Prince of Wales appeal turns to turbo- generator
THE project to build Britain’smost powerful express passenger steam locomotive– GresleyP22- 8- 2No. 2007 PrinceofWales– has launched the latest of its fundraising clubs.
TheTurbogen Club has been set up as an appeal to raise £ 40,000 to fund the first of the two turbogenerators needed to power the modern electrical system necessary for No. 2007 to operate onNetwork Rail main lines.
In August 2018, the trust placed a £ 350,000 order for a state- of- the- art electrical system designed by Rob Morland and Alan Parkin. Based on that which has operated successfully for the past 12 years on A1 Peppercorn Pacific No. 60163 Tornado, it includes systems which generate and store electricity, together with lighting and instrumentation systems.
Also included are all current railway safety and communication systems, plus new systems that will soon be needed on the national network.
Power will be generated by The A1
Steam LocomotiveTrust’s new design for an axle- driven alternator, based on an off- the- shelf truck product, and the new turbo- generators, based on the German design fitted to Tornado.
Each of the two turbo- generators will have an output of around 25A at 27V DC ( 675VA). In order to keep on schedule to complete No. 2007 within the next three years, the trust needs to have the two turbogenerators delivered to Darlington LocomotiveWorks in 2020.
Supporters
Theaim is to raise at least£ 40,000with TheTurbogenClubfrom40supporters each donating £ 1000 plus GiftAid ( inup to four payments of £ 250).
Special benefits formembers include the opportunity to buy a ticket ( the seat already reserved) on one of the first trains hauled by No. 2007, reasonable access to the locomotive at all times, a special supporters’day with Tornado, a first choice of components to sponsor as a dedicated donation, and invitation to the first official run of the new turbogenerator, an exclusive certificate signed by the electricals design team and a limited edition brushed steel turbo- generator coaster.
Trustee Mark Allatt said:“We are delightedwith the level of support that the project to build Britain’s most powerful steam locomotive has received since its launch. Thanks to our supporters’continued generosity, almost £ 3 million has nowbeen donated or pledged – 60% of the required £ 5 milliion – equivalent to the entire build cost of our first new steam locomotiveNo. 60163 Tornado.
“We recently turned our attention to the state- of- the- art electrical system, which is essential if No. 2007 Prince of Wales is to operate onNetwork Rail main line routes.
“The original LNER Class P2 locomotives were not fitted with any electricals and so fitting this system unobtrusively to a 1930s design presents a number of engineering challenges.
Target
“Wenowneedtoraise a further £ 40,000 throughTheTurbogenClubover the next fewmonths. I would encourage all steamenthusiastswho haven’t yet contributed to this exciting project to help us to meet these deadlinesby becomingamemberofTheTurbogen Club or a‘ P2 for the priceof a pintof beeraweek’covenantor.
➜ To becomeamember ofThe Turbogen Club, email: enquiries@ p2steam. com, telephone: 01325 460163 or visitwww. p2steam. comfor more information.