Another capacity audience at Fulwood Sports Club was given a fascinating insight into the building of a new steam locomotive in Sheffield, entirely by volunteers, based on the historic Class 6 engines dating back to the 1950s but to modern standards. The aim is to make it make it more powerful, more efficient and with lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Ian gave us a brief outline of his working career. Before becoming involved with this project, he was a pilot and chartered engineer encompassing avionics, project management and latterly for some years with the NHS Blood Donor Service.
There were initially ten Class 6 engines built in the 1950s designed to run in Scotland and all named after Scottish Clans – Cameron, Campell, Buchanan, etc – hence the collective name Clans. The project however never progressed further due to a shortage of steel at the time and the impact of the development of deisel powered engines.
In 1988 The Standard Steam Locomotive Company Ltd. was set up by volunteers to build from scratch a new Class 6 engine, now named Hengist (mythologically a Jutish chieftain considered to be one of the founding figures of Anglo-Saxon Britain). The project was and remains supported by The Diamond Group based in Sheffield who, with CTL Seal and many engineering supporters, sub-contractors and suppliers both in the UK and abroad, are closely involved with what is a £5 million-plus overall project which, it is hoped, will see a completed engine in 2030.
The many volunteers and associated commercial contributors are making good progress towards the finished project. However, along the way there have been many hurdles to overcome despite having obtained an almost complete set of original drawings. However, translating these to accommodate the change required to manufacture new parts that improve on the original has been a challenge which is likely to continue.
Ian presented a comprehensive slide show of the progress so far and described in technical detail, some of which I think tested the understanding of members of Probus including the writer, not only the work underway but also how a steam train engine actually works and is built up of many complex parts and processes.
More details are available at www.theclanproject.org for those wishing to understand in more detail the complexities around the creation of a new Class 6 Locomotive and the engineering difficulties to be overcome to complete this amazing undertaking.
Ian ended by fielding many questions from a most appreciative audience and encouraging members to perhaps contribute to assist with the finance going forwards. To date some £1.2 million of the £5 million target has been raised, so any donation would be welcome.
Ian also invited anyone interested to come along to their open day at their Ecclesfield home (Butterthwaite Lane Ecclesfield Sheffield S35 9WA) to be held on 19th and 20th June 2027.
- Illustrations courtesy Ian Henderson & The Standard Steam Locomotive Co Ltd