The following are (from my observation) the more frequently asked questions that have been asked about David Wardale's proposed design for the 5AT.   The answers are mostly taken from articles and letters written by David Wardale most of which appear on this website.

• FAQ 1 - Aren't the performance claims for the 5AT a bit exaggerated?
• FAQ 2 - Why a 4-6-0 wheel arrangement, and not a 4-6-2 to improve stability at speed?
• FAQ 3 - Why is compound propulsion not proposed?
• FAQ 4 - Why not use 3 cylinders to improve balancing?
• FAQ 5 - Why use Walschaerts valve gear and not Caprotti driven poppet valves?
• FAQ 6 - Wouldn't larger driving wheels be more appropriate for the high-speeds proposed?
• FAQ 7 - Shouldn't the boiler be larger?
• FAQ 8 - Why a 4-6-0 and not (say) a 4-8-0 to give better adhesion to deliver the available power?
• FAQ 9 - Isn't 305 psi boiler pressure going to create major design and maintenance problems?
• FAQ 9a - Why not adopt a higher boiler pressure?
• FAQ 10 - Why was Walschaerts Valve Gear chosen over Baker?
• FAQ 11 - What is "gas oil" that will be used to fuel the 5AT?
• FAQ 12 - Isn't the piston speed of the 5AT going to be too high?
• FAQ 13 - Some questions about Exhaust Systems (Kordinas, Blowers etc)
• FAQ 14 - Why not fuel the 5AT with "bio-mass", ethanol or other fuel that is more environmentally than gas oil, and seek the benefit of a government grant?
• FAQ 15 - Do the traditional arrangements of feed water delivery act as a basic form of preheating?
• FAQ 16 - Are very large diameter steam pipes necessary?
• FAQ 17 - "The steaming rate for the 5AT cannot be sustained by the Lempor system" [statement by J.J.G. Koopmans]
• FAQ 18 - How will the 5AT's reliability be improved above that of First Generation Steam?
• FAQ 19 - How will the 5AT be turned, or will it haul trains backwards?
• FAQ 20 - Why not fit a Steam Jacket to the 5AT Cylinders?
• FAQ 21 - With the prospect of ever-rising oil prices, should the 5AT's design be based on the use of coal?

Questions that I asked David Wardale about clauses in the 5AT Technical Specification

Page last modified 26th May 2008 - addition of FAQ 21
Modified 24th Mar 2008 - addition of FAQ 20
Modified 16th May 2007 - addition of FAQ 9a
Modified 27th Feb 2006 - addition of FAQ 19
Modified 31st Aug 2005 - addition of FAQ 18
Modified 19th Aug 2005 - addition of FAQ 17
Modified 7th Jan 2005 - addition of FAQ 14
Modified 15th Feb 2005 - addition of FAQ 15 and 16
Page created 19 Jan 2003;