New P2 is coupled for the first time!
A LANDMARK in the project to build a new example of Britain’s most powerful express passenger steam locomotive came on February 1 when new Gresley P2 2-8-2 No. 2007 Prince of Wales had both sets of coupling rods fitted for the first time.
The left-hand set had previously been mounted on its crank pins for builder The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust’s 2021 convention. However, much machining work has been required to complete the bearing bushes and gradient pins for the second set of coupling rods.
The process of fitting the rods to the crank pins is achieved using four small chain hoists suspended from specially designed ‘sky hooks’ under the footplate on each side of the engine. The chain hoists avoid manual handling of the rods, which, particularly with an eight coupled engine, is a hazardous practice.
‘Satisfaction and relief’
For the first set of rods to be fitted at Darlington Locomotive Works, the crank pins were set to all be at the same angle. The rod assembly (three rods and two gradient pins) was lifted and swung into place over the longest crank pins first. Once all the rod bushes were fully home on their crank pins, the other set of rods could be fitted with the expectation that the crank pins are already in line, aided by moving the engine a few feet with a pinch bar.
P2 director of engineering David Elliott said: “It was with satisfaction (and relief ) that the second set of rods slid onto their crank pins with distinct ‘thunk’ noise.”
The engine was subsequently moved about 10ft – half a turn of the wheels – to check that nothing was binding anywhere. This showed that all the measurements of distances between hornblocks, the thickness of hornblock liners, sizes of crank pins and bushes, and the relationship between crank pins on each wheelset and to one another had worked out correctly.
The next stage of the process is to lift the locomotive onto the rotator for the wheels to turn for longer periods at a higher rpm.
Meanwhile, the P2 Roadshow at the London Transport Museum on January 29, aimed at updating supporters on the project’s progress, was postponed due to concerns about the ongoing Covid-19 situation.
A new date was due to be announced.
➜ To find out more about the many ways in which you can support the project – from donating the price of a weekly beer to joining a specific fundraising club – visit the website www.p2steam.com, telephone 01325 460163, or email enquiries@p2steam. com