: We are re-creating the lost Bassett-Lowke 15in gauge steam locomotive, Colossus¬. In so doing, we are resurrecting only the second ‘Pacific’ built in Britain and bridging the missing link between Sir Arthur Heywood’s pioneering ‘minimum gauge’ engines and Henry Greenly’s ultimate 15in gauge designs, which today can be seen at work on both the Ravenglass & Eskdale and Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch railways.

In 1908, the Great Western Railway built the first 4-6-2 in Britain with George Jackson Churchward’s The Great Bear. What was the second? Nigel Gresley’s ‘A1s’ for the GNR? Or Vincent Raven’s ‘A2s’ for the NER? Answer: it was Bassett-Lowke’s Colossus.

Famed model railway locomotive builders Bassett-Lowke had already enjoyed great success with its ‘Little Giant’ 15in gauge 4-4-2 ‘Atlantics’, designed by leading model engineer Henry Greenly, making them market leaders in the world of 15in gauge live-steam locomotives. In 1913, the firm made history by building Colossus – its first (and only) ‘Pacific’.

The design – aptly dubbed the ‘Gigantic’ class – was over 19ft long and weighed 2 tons, and was built for wealthy landowner J. E. P. Howey. Howey famously went on to develop the 13-mile-long Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway in Kent in partnership with Henry Greenly, who developed a fleet of advanced ‘Pacific’ type locomotives based on the famous Gresley ‘A1s’.

How we will do it?

One Piece at a time using modern manufacturing technologies and 3D modelling to enable our engineers to visualise and check each component against original drawings and component parts,. the work is well underway with the erection of the tender chassis and other minor components to hand.

Work will now turn towards the construction of the tender running gear and locomotives front bogie which the design is now in hand. British engineers and craftsmen working together to create the missing link in miniature railway history .

The Gigantic Locomotive Association was set up in 2017 with the sole aim of recreating gigantic and making a record of the historical nature of the project, the management team have a wide range of skills specific to locomotive restoration and new build engines .