‘P2’ PRINCE OF WALES FLYING HIGH AS TENDER TANK IS DELIVERED
‘P2’ No. 2007 Prince of Wales took to the air in mid-March, as its tender tank was delivered to Darlington Locomotive Works.
The LNER 2-8-2 was lifted on the workshop’s jacks in order to temporarily roll its coupled and carrying wheels back underneath the frames, creating sufficient space to unload the tender tank from the lorry when it arrived on March 23.
Constructed by North View Engineering Solutions of Darlington, the tank had been sent to subcontractor MIS North East of Peterlee for grit-blasting, having passed its test to confirm it was watertight.
North View Engineering Solutions are now working on the pony truck frame, while at the opposite end of the Gresley ‘Mikado’, work is focused on the trailing Cartazzi wheelset and its axlebox horns. Said the trust’s director of engineering David Elliott: “We have been carrying out detailed measurements on the Cartazzi horn blocks and spring guides to ensure that the latter can be correctly machined to fit when their manganese liners are welded on.”
DB’s Dampflokwerk Meiningen has received approval from its notified body TüV for the updated design of the ‘P2’s’ Diagram 118a boiler, together with the spare boiler for it and ‘A1’ No. 60163 Tornado. Once approved, they’ll be sent for comment from UK bodies, including Network Rail, the Office of Rail and Road, the trust’s insurers and its assessment body.
Electrical equipment for the ‘P2’ has been produced and tested – its shore power supply and load bank, designed to take account of a future European Train Control System at a ‘worst case’ level of 500 watts.
The Tender Club, which aims to raise £450,000, is “starting to gain traction”, said trustee Mark Allatt, with 62 members pledging over £116,000 – the target being 250 members donating £1,500 each plus Gift Aid.
In addition to the Boiler and Motion Clubs, and the ‘P2 for the price of a pint’ covenantor scheme, the Dedicated Donations fund to sponsor components has raised over £400,000. For details, call 01325 460163 or visit www. p2steam.com
●● The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust’s planned roadshow in Darlington on April 18 has been cancelled, along with open days at Darlington Locomotive Works, owing to the coronavirus outbreak. Further roadshows will be reviewed.