Unabridged version of letter:
Mr. Staghurst's letter (SR 277) brings to mind the famous Dr Dionysius Lardner who, in 1835, claiming great scientific authority, endeavoured to dissuade a certain Isambard Kingdom Brunel from building the Box Tunnel. Dr. Lardner predicted that a train entering the top of the tunnel would emerge at a speed of 120 mph from the bottom, and that its passengers would be unable to breathe at such speed. Unlike Mr Staghurst however, the good doctor didn't purport to be a railway enthusiast by publishing his "facts" in the railway press!
It is a little disappointing to see such negativity towards the 5AT being expressed by people within the "enthusiast" fraternity. I had expected Wardale's proposal for his 21st century 5AT to be received widespread jubilation and enthusiasm, since it offers what I imagine to be every steam-devotee's dream -the chance of demonstrating what steam is really capable of, and offering the chance of an ongoing role for steam traction in the world of tomorrow.
I have every sympathy with those who support the idea but, like Mr Eickhoff (SR 276), whose letters question details of Wardale's proposed design, and who urge consideration of alternative details. Such comments are constructive and often enlightening, especially when Wardale responds to them. In fact as "webmaster" of the 5AT website [www.5at.co.uk], I find such debates highly informative and I plan to publish a new 'FAQ' web-page covering frequently (and not-so-frequently) asked questions, and Wardale's responses to them. By so doing, I hope to be able to reassure those who are enthusiastic about the 5AT that Wardale has given deep consideration to most of the alternatives that have been put forward in SR and other publications, including a 4-8-0 wheel arrangement, Caprotti valve gear, three-cylinder drive and compounding. His decision to adopt a simple (in both senses of the word) 2 cylinder 4-6-0 design arrangement with Walschaert's valve gear is based on his experience and his professional judgement after due and diligent consideration of alternatives. It also reflects his determination that the 5AT will be not only be extremely reliable in service, but that it will perform to his expectations from the first and with an absolute minimum of teething troubles. This is not to say that those who favour alternative arrangements are "wrong". As with all engineering designs, there are no "right" and "wrong" solutions: the engineer has to use his professional judgement to choose what he considers the best options based on considerations of cost, suitability, performance, maintenance and life-expectancy.
We should all remember that Wardale is not an amateur; his knowledge and experience are not based on books that he has read; nor is he a head-in-the-clouds academic. He is a down-to-earth, practical, hands-on professional engineer with vast experience, and he is one of the few people remaining on this planet who has the runs on the board in terms of practical achievement in steam locomotive development. Furthermore, Wardale is a perfectionist who abhors the "good-enough" attitude that doomed steam to near-oblivion in the '50s and '60s. With that knowledge, I believe that we can all feel assured that when Wardale says he is satisfied with his design, then there is good reason to feel confident that it will be satisfactory. Anyone who has read his book "Red Devil and Other Tales from the Age of Steam" must recognize that Wardale is one person, and now probably the only person, who could and should be entrusted with the design of a 21st century locomotive that will be capable of demonstrating what steam really could have achieved in its heyday, and what it can still achieve today.
This is almost certainly the LAST opportunity that the world and the steam fraternity have to see what steam is really capable of. If the 5AT doesn't materialize, Wardale isn't going to wait around to have another crack at it in the future. As enthusiasts, we should (if we really care about the long-term preservation of steam) give the 5AT our absolute support. It is after all, the only long-term safeguard against the ultimate demise of steam that is on offer outside of museums.
Let it not be said when the 5AT becomes reality and steams into the future, that it was built in spite of the doubts and misgivings of, or lack of support from, the railway enthusiast movement!
Chris Newman
Beijing, China
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