What Could You Do With £1.7 Million? Simple, you could build yourself a replica A1 class Pacific. This project has caught the imagination of the British railway enthusiast in a big way and brought donations rolling in. I am told that L.D. Porta prepared drawings for the A1 that would have incorporated the the best of his technology without changing the external appearance, but were not used as an exact replica was required. There are other 'replica' projects under way in the UK, but none that appear to advance the steam locomotive beyond an item of nostalgia. Meanwhile, unique, technically significant locomotives around the World rot to rust or go to the torch.

One of the reasons the steam engine has been slowly losing the battle to survive in regular service has been the failure of its supporters to innovate. Private builders competing to supply locos to overseas customers suffered less from this malaise than their counterparts on Britain's main line railways. I have to say the nostalgia fans are achieving something quite outstanding by succeeding with the A1 project, and if the will is there, then the same could be done with a 21st Century steam locomotive project. I am laying down the challenge for someone to come forward with such a project to be supported in these pages.