Sited at the home of Timothy Hackworth an early pioneer of the railways.

Light Engine was inspired by the railways and the way they transformed the world, creating new forms of social mobility through rapid communications. In response Light Engine uses emerging communication technology of text messaging in conjunction with the latest RGB LED's to create a contemporary interactive light beacon that celebrates the resonance and emotional vitality of the early railways.

Texting locomotive names - Locomotion - Globe -Sans Pareil - Magnet - Arrow - Shildon - to the sculpture trigger different light animations. The light sequences are programmed to conjure the words through colour and movement, creating contemporary visual equivalents for these classic early locomotives.

Beautiful colours are achieved through colour mixing RGB. They are highly visible during the day and spectacular at night.

The form of the sculpture and the pattern of the lights are inspired by the signal lights of the railway.

Commissioned by the NRM for Locomotion museum at Shildon in 2004.

Sans Pareil triggers a rapid multi-coloured light sequence