‘P2’ FOR PINTS’ SCHEME RAISES £200K PER ANNUM
Five years after the project’s launch, the ‘P2 for the price of a pint’ fundraising scheme to build No. 2007 Prince of Wales has passed the £200,000 per annum mark.
The covenantor scheme, in which supporters can make regular donations of as little as £2.50 per week, has over 930 members donating more than £205,000 annually, including Gift Aid. The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust aims to reach 1,000 members before the end of the summer.
The trust has recently reviewed its project plan and concluded that “the completion date of three years hence is still feasible, subject to funds being available.” It further stated that “No. 60163 Tornado is still diluting the design resource, but with efforts to recruit additional operating engineering staff, this should improve over the coming months.”
Of the total £5 million cost of the Gresley 2-8-2, over half has been raised (£2.6m), two thirds pledged (£3.3m) and £2m spent. The Motion Club has recruited 143 of its required 175 members; the Boiler Club has nearly 180 members, leaving just over 120 spaces available; and the Tender Club has filled 27 of 250 places (www.p2steam.com).
The tender base plate has been trial-fitted to the tender frame plates (see SR495) before being sent to North View Engineering Services to have the tank added, while the tender wheels and axles have been sent to the South Devon Railway for assembly.
Design studies into the fabricated cylinder block are complete and quotes are being sought for the cast steel steam passages, while the patterns have been ordered for the steam chest covers.