Main Line Steam Builders Group holds Second Meeting

Six high-profile steam project groups with the common objective of delivering their respective locomotives fit for UK main line running have held a successful second meeting at CTL Seal Ltd in Sheffield.

All of the founder members attended :

• The B17 Steam Locomotive Trust
• Class G5 Locomotive Company
• General Steam Navigation Locomotives Restoration Society
• LMS-Patriot Company
• P2 Steam Locomotive Company (A1 Steam Locomotive Trust)
• Standard Steam Locomotive Company (72010 Hengist)

Principal guest speaker was Giles Turner from Office of Rail and Road (ORR).  Giles explained the ORR perspective on the processes for bringing steam into use on the mainline network and the procedure for submission of Certification and Registration documentation for a new locomotive.   The process is to provide confidence that an individual project, and the sector as a whole, are managing the safety risks.

Graham Nicholas from the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust shared examples of Technical Hazard Identification and Risk analyses being prepared for the new P2 locomotive in conjunction with independent assessor Ricardo Certification Ltd., which can be followed as templates by the other new build projects.

Going forward, the group agreed to share technical and engineering information, and the first step will be supplier lists for major components and experience with suppliers.  The group anticipate there will also be exchange of technical information on specific engineering topics associated with introducing new steam engines on to the network.

Following the first meeting, the King George V Locomotive Trust and the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (building a W class 2-6-0) approached the group asking to join. There was unanimous agreement that they would be welcome to attend.  Any other interested parties should contact one of the founding members.

Alistair Leach, Principal Consultant at Ricardo Rail said “It is really encouraging to see the groups involved sharing knowledge and using common approaches to address the challenges of building 20th Century locomotives for safe operation on a 21st Century railway”.

The next meeting of the group is planned for March 2023.