Heritage Railway

V4 drawings scanned in ahead of new build launch

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DOCUMENT management company Cleardata has begun scanning 366 of the original Doncaster Works drawings which will aid The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust (A1SLT) in constructi­ng Gresley V4 2-6-2 No. 3403.

The V4 will be the third new steam locomotive to be built by the trust, after A1 No. 60163 Tornado and P2 No. 2007 Prince of Wales.

These drawings were acquired from Malcolm Barlow, a Doncaster scrap dealer who launched the now defunct Gresley V4 Society in 1994 to build a new example of the class.

Scanned from microfiche for completion by late February, the drawings will be uploaded onto the trust’s CAD system.

Progress

Trust chairman Steve Davies MBE said: “We are in the pre-launch phase of the project. With the order for constructi­on now placed on Darlington Locomotive Works, the scanning of the drawings commenced and further components acquired, we are well positioned for the formal launch of the project.

“We want to be ready to start assembling our new V4 as soon as our new P2 is completed. We anticipate the project costing about £3 million and taking around five years, subject to the pace of fundraisin­g.

“Our V4 will be ideal for regional main line tours and the longer, main line connected heritage railways.

“Although there is currently no specific appeal open for No. 3403, any donations made will be ring-fenced for the project. Our next step will be to launch The Founder’s Club to fund the early stages of the project. More announceme­nts will be made as the project builds up steam.”

For more details, visit www. v4steam.com or telephone 01325 460163.

 ??  ?? Scanning a V4 drawing at Cleardata. A1SLT
Scanning a V4 drawing at Cleardata. A1SLT

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