New P2 now two-thirds built
THE project to build the seventh example of Sir Nigel Gresley's P2 2-8-2s, No. 2007 Prince of Wales, is two-thirds complete, The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust has announced.
More than £4 million of the estimated required £6 million has now been raised since the groundbreaking project was launched to recreate the most powerful express passenger locomotive in Britain.
Significant progress has been made on several fronts during the past year. DB Meiningen in Germany is constructing two boilers for the trust, with the first `spare' expected to be delivered in the spring and fitted on Peppercorn A1 Pacific No. 60163 Tornado during its overhaul next year, followed by the second for Prince of Wales in summer 2022. Both boilers are now substantially complete.
Eight of nine rods have been delivered to Darlington Locomotive Works, with the inside connecting rod and strap to be delivered by the end of this year and the coupling rods trial fitted to the engine. The steam ports have been cast for the cylinder block, with the fabrication of the cylinder block nearing completion and delivery due in the spring. Detailed drawings for the valve gear are complete, and it is now being manufactured.
Pony truck
The pony truck is now being trial-fitted to the engine, while the tender tank and wheelsets are complete, with the frames expected to join them at Darlington in the spring. The wheelsets are due to be balanced in March and fitted in the spring. The electrical systems trunking is approaching completion with materials delivered, most components manufactured and installation on the locomotive frames mostly complete.
The axle-driven alternator test rig has been manufactured and testing is underway at Darlington. Both the brake gear linkage and its trial assembly on the frames is complete. The air pipework layout is complete, as is the pipework and fittings between the frames.
Unlike the building of Tornado, significant development work has been required to ensure that the new P2 reaches its full potential.
Principal areas of redesign include the development of an improved pony truck and frame design, improved valve gear, moves to reduce the risk of crank axle failure which was apparent on the original P2s, the modified diagram 118A Tornado boiler and Class A1-type Timken roller bearings, the use of fabricated frame stays instead of the original cast design, the modification of the brake system from vacuumonly to a BR type dual air/vacuum installation, and the incorporation of a rocking grate and hopper ashpan, plus the abovementioned modern comprehensive electrical system plus safety equipment.
Focus has turned to the adaptation of the Lentz rotary cam poppet valve gear to overcome deficiencies in the original design. The overall height of the locomotive is being reduced to comply with the modern more restricted loading gauge.
During the next 12 months, the trust aims to install the cylinder block into the engine's frames following its spring delivery, and the fitting of the boiler next summer.
£2m to go
Trustee Mark Allatt said: “The trial fitting of the coupling rods and pony truck to the engine for the first time for the trust's annual convention is a very significant milestone.
“We still have another £2 million to raise and so if you would like to see a new Gresley class P2 sooner rather than later, I would encourage potential supporters to get on board by becoming a `P2 for the price of a pint of beer a week' regular donor, joining one of our fundraising clubs or sponsoring a specific component through our Dedicated Donation scheme.”
➜ To pledge your support to the P2 project, email enquiries@p2steam. com or telephone 01325 460163. Alternatively, visit the website www. p2steam.com to find out more about the project.