CYLINDERS FOR NEW STEAM LOCOMOTIVE TO BE CAST BY  BRITISH STEEL ENGINEERING

Inside cylinder to be cast in June

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, which is building the first new mainline steam locomotive to be built in Britain since 1960, today announced that British Steel Engineering, a part of the British Steel Group, will be casting the new locomotive’s three cylinders. This is the first time a full set of cylinders has been cast for a new mainline steam locomotive in Britain for 35 years. The new ex-LNER Peppercorn Class A1 Pacific, No. 60163 Tornado, is being built from the original 1940s drawings by The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, a registered charity.

British Steel Engineering’s Renishaw Foundry of Renishaw, Sheffield, specialises in complex general engineering castings. It is also the only foundry in the UK with recent experience of casting new mainline steam locomotive cylinders, having cast two new cylinders for the heavily restored No. 71000 Duke of Gloucester in 1980. British Steel Engineering is providing the three new cylinder castings to the Trust at a very substantial discount. The Trust estimates that the three cylinder castings would normally have cost around £25,000.

David Champion, Chairman of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, commented, “We are delighted that such a world leading and technically advanced company as British Steel Engineering is to cast our new locomotive’s three cylinders. The work could not be in more experienced and capable hands. Thanks to the help that the company is giving us in producing he cylinders for Tornado, we are confident that we are on-track for completing the locomotive
in 1998.”

Glyn Mason, Group Sales Manager, British Steel Engineering, added, “British Steel Engineering is delighted to be associated with such a splendid project as the one to build a brand new mainline steel locomotive in the 1990s. Our agreement is one of great benefit to both parties. The finished locomotive will be a tribute both to the dedication and vision of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust and the quality of the products of British Steel Engineering and other parts of British Steel.

“This agreement will enable us to demonstrate the variety of uses to which our precision castings can be put and shows that the UK still leads the world in this branch of iron and steel technology. We look forward to working with the Trust on this and other aspects of the locomotive’s construction.”

David Champion concluded, “The addition of British Steel Engineering to our growing list of sponsors, which already
includes BSD (the steel services division of British Steel), Macreadys, William Cook plc and Darlington Borough Council, is a major advance for the Trust. With the laying of Tornado’s frames in January, the casting of 14 frame stretchers and all six 6′ 8″ driving wheels, and the agreement over the new `Darlington Steam Locomotive Works’ in March, no-one can now doubt that we really mean business. 1995 will see further major announcements as the construction of the locomotive gathers pace. In order to maintain this impressive rate of progress, more funds are
urgently needed. We are now appealing to those who want to be a part of this exciting project to become covenantors, sponsors and volunteers to help us maintain this momentum.”

The 3 ton inside cylinder will be cast in mid-June from grade 450/10 spheroidal graphite cast iron. This will be followed by the casting of the left and right-hand cylinders in August. Each cylinder casting will be produced from around 30 individual hand carved patterns and core boxes, weighing over one ton for each cylinder. The patterns were supplied on advantageous terms by Kings Heath Patterns of Cotteridge, Birmingham, the leading supplier of specialist one- off intricate patterns, and each took around four months to produce. The completed castings will
require extensive machining before they can be fitted to the locomotive’s frames and by this time around £200,000 will have been spent on the cylinders, pistons, valves and associated items by the Trust.

CEREMONY MARKS START OF ERECTION OF NEW STEAM LOCOMOTIVE TORNADO.

RAF hands over locomotive’s crested nameplates

The Project to build the first new mainline steam locomotive in Britain since 1960 took a major step forward today with a ceremony to mark the erection of the frames of the new A1 class locomotive Tornado. The ceremony, hosted at Birmingham Railway Museum by The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, the registered charity building the new locomotive, was attended by representatives of many of the companies supporting the Project, including British Steel, BSD Steel Service Centres, Macreadys, William Cook plc and Black Sheep Breweries.

Richard Tesh, member of the management board of BSD Steel Service Centres, the British Steel subsidiary responsible for the profiling of the 50ft long frames, cracked a specially brewed bottle of Black Sheep Real Ale over the main frames and commented, “Today’s ceremony is the steam locomotive equivalent of a ship’s keel laying ceremony. I am delighted, on behalf of both BSD and British Steel, to be marking the start of the erection of Tornado, a new steam locomotive which will truly be the best of British engineering, combining as it does the best of both traditional and high-tech engineering methods. We look forward to supporting the Project as it works towards completion of the new locomotive in 1998 and call upon other engineering companies to see what they can do to help make the Trust’s dream a reality.”

Group Captain ‘Raz’ Ball, Station Commander, RAF Cottesmore handed over to the Trust Tornado’s two nameplates – one with the crest of RAF Cottesmore and the other with the crest of the Tri-national Tornado Training establishment based there – both painted by groundcrews at the RAF station. He added, “I was delighted to be invited to become involved with the Project, particularly as the locomotive will perpetuate the name of an aircraft and its crews which have become and will remain the backbone of Europe’s support for NATO well into the next century. The nameplates carry the badges of the Tri-national Tornado Training Establishment and Royal Air Force
Cottesmore, which I command. More than any other station, RAF Cottesmore can claim to be the home of the Tornado, as aircrews of the Royal Air Force, the German Air Force, the German Navy and the Italian Air Force have been converted to the Tornado GR1 here since 1981 when the aircraft first entered service with the three nations.”

Also present at Birmingham Railway Museum was No. 60103 (alias No. 4472) Flying Scotsman, the sole surviving ex-LNER Gresley A3 Pacific and ‘distant cousin’ of 60163 Tornado. Following the ceremony, with the kind permission of its owners Sir William McAlpine and Peter Waterman, Trust’s guests had an opportunity to drive Flying Scotsman within the Museum’s yard.

David Champion, Chairman, The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, concluded, “This ceremony marks a significant milestone for the whole of the independent railway movement. No other group proposing the construction of a modern steam locomotive since the end of mainline steam construction in 1960 has got this far. Thanks to the tremendous support of our covenantors and sponsors, a new Peppercorn Class A1 Pacific, No. 60163 Tornado, is now taking shape before us. The Project is currently around three months ahead of plan, with completion of the locomotive scheduled for the summer of 1998. The finished locomotive will truly be the best of British engineering and a tribute to all of the RAF aircrews who fought in the Gulf War.

“In order to maintain this rate of progress, more funds are needed. We are now appealing to everyone who want to see new steam locomotive construction succeed, to put their hands in their pockets and sign up to our Covenant scheme. The cost is only the price of a pint of beer a week (£1.50 per week, collected monthly), but the result is the new Peppercorn A1 Tornado.”

SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS MADE ON NEW STEAM LOCOMOTIVE

The Project to build the first new mainline steam locomotive in Britain since 1960 took a major step forward today when The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust announced that significant progress had been made in the construction of the
locomotive’s frames, cylinders and wheels.

Frames

The machining of the main frame plates by T M Engineers Ltd of Kingswinford,  West Midlands, has now been completed and all holes drilled. The one-piece  frame plates are expected to have the set in the trailing end formed within the next week and to be delivered to the temporary frame erection site at the Birmingham Railway Museum before Christmas. The frame erection stands, designed by the Trust and manufactured by Ian Storey Engineering of Morpeth are already on site and awaiting the delivery of the frame plates.

The first four frame stretchers have already been delivered, fully machined, and are awaiting assembly into the frames. Six further stretcher patterns have been passed on to Lloyds of Burton, a subsidiary of William Cook plc, for casting, with delivery expected by January 1995. Work continues on the remaining frame stretchers, with completion expected by February 1995. The patterns for the coupled wheel hornblocks and hornstays are currently being prepared for moulding by Lloyds and castings from them are expected to be completed by Christmas.

Cylinders

Pattern equipment, consisting of two main patterns and 31 core boxes, for the three cylinder Pacific’s inside cylinder, has now been delivered by Kings Heath Patterns of Birmingham to the Birmingham Railway Museum, where sections of it are currently on display. Casting of the inside cylinder is due to take place in spring 1995 and Kings Heath Patterns have now commenced work on the two outside cylinder patterns, which are due for completion in May 1995.

Wheels

The modular pattern for the six 6’8″ driving wheels of the new Peppercorn Class A1 Pacific has now been completed by Master Patterns, a subsidiary of William Cook plc of Sheffield, and a start has been made on the front bogie and rear cartazzi wheel patterns. The casting of the six driving wheels should take place at Lloyds of Burton over the next few weeks.

Bogie

The bogie side frame plates were delivered from BSD, a British Steel subsidiary, in late November, along with all remaining items of plate for the frames, such as buffer beam and rear rubbing plates. Orders have been placed for the patterns for the bottom centre and frame stays, for the bogie, with delivery expected in January, with casting and machining to follow during spring 1995.

David Champion, Chairman, The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, commented, These announcements are very significant for the whole of the independent railway movement. No other group proposing the construction of a modern steam locomotive since the end of mainline steam construction in 1960 has got this far. A new Peppercorn Class A1 Pacific, No. 60163 Tornado, is now taking shape before us. The Project is currently around three months ahead of plan, with completion of the locomotive scheduled for the summer of 1998, and by the middle of 1995 the Trust will be in possession of Tornado’s rolling chassis.

In order to maintain this rate of progress, more funds are desperately needed. To complete the locomotive within this timescale, the Trust’s income must double every year, which represents a continual increase of around six percent per month. We have maintained this rate of growth over the past two years and appeal to all railway enthusiasts who want to see new steam locomotive construction succeed, to put their hand in their pocket and sign up to our Covenant scheme. The cost is only the price of a pint of beer a (£6 per month), but the result is
the new Peppercorn A1 Tornado.

 

DESIGNER’S WIDOW STARTS CONSTRUCTION OF NEW STEAM LOCOMOTIVE

A1 Project gets helping hand from BSD Plate & Profile Products

The project to build the first new mainline steam locomotive in Britain since 1960 took a major step forward today when the new locomotive’s main frames were profiled at BSD Plate and Profile Products’ 38-acre site in Leeds, West Yorkshire.

The CNC Plasma and Oxy fuel profile cutting system which cut the main frames from steel donated by British Steel was started by Mrs Dorothy Mather, the widow of the locomotive’s 1940s designer, Arthur H Peppercorn. The profiling of the main frames involves cutting 25mm and 30mm plate with consistent high quality finish.

David Champion, Chairman and Project Manager, the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, commented,“After more than three years of careful preparation, it was a marvellous sight to see Mrs Mather start cutting metal for the new Peppercorn class A1 steam locomotive – the 50th to her late husband’s 1940s design. The main frames of a steam locomotive are the parts upon which everything else is built, and so the importance of this announcement to the Trust cannot be understated. It’s ironic that only a mile from this works in Leeds is the site of the former Copley Hill Shed where many of the A1s were based in the 1950s and 1960s to work express trains to London’s King’s Cross Station.

“We are also very grateful to BSD Plate and Profile Products, not only for the profiling of the frames but also for enabling us to do it in such style in the presence of Mrs Mather. We certainly look forward to working with the company again as construction of the locomotive progresses towards completion in Summer 1998.”

Stuart Cross, Regional General Manager, BSD Plate and Profile Products, Leeds, added,”BSD is delighted to be associated with such a splendid project as the one to build a brand new mainline steam locomotive in the 1990s. Our agreement to profile the new locomotive’s main frames is one that is of great benefit to both parties. The finished locomotive will be a tribute to both the dedication and vision of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust and the quality of BSD’s workmanship.

“This is an agreement that will enable us to demonstrate the variety of uses to which our plant, equipment and skills can be put and one that shows that the UK still leads the world in this branch of steel technology. We look forward to working with the Trust on this and other aspects of the locomotive’s construction.”

David Champion, Chairman, The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, concluded, “The addition of BSD Plate and Profile Products to the list of great British engineering companies – including British Steel, William Cook plc and Macreadys – already helping the project, is a major advance for the Trust. With the locomotive’s main frames underway, the
tender started, the cylinder patterns under construction and the driving wheel patterns ready for delivery, no-one can now doubt that we really mean business. 1994 will see further major announcements as the construction gathers pace. We are now appealing to those who want to be a part of this exciting project to become covenantors, sponsors and volunteers to help us maintain this momentum.”

CYLINDER PATTERNS ORDERED FOR NEW STEAM LOCOMOTIVE

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, the registered charity which is building the new ex-LNER Class A1 Pacific No. 60163, the first mainline steam locomotive to be built in Britain since 1960, today announced that it had placed
a £20,000 order with Kings Heath Patterns of Birmingham, for the  manufacture of the new locomotive’s three cylinder patterns. This  order represents a major step towards the completion of the new locomotive as cylinder patterns are long lead-time items of great expense and  are on the critical path towards the construction of the locomotive.

The three cylinder patterns will be delivered over the next year, with the inside cylinder pattern being available for inspection at The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust’s convention in Doncaster in September and the core boxes following by Christmas. The remaining two outside cylinder patterns will follow in April and July 1995.

Although negotiations are currently taking place as to which company will cast the cylinders, it is anticipated that casting of the inside cylinder will take place in early 1995, with the outside two following on completion of their patterns. The cylinders for No. 60163 will be cast from a higher quality of iron than the cylinders of the original 49
A1s as part of the drive by the Trust to build the new locomotive to the highest possible quality.

David Elliott, Technical Director, A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, commented, “Last month we announced that work had begun on the manufacture of the new locomotive’s frames. Today, we are delighted to be able to announce the start of work on the locomotive’s cylinders. These are the very heart of the locomotive and the patterns for them are
extremely complex and require great skill to put together. We are pleased that Kings Heath Patterns were able to come up with such a competitive price and were able to deliver to our tight timescale.

After three years of preparation assembling a management team, acquiring and scanning 1,100 drawings, putting in place a fund raising mechanism and so on a brand new Peppercorn class A1 Pacific is now starting to take shape and we appeal to more sponsors and covenantors to come forward so that we can meet our target completion date of the Summer of 1998.”

Mike Lemon, Managing Director, Kings Heath Patterns, added, “Kings Heath Patterns is delighted to be associated with such a splendid project as the one to build a brand new mainline steam locomotive in the 1990s. The finished locomotive will be a tribute to the dedication and vision of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust and we look forward to working with the Trust on this and other aspects of the locomotive’s construction.”

REGISTER OPENED FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A GRESLEY CLASS P2 LOCOMOTIVE

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust also announced today that it was opening a register for those interested in helping to build a Gresley P2 class locomotive once the new A1 is completed.

The P2s were the most powerful passenger locomotives to run on Britain’s railways. They were designed by the legendary Sir Nigel Gresley, Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER)
from 1923 until his death in 1941, who was also the designer of Flying Scotsman, arguably the world’s most famous locomotive and the first to reach 100 mph and Mallard, the holder of the world speed record for steam traction of 126 mph since 1938.

The P2s were of a 2-8-2, or Mikado, wheel arrangement, in itself unique for a mainline express passenger locomotive in the UK. The original six P2s were built in Doncaster between 1934 and 1936 for use on the mainline between Edinburgh and Aberdeen where their enormous power and adhesion was used to haul the heaviest trains over this line of twisting curves and severe gradients. The original locomotives, Nos. 2001-6, were given evocative names associated with the route over  which they worked, Cock o’ the North, Earl Marischal, Lord President, Mons Meg, Thane of Fife and Wolf of Badenoch.

Although undoubtedly a success in the role they were designed for, they fell victim to internal LNER politics and were rebuilt to become class A2/2 Pacifics in 1943/4 by Gresley’s successor, Edward Thompson.  In their final form they were not particularly successful and were  scrapped between 1959 and 1961.

David Champion, Chairman, A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, commented, “It has always been the Trust’s intention that A1 60163 would be the first in a series of lost but not forgotten ex-LNER steam locomotives to be built in Doncaster. Now that work is well underway on constructing the first of these, the 50th class A1, we have decided to make our next objective clear and set up a register of those interested in and who might have information on the P2s.

There are three main reasons for making this announcement now. First, as with No. 60163, the new P2 will require several years of careful research before we can start to cut metal – by starting this work now with the research team who have almost completed their work on the A1, we can ensure that we keep our volunteer teams together, build upon skills already learnt and be ready to start construction of the P2 immediately following the completion of the A1.

Second, there are many common parts between A1s and P2s, including the boiler, and so it is only sensible to make use of this economy of scale. Finally, it is only by successfully completing No. 60163 that we can go on to build more ex-LNER steam locomotives. I would urge all of those interested in building a new P2, and others, to come forward and covenant towards the completion of the new A1.

WORK STARTS ON NEW STEAM LOCOMOTIVE: A1 Project gets helping hand from British Steel

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, the registered charity which is building the new ex-LNER Class A1 Pacific No. 60163, the first mainline steam locomotive to be built in Britain since 1960, today announced that British Steel has completed rolling the new locomotive’s frame plates. These are the first major components of the new steam locomotive to be manufactured and they were rolled at British Steel’s plate mill in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire.

Although the Trust has paid for the rolling of the frame plates in full, British Steel has made a substantial donation to the Trust which, combined with a recent donation from the readers of Steam Railway and Steam World magazines, has covered their cost.

David Champion, Chairman and Project Manager, The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, commented, “After three years of preparation – assembling a management team, acquiring and scanning 1,100 drawings, putting in place a fund raising mechanism and so on – we are delighted to be able to announce the start of the building of the new class A1 No. 60163. The frames of a locomotive are the parts upon which everything else is built, and so the importance of this announcement to the Trust cannot be understated.

“We are also very grateful for British Steel’s support of the project and look forward to working with the company as construction of the locomotive progresses. The Trust can also confirm that it is on-track for completing the locomotive in 1998.”

Jim Jamieson, General Manager, plate sales and marketing for British Steel added, “British Steel is delighted to be associated with such a splendid project as the one to build a brand new mainline steam locomotive in the 1990s. The finished locomotive will be a tribute both to the dedication and vision of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust and the quality of the steel products of British Steel. We look forward to working with the Trust on this and other aspects of
the locomotive’s construction.”

David Champion concluded, “The addition of British Steel to our growing list of sponsors, which already includes William Cook plc, Macreadys and Doncaster Council, is a major advance for the Trust. The completed locomotive will be a show-case for all that is best in British engineering. It will demonstrate that Britain still has a world-beating, hi-tech, engineering industry, yet one that still has within it those specialist skills many thought were long gone.

“With the rolling of the frame plates and the agreement to manufacture the driving wheels, no-one can now doubt that we really mean business. 1994 will see further major announcements as the construction of the locomotive gathers pace. We are now appealing to those who want to be a part of this exciting project to become covenantors, sponsors and volunteers to help us maintain this momentum.”

A1 PROJECT SIGNS SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENT WITH WILLIAM COOK PLC 

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, the registered charity which is building the new ex-LNER Class A1 Pacific No. 60163, the first mainline steam locomotive to be built in Britain since 1960, today announced a major sponsorship agreement with Sheffield-based William Cook plc, the world’s largest steel foundry group.

Under the agreement, William Cook, whose plants specialise in the design and manufacture of steel castings for all industrial purposes, will make the pattern equipment, cast and machine the new steam locomotive’s six 6ft.8in. diameter driving wheels on very advantageous terms. In return, The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust will provide the company with appropriate publicity and access as accords a major sponsor of the 50th Class A1 Pacific locomotive. The Trust estimates that the six driving wheels would normally have cost around £60,000.

David Elliott, Technical Director, A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, commented, “We are delighted to have reached this sponsorship agreement with such a world leading and technologically advanced company as William Cook plc. Thanks to the help that the company is giving us in producing the driving wheels for No. 60163, we are hopeful that we will have completed the rolling chassis for the next A1 by early next year and that we are on-track for completing the locomotive in 1998”

Andrew Cook, Chairman, William Cook plc added, “William Cook plc is delighted to be associated with such a splendid project as the one to build a brand new mainline steam locomotive in the 1990s. Our agreement to provide the complete driving wheels on highly advantageous terms is one that is of great benefit to both parties. The finished locomotive will be a tribute both to the dedication and vision of the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust and the quality of the products of the William Cook group.”

“This is a sponsorship arrangement that will enable us to demonstrate again the variety of uses to which our castings can be put and one that demonstrates that the UK still leads the world in this branch of steel technology. We look forward to working with the Trust on this and other aspects of the locomotive’s construction.”

David Champion, Chairman and Project Manager, The A1 Steam Locomotive  Trust, concluded, “The addition of William Cook plc to our growing list of sponsors, which already includes Macreadys and Doncaster Council, is a major advance for the Trust. With the signing of this agreement to manufacture the driving wheels and the laying
of No. 60163’s frames in March, no-one can now doubt that we really mean business. 1994 will see further major announcements as the construction of the locomotive gathers pace. We are now appealing to those who want to be a part of this exciting project to become covenantors, sponsors and volunteers to help us maintain this momentum.”

MAJOR SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENT WITH STEEL STOCKHOLDER MACREADYS

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, the registered charity which is building the new ex-LNER Class A1 Pacific No. 60163, the first mainline steam locomotive to be built in Britain since 1960, today announced a major sponsorship agreement with Macreadys, the leading steel bar stockholder, part of the steels and engineering division of Glynwed International plc.

Under the agreement, Macreadys will provide The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust with a variety of steels from its wide stock range. The initial delivery, due to take place early in the new year, will comprise bright round bars for use as pins, bushes and shafts on the 50th Class A1 Pacific locomotive

David Champion, Project Manager, A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, commented, “We are delighted to have reached this sponsorship agreement with such a leading and respected company as Macreadys. Thanks to the help that they are giving us in providing engineering steels for the locomotive, we are again able to confirm
that the Trust is on-track for completing No. 60163 in 1998.”

Robert Turner, Marketing Director of Macreadys and Divisional Marketing Director of Glynwed Steels and Engineering added, “Macreadys is pleased to be associated with such an ambitious project as the one to build a brand new mainline steam locomotive in the 1990s. Our agreement to provide sponsorship in-kind is one that is of great benefit to both parties and the finished locomotive will be a tribute both to the hard work of The A1 Steam
Locomotive Trust and the quality of Macreadys steel. It is a sponsorship arrangement that will enable us to demonstrate some of the uses to which our products can be put and one that will play a major part in preserving Britain’s engineering heritage.”

David Champion concluded, “With the backing of both Macreadys and Doncaster Council, and the laying of
No. 60163’s frames in March, 1994 will see a major step forward in the construction of the 50th ex-LNER Class A1 Pacific No. 60163. 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 sponsors to speed construction.”

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.”