The Gigantic Locomotive Association have set up a Crowdfunding Page in order to raise £5,000 to help build a Bassett-Lowke 15in Gauge Class 60 ‘Pacific’ steam locomotive.

Brief history of the engine

The original locomotive, firstly named “John Anthony” later “Colossus”, was built by Bassett-Lowke, a world famous company for building model trains and other models.

The class 60 was a development from the earlier Class 10, 20 and 30 engines built by the company. The company only built one Class 60 in 1914, which was also the second Pacific Wheel Arrangement engine built in Britain. The first being built by the Great Western Railway, No. 111 “The Great Bear”.

The engine never arrived at the Miniature Railway at Staughton Manor which it was built for.

Renamed Colossus, the engine was bought by the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway where it hauled trains between 1916 and 1927. Unfortunately, Colossus was dismantled and a few parts used in the construction of another engine. Any parts not used were scrapped.

The Project to built the next Class 60

The Gigantic Locomotive Association will use modern techniques, such as Computer Aided Design (CAD), along with original drawings, to help them built a new Class 60, as close to Colossus in design as possible.

So far, the tender’s chassis is close to completion, with a few minor components also obtained. Next to be built is the tender’s running gear and the front bogie for the engine itself.

• Visit the project’s Crowdfunding Page
  For more information