'Building Speed' is the name given to the new public art feature at the heart of the transformation of Doncaster Station.  Now a new video showcases the project.  Watch it here https://youtu.be/8PIfWuh4Tcg

About:

The piece recognises Doncaster’s engineering ingenuity and gives a perspective to the volume and scale of locomotives built at Doncaster and the contribution the town made to the nation at a time when rail linked cities, industries and people as never before.

Founded in 1853 by the Great Northern Railway, Doncaster’s famous rail engineering works ‘The Plant’ built over 2,000 steam locomotives. Located behind the station it was home to a succession of talented engineers which resulted in the development of fast and powerful steam locomotives including the much loved Pacificsdesigned by Sir Nigel Gresley.

This art piece recognises the importance of rail to the town and how it links to one of our other prized assets – horse racing.

The artwork features vertical steel rails standing proudly over the square, each one of these representing 50 locomotives built in Doncaster.

The text on the rails, inspired by the classic rail typeface, celebrate locomotives named after winners of the St Leger Stakes – the oldest and longest of the five classic horse races in Britain.. ..

Other columns showcase details from the original engineering drawings and are realised at full scale. They give a clear representation of the size of the locomotives from the inner workings to the wheels.

The striking red columns are inspired by the wheels and sleek, high gloss paintwork of the A Class locomotives. Celebrating speed, they feature blurred snippets of the world going by from a train window while the numbers of the locomotives streak through the landscape.

The water features, clad in black granite acknowledge the coal and water that powered the engines. Water, coal, steel and design, equals speed.

The concept was devised by Doncaster Council and further developed by architectural and sculptural metalwork specialist CB Arts Ltd. The water features are designed by The Fountain Company.

Doncaster’s Danum Gallery, Library and Museum tells the inspiring story of Doncaster’s rail heritage and the continuing contribution Doncaster is making to the railway industry, creating the next generation of engineers.