Prince of Wales becomes a ‘1-4-1’
Axles and wheels delivered to South Devon as ‘Mikado’ fund nears target.
When the first ‘P2’ 2-8-2 went to France for trials in 1934, under that country’s practice of counting axles rather than wheels, it would have been classified as a ‘1-4-1’. Briefly, new-build example No. 2007 Prince of Wales could claim similar status, as its axles awaited the fitting of the wheels – but during the summer it is expected to become a fully wheeled 2-8-2. Ten of its wheels (two for the pony truck and eight 6ft 8in driving wheels) were delivered to South Devon Railway Engineering on March 14, with their axles and crankpins following on March 19. The trailing Cartazzi wheelset is already assembled (SR477). The wheels will be pressed onto the axles in April, after which the tyres will be shrunk onto the wheels in May, and the crankpins fitted by mid-June. In an update to the original design, the engine is receiving Timken roller bearing axleboxes which – unlike conventional axleboxes – must be pressed onto the axles before the wheels are fitted. The £250,000 ‘Mikado Club’ fund for the wheeling of the locomotive and tender is nearing its target, with 184 of 200 supporters pledging £1,000 each, plus Gift Aid. A ‘Motion Club’ is also to be launched in April, as the project’s newly appointed Assistant Mechanical Engineer Daniela Filová produces 3D CAD manufacturing drawings for the rods and Lentz rotary cam valve gear. In the ‘Boiler Club’, which aims to raise £600,000 from 300 supporters each donating £2,000, 145 places have been taken up – with eight new members joining in just two days. The total raised for the £5 million project is now £2.8m. For details of how to become a ‘P2’ for the price of a pint’ covenantor, the Mikado and Boiler Clubs, and components to sponsor, email enquiries@p2steam.com, visit www. p2steam.com or call 01325 460163.