New loco takes a major shunt forward
A HUGE multi-million-pound project to build a new steam engine designed by Sir Nigel Gresley has taken a huge step forward.
Engineers have started the fabrication of a new cylinder block that will be central to the effort to build the Gresley Class P2 steam locomotive, the Prince of Wales.
It comes as organisers announce more than £4 million of the £6 million needed to bring South Derbyshire native Sir Nigel’s design to life has now been spent. He designed some of the most famous steam engines of all time such as the Flying Scotsman and The Mallard.
Mark Allatt, trustee of the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, which is spearheading the project, said: “Over the past eight years, the project to build Britain’s most powerful steam locomotive has spent more than £4 million on design and construction and raised over £4 million of the estimated £6m required to complete No. 2007 within the next two years.
“The commencement of the fabrication of the redesigned and improved cylinder block for our new Gresley class P2 No. 2007 Prince of Wales is a very significant milestone in the project.
“We’re delighted that Howco Group Plc is manufacturing the new cylinder block using steel castings supplied by our principal sponsor, William Cook Cast Products Ltd, with delivery scheduled for spring 2022. We launched The Cylinder Manufacturing Club in July 2021 to raise £250,000 from 250 generous supporters, each donating £1,000, and have already raised £27,000.
“If you would like to see a new Gresley class P2 sooner rather than later, I would encourage potential supporters to get onboard The Cylinder Manufacturing Club.”
The Gresley class P2 2-8-2 Mikados were the most powerful express passenger locomotives to operate in the
UK. They were designed by Sir Nigel – one of the most important engineers in UK history and raised in Netherseal – in the 1930s for the London & North Eastern Railway (LNER) to haul 600tonne trains on the arduous Edinburgh-to-aberdeen route.
Sadly, the design was never fully developed and they were rebuilt by Sir Nigel’s successor, Edward Thompson, into what the trust says were “ungainly” class A2/2 4-6-2 Pacifics in 1943/4 and scrapped by 1961.
A trust spokesman said: “Despite the impact of Covid, progress on the construction of our new Gresley class P2 is moving forward rapidly. “Construction and assembly work continues on all fronts, including boiler, wheelsets, tender, heavy motion, pipework and electricals.
“Design work for the extensively modified and improved cylinder block is complete, with the focus now turned to adaptation of the Lentz rotary cam poppet valve gear to overcome deficiencies in the original design.” Cylinder Manufacturing Club members have all donated £1,000 to the project. Members receive the following benefits:
Opportunity to buy a ticket (seat already reserved) on one of the first trains hauled by No. 2007 Prince of Wales
Reasonable access to No. 2007 at all times
First choice of components to sponsor as a Dedicated Donation Special supporters’ day with steam loco Tornado An exclusive print of the general arrangement drawing and 3D CAD image of the redesigned cylinder block. Supporters can join The Cylinder Manufacturing Club by going to the trust’s online donations pages at www.p2steam. com/support/the-cylindermanufacturing-club or emailing enquiries@p2steam.com or calling 01325 460163.
Despite the impact of Covid, progress on the construction of our new Gresley class P2 is moving forward rapidly.
Spokesman