New build steam and the fuel problem
HAVING now retired from my employment that included independent assurance of main line steam locomotives, I now feel free to air my opinions on the existing fleet of UK steam locomotives and the prospects for new builds in light of the forthcoming fuel and image crisis. This is not going to go away!
A number of new-build locomotives are currently in construction at various stages, but they are all as close replicas as can practicably be made of the inefficient types that ran on this country’s railways up to 1967, employing technology not advanced since 1950, when 8% thermal efficiency was regarded as outstanding.
It grieves me sorely that virtually no attempt is made to remedy this situation, despite an interval of nearly three-quarters of a century. The 5AT was a bold try, but failed to attract funding, a position which in my view resulted entirely from misplaced attitudes (I was quite looking forward to being involved in the approval of that!).
Improvements
If the reader is old enough, let him
