SHILDON, England — British rail enthusiasts have formed several groups to build new steam locomotives as part of the United Kingdom’s thriving heritage rail industry. The trend began with the building of the A1 Tornado, which in 2008 became the first main line steam locomotive built since the end of the steam era. Such a locomotive — capable of 100 mph — is unsuitable for most heritage railways, which are largely branch lines of 10 to 15 miles with speed limits of 25 mph.
Enter the Class G5 Locomotive Co., which is seeking support for its effort to build an 0-4-4 tank locomotive that it says will be economical to run and maintain with a high route availability, low axle weight and ability to take tight corners.
The North East Railway built 110 of these Class G5 engines between 1894 and 1901, which worked branch lines and semi-fast expresses in Eastern England and the North East of Scotland and were capable of speeds of more than 60 mph. In the late 1950s, they were largely replaced by Diesel Multiple Units. None were preserved.
The company began a new build of a locomotive in 2007, using over 130 of the original drawings, and the pace of construction. Where appropriate, modifications have been made owing to advances in materials and techniques and to comply with new regulations for mainline running.
The boiler was manufactured in Darlington (the place where G5 locos were built) and is the largest all-welded, standard-gauge boiler to be built in the UK in 60 years. The frame is fully erected as is the rear bogie. The aim is complete a fully rolling chassis with fully connected motion by the end of the year. A re-machined cylinder bock is currently being reinstalled into the frame. The connecting rods and eccentrics have been forged and machined during the last month.
One reasons for the slow and sometimes frustrating progress of construction is the difficulty in finding suitable suppliers of what are by necessity bespoke components. Three out of the four driving wheels, the crank axle and coupling rods are complete. The production of the fourth driving wheel has been fraught with problems. This wheel has been either badly cast or machined on two occasions and both wheels were had to be scrapped. A new order has been placed with a different supplier.
Over a million pounds have been spent so far. It is estimated that a further £500,000 ( $650,000) to complete construction of new-build loco No. 1759 . The construction is predominately funded by monthly “super friend” donations, buying of shares, and dedicated fund raising.
More information on the project is available at its website. To be a super friend, email friends@g5locomotiveltd.co.uk.
— Paul Symonds and Tim Taylor are representatives of the Class G5 Locomotive Co.
