The major aim of the Project is to facilitate the establishment of a Second Generation Steam Locomotive Development Company (SGS Loco DevCo) to design and develop SGS locomotives. Its initial role would be to design and develop the 5AT locomotive as a demonstrator for the technology, though it is anticipated that the company would subsequently provide a design and project management service for other SGS locomotives.

Locomotives designed by the SGS Loco DevCo would be constructed on a sub-contract basis by suitably authorised and vetted third party companies, with the SGS Loco DevCo acting as Project Manager by providing project management services and overseeing construction and build quality. 

It is envisaged that the SGS Loco DevCo would continue to develop new SGS locomotive designs and future "modern steam" technology after successfully completing the 5AT development. The Company would also act as a supplier of SGS locomotives and provide commissioning and training services to end-customers, and possibly a maintenance service for the locomotives it supplies.  

The Feasibility Study evaluates the commercial case for the SGS DevCo and includes estimates of startup and recruitment costs, salary costs of the development and project teams, and company overheads during the 5AT development period. 

An important prerequisite to SGS Loco DevCo formation will be to obtain sufficient finance to fund the company through the development period to the completion and main-line acceptance of the demonstrator locomotive.

A small sales/marketing team would need to be established at an early stage with the objective of making follow-on sales of SGS locomotives to take the company forward after completion of the demonstrator locomotive.

See also the Options section.