CABBING A ‘P2’ - AFTER 83 YEARS
An enthusiast with first-hand recollections of the ‘P2s’ has finally cabbed an example of the class after over eight decades. Alan Golton (88) travelled from his home in Grenoble, France, to ride on the ‘Talisman’ railtour to Darlington behind ‘A1’ No. 60163 Tornado on May 6 - and visit the footplate of No. 2007 Prince of Wales. He had waited 30,290 days for such an opportunity - having missed his chance to cab No. 2001 Cock O’ The North 83 years ago. He recalls: “On a hot summer’s day in June 1934, I was taken by my father and a friend of his to the LNER’s open day in the goods yard at Ilford. The sun was beating down and the yard was full of locomotives and teak carriages, including Flying Scotsman, No. 8900 Claud Hamilton - and Cock O’ The North. “We queued alongside the 6ft 2in driving wheels, eager to cab the ‘P2’. But I never got my opportunity - overcome by heat exhaustion I fainted by the locomotive and was taken to a medical tent to be revived by smelling salts. “One of my sons, Matthew, is the commercial development director for Great Western Railway, and through his friendship with trustees of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, I was offered the opportunity to travel to Darlington and achieve what I failed to achieve in 1934!”