition in London over the Easter holiday and, thanks to the railway artist John Wigston, a presence on a stand at the York Model Railway Exhibition. Thousands of people were handed information about the project, with many asking how they could help.

Mark Allatt, Marketing Team Leader, commented,“We were delighted at the enthusiasm shown at both of these exhibitions for the A1 Project ranging from people who worked on, or even helped to build the A1s, to those, like
myself, who are too young to have ever seen one. One concern that I was happy to put to rest was that No. 60163 will definitely be built in the UK.”

CALLS FOR HELP

The Project received an excellent response to its appeal for help from people for CAD work, with at least a dozen volunteers and many more enquiries. However, in order for all of the activities to progress at the required rate, the A1 Project is looking for volunteers in  the following areas:

• Designers/draughtsmen (railway experience not essential) with CAD expertise.
• Quality Control Managers/Engineers to assist in ensuring that subcontractors manufacture to an acceptable standard and to supervise erection of the locomotive.
• Professional marketeers with experience in direct mail, advertising, public relations and sponsorship.

The Trust is also keen to contact anyone who may have ex-A1 artifacts and is prepared either to
donate them or lend them as patterns to assist manufacture.

SPONSORSHIP

The A1 Project is looking for the donation of IBM PC compatible computers. The minimum system requirements are ATs for administrative/basic CAD use and high specification 386 PCs for use as CAD workstations.

FIRST PHOTOGRAPH OF COMPLETED A1

The Trust revealed the first image of A1 Pacific No. 60163 as she will look after completion. This is taken, with permission, from a Colour-Rail original of No. 60156 Great Central on Doncaster Shed using the latest computer technology for the manipulation of the photograph. Other photographs of A1s and of various stages of the A1 Project are available.

David Champion, Project Manager for The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, commented, “The construction, in Britain, of No. 60163 will begin in early 1994 with the laying of the frames with the objective of completing the 50th Class A1 in the summer of 1998. Preliminary  work is now well advanced and we are seeking more covenantors to speed construction”

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, which is building the new ex-LNER class A1 pacific No. 60163, has formed a new company, `The Locomotive Construction Company Limited’. This wholly owned subsidiary of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust has been formed to build No. 60163 and other new and replica steam locomotives.

David Elliott, Managing Director of The Locomotive Construction Company and Head of Engineering of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust commented, “We have formed The Locomotive Construction Company to build Peppercorn Class A1 No. 60163, the first mainline steam locomotive to be built in Britain since 1960, and after this has been completed, other new and replica steam locomotives. In this way we can pass on directly to future projects the valuable experience accumulated in building No. 60163.”

THE PRE-CONSTRUCTION PHASE

Drawings

Before the construction of No. 60163 can begin, copies of all the relevant design drawings must be obtained and any necessary updating/redesigning undertaken. To date, the Trust has examined almost 400 drawings located in the archives of the National Railway Museum (NRM) and produced a computerised catalogue of a further 300 drawings cross referenced from those already examined. It is anticipated that further research will reveal more drawings.

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust has approached the NRM with a proposal to digitally scan the original drawings to provide a compact and convenient means of storage and reproduction. It will also allow the Trust to convert the scanned drawings into vector form for modification using a Computer Aided Design (CAD) system.

The effort put in by the Research and Development team, all of which has been donated free to the project, has been evaluated at £50,000 worth of professional time during 1992.

Research

The Trust continues to research into the background of the A1 design and their operations in British Railways’ service. Invaluable information has recently been provided by many contemporary railwaymen, including Mr J F Harrison, former assistant Mr A H Peppercorn (the designer of the A1s) during their design and Mr Peter Townend, Shedmaster at King’s Cross locomotive sheds during the late 1950s and author of books including East Coast Pacifics at Work and Top Shed.  Mr Townend has also accepted the position of Honorary Vice-President of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust.

Company Procedures

In order to control the design and manufacture of the locomotive, manuals are being prepared to ensure the standardisation of areas such as quality, tolerances, dimensioning, material specifications, configuration control and contractual procedures. As well as being goodengineering practices, these controls will help to facilitate BS5750 accreditation whenappropriate.

CONSTRUCTION

Locomotive

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust currently plans to begin the construction of No. 60163 in 18 months to two years time, once the redrawing is sufficiently advanced. The planned completion date for the 50th class A1 is Summer 1998 – the 50th anniversary of the roll-out of the first A1.

Tender

The construction of the tender has already begun with the acquisition of Flying Scotsman’s spare tender (number 5332). The severely corroded tender tank has been removed and the tender frames inspected. They are generally in good condition and will form a good basis for a tender for No. 60163. The next stage in the construction of the tender is the grit blasting of the frames back to the bare metal and the production of roller bearing axleboxes and hornguides.

CALLS FOR HELP

In order for all of the above activities to progress at the required rate, The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust is looking for volunteers in the following areas:

Designers/draughtsmen with access to CAD which can handle two dimensional DXF files.

Quality Control Managers/Engineers to assist in ensuring that subcontractors manufacture to an acceptable standard and to supervise erection of the locomotive.

SPONSORSHIP

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust is looking for the donation of IBM PC compatible computers. The minimum system requirements are IBM ATs for administrative use and the following high specification for use as CAD workstations: 25Mhz 80386SX based personal computer with 80387 math coprocessor, 8Mb RAM, 128Kb cache, 100Mb hard disk, 1.44Mb 31/2″ disk drive, 250Mb cartridge tape streamer, 14″ 1024×768 pixel non-interlaced monitor, 1Mb SVGA video card, Mouse, DOS 5 and Windows 3.1.

The Trust is also keen to contact anyone who may have ex-A1 artifacts and is prepared either to donate them or lend them as patterns to assist manufacture.

David Champion, Project Manager for the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, commented, “The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust is now well placed to meet its objective of completing No. 60163, the 50th class A1, in time for the 50th anniversary of the completion of the first A1 in the Summer of 1998. We have put together the necessary expertise for building steam locomotives and have a dedicated and professional team. We are now seeking more covenantors to speed construction.”

The A1 Locomotive Project is to hold its next road show at the Railway Enthusiasts’ Club, 103 Hawley Lane, Farnborough, Hants on Friday 27th September at 19:30hrs.

The project is breaking new ground in the field of steam locomotive preservation with the construction of an entirely new main line steam locomotive – the first for over 30 years – hopefully by 1995.

Mark Allatt, co-ordinator of the Farnborough road show said, “It is appropriate that the road show is being held in Farnborough as the locomotive is to be named Tornado as a memorial to those who lost their lives in the Gulf War. After all, British Aerospace, one of the manufacturers of the Tornado fighter, and the RAE, are both based there.

He continued, The money is being raised by many people giving a little on a regular basis – £1.25 a week, less than a pint of beer. By mid-July, only eight months after the fund raising started, the value of covenants, donations and benefits in kind had totalled £460,000.”

During the evening road show there will be a progress report and an opportunity for questions and answers. The speakers will include Ian Wightmore, from the Isle of Wight Railway, and David Elliot, A1 Locomotive Project contracts adviser. Enthusiasts and supporters of the project are most welcome, as are those who are unaware of the project and its aims.

The A1 Locomotive Trust is to hold its second road show at the Railway Enthusiasts’ Club, 103 Hawley Lane, Farnborough, Hants on Tuesday 31st March at 19:30hrs.  The project is breaking new ground in the field of steamlocomotive preservation with the construction of an entirely new main line steam locomotive – the first for over 30 years – hopefully by 1995.

Mark Allatt, co-ordinator of the second Farnborough road show said, “It is now not a matter of if, but when, No. 60163 Tornado is built. We have now moved from the initial organisational stage into the pre-construction stage and have already bought Flying Scotsman’s spare tender to form the basis of our own. Several members have been working round the clock at the National Railway Museum in York to copy and index the 700 original drawings that will be needed to build Tornado.  We had such a good response at the Railway Enthusiasts’ Club last September that we are holding a second event to bring people up-to-date with the project. Anyone who is interested is most welcome.

He continued, “The money to build the locomotive is being raised by many people giving a little on a regular basis – £1.25 a week, less than a pint of beer.”

During the evening road show there will be a slide show on the A1s, a progress report and an opportunity for questions and answers. The speakers will include David Elliott, A1 Locomotive Trust contracts adviser. Enthusiasts and supporters of the project are most welcome, as are those who are unaware of the project and its aims.