The Holden F5 Steam Locomotive Trust aims to build a replica steam locomotive. The Great Eastern Railway F5 is one of the many classes of locomotive not represented in preservation today. The Holden F5 Group was formed in 2000 when it was recognised that a locomotive of the type that operated the last Epping-Ongar services in 1957 would be ideal motive power for the future operation of a preserved railway.
In August 2001 The Holden F5 Steam Locomotive Trust was formally incorporated as a company limited by guarantee. In June 2002 The Holden Steam Locomotive Trust was granted charitable status – registered charity number 1092835. Being a comparatively small locomotive, with a light axle loading, it could prove a popular ‘new build’ project for other heritage railways with quantity production leading to reductions in unit costs.
The estimated completion date for the locomotive is 2012. This will coincide with the 150th Anniversary of the formation of the Great Eastern Railway and it is to be hoped that we will once again see an F5 operating between Epping and Ongar.