The Fundamental Design Calculations for the 5AT locomotive, completed in 2005, provide the basis upon which the Detailed Design work will be undertaken.

The Detail Design of the locomotive is likely to be the most difficult and demanding component of the whole 5AT project. The work will involve the engineering calculations and preparation of the detailed drawings of each and every large and small component of the locomotive. It is expected that this will involve the production of approximately 800 drawings, being the number of drawings needed for the manufacture of the Standard 5MT locomotive of similar size to the 5AT. However whereas the 5MT was designed by a group of perhaps 100 or 200 engineers and draftsmen who were skilled and experienced in the design and detailing of steam locomotives, there are today very few people remaining who have such skills and knowledge.

To our advantage, we have computers and CAD/CAM software systems to aid the engineers in their task. Our intention is to ensure that a single 3D CAD system be used by all engineers and draftsmen engaged in the work (SolidWorks being the favoured tool for the job), and besides speeding up the drawing process, it will also be of enormous assistance in reducing the tedious tasks associated with checking for interferences and fit-up etc., and will allow the automatic production of highly accurate shop drawings directly from arrangement drawings.

The current expectation (as expressed in the Project Feasibility Study) is that the detail design task, encompassing the production of calculations and engineering drawings, will take around 600 man-months.

Expressions of interest are sought from anyone who has skills and/or experience that may be relevant to the task.  Please refer to the Engineering Help and the Recruitment pages of this website.

The Drawings page of this website provides access to some of the engineering drawings that have already been completed.