The Standard Steam Locomotive Company Limited (parent body of The Clan Project) was set up to build the eleventh Clan, using the original design drawings. The engine is being constructed as a continuation of the original British Railways design sequence, adopting all the improvements outlined in the plans to build the batch of Clan engines which were ordered but never produced.
This authorised the construction of a further batch of fifteen Clans that included modifications to the original design. Originally scheduled for 1952 with frames constructed for 72010 Hengist, acute steel shortages meant that the order was continually rescheduled until the publication of the British Railways Modernisation Plan finally halted the project. The initial name (Hengist, Horsa, Canute, Wildfire and Firebrand) allocations for the first five of the new batch was consistent with the locomotives being built for service on the Southern Region of BR.
Hengist is a figure from Anglo-Saxon history being one of two German brothers (the other being Horsa) who arrived in Britain as mercenaries and led the Angle, Saxon, Frisian, and Jutish armies that conquered the first territories of Britain in the 5th century. Sources disagree about some of the details but appear to accept that this led directly to the founding of the Kingdom of Kent.
As 999 engines were constructed as BR Standard locomotives so that the new Clan will be the 1,000th to be built.
The Standard Steam Locomotive Company believes that significant costs will be avoided as many of the required cast parts can be made from patterns held by fellow members of the British Railways Standard Locomotive Owners Group (BRSLOG).
Great Central Railway plc and the Standard Steam Locomotive Company announced in June, 2012 that, after prolonged discussions, the Clan Project building of 72010 Hengist will be located at the GCR as its home base. Initially no parts of the locomotive will be moved to the GCR. This will only occur once the frames of the locomotive have been erected, tested, and certified as fit for future main line operation. This work will be contracted to Riley and Son (E) Ltd. at their Bury workshops. It is anticipated that this work will take upwards of two years to complete during which time the Clan Project will develop its funding plans.
The Standard Steam Locomotive Company plan to have the new locomotive ready for running in in 2026.
The first stage of the project concentrates on amassing the many frame components required at their Midlands storage facility prior to assembly before relocation to the Great Central Railway.
In 2013 new frame plates were ordered for the locomotive.
By the end of 2015 the refurbishment of the cab and the fabrication of the smokebox assembly by Ian Riley & Son (Bury) had been completed.
It is planned that the assembly of the frames will be completed in 2017 by Ian Riley & Son (Bury).
As a result of shortage of space and the impending move of the works at Loughborough the Clan Project began looking for a new home in early 2017. It is still intended that the completed locomotive will be based on the Great Central Railway for running in and main line testing.
In 2017 the contract to assemble the frames was placed with CTL Seal of Sheffield. Commencement of the assembly began towards the end of 2018.
The total cost of constructing the locomotive is anticipated to be in the region of £2.5-£3m including £750,000 for the boiler and £250,000 for the tender.
In January/February 2018 all four boggie wheels were cast by the Boro Foundry at Stourbridge.
By July 2018 the smokebox and cab of the locomotive had been delivered to CL Seal in Sheffield.
By August 2020 work was progressing on the frames and an appeal was launched to raise funds to finance the two years of work required begin the design work and secure a manufacturer for the boiler.
Preserved British Steam Locomotives 