‘P2’ WHEEL APPEAL HITS TARGET AS CRANK AXLE BUILD BEGINS
…but Mikado Club will remain open to wheel the tender frames as well.
P2’ No. 2007 Prince of Wales has reached two important milestones at once - with the construction of the crank axle started, and all funds pledged for the locomotive’s wheeling. Assembly of the crank axle began at the South Devon Railway during May, and was expected to be complete in early June - after which final machining could take place, ready for the wheels to be pressed on to the axle and the tyres fitted. The completed wheelset is effectively the final piece in the jigsaw of the Gresley 2-8-2’s vast ‘rolling chassis’; all of the driving, pony and Cartazzi wheels, together with the plain axles, have already been made. The Cartazzi wheels
and axle will shortly also be sent to the SDR for assembly. The aim is to have the frames wheeled by the end of 2017 thanks to the fundraising drive by P2 Steam Locomotive Company’s Mikado Club, which has hit its target three months earlier than forecast. Since its launch in March 2016, the Mikado Club has signed up 160 members pledging £1,000 each (plus Gift Aid) to raise the required £200,000 - of which over £33,000 was donated in the last three weeks alone. To maintain the momentum, however, the P2SLC is keeping the Club open, raising the target to 200 members and £250,000 in order to fund the wheeling of the tender, for which the frames and castings have already been ordered (SR467). For details of the Mikado Club (and its special benefits for members), or other monthly donation and component sponsorship schemes, visit www.p2steam.com, email enquiries@p2steam.com or call 01325 460163.
THE WHEELSET IS EFFECTIVELY THE FINAL PIECE IN THE JIGSAW OF THE 2-8-2’S VAST ‘ROLLING CHASSIS’