The Concept:

It was such a straightforward thought – “Let’s build a class 22!” It can’t be that difficult so where do we start? OK, let’s start at the end and work back shall we? Set up a group on Facebook and see what happens. So we get 700 watchers in a month, all asking complex questions about the Project 22 and how it’s going to be done! Unfortunately we don’t know because we have only just started.

Right, let’s form a Committee and see who wants to become involved. Within four weeks there is a Constitution and a Committee. Well – let’s see if anyone will pay to join? Let’s get a table and some merchandise and go to some galas and see what happens? And people joined, 70 people in the first year.

So what do we have? A fantastic project with huge interest generated, run by a group of volunteers from Facebook – a strong team who have taken the project from nothing and created a Society and a Company.

Within the first few weeks a Project Manager was appointed who was challenged with the remit of answering a simple question, “Is it possible to build a Class 22? And if so how?”

The answer that came back was, yes! And the second answer was, like this:

Locate all the drawings.
Locate a NBL/MAN L12V18/21BS Engine (or two).
Locate a Voith LT306r Transmission.
Make a list of all components needed and what can be salvaged from existing locos.
Get quotes for all of the castings needed.
Get quotes for all of the heavy welding needed.
Convert specification from 1957 to current day.
Come up with a basic costing.
Find people with the skills to assemble the locomotive.
Find a build location.
Find a long term home.
Get more people involved.
Raise £1,200,000 just to start.

At this point most people would have given up and gone home, but Project 22 is managed by some very driven and determined people.