NO ‘P2’ BLUES: ‘MIKADO’ CONTINUES APACE DESPITE TENDER AXLE SETBACK
Blue paint has appeared on the wheels of ‘P2’ No. 2007 Prince of Wales, but purists need not worry – it is merely an undercoat.
Painter Ian Matthews applied the blue coat prior to the grey undercoat, so that the former will show up any high spots when the grey paint is rubbed down in preparation for the LNER Apple green livery. Volunteers have also been polishing the tyre faces to replicate the appearance of original ‘P2’ No. 2001 Cock O’ The North.
The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust is on the verge of ordering more major components for the Gresley 2-8-2, said engineer David Elliott: “We are expecting receipt in the near future of the updated design for the boiler from Meiningen incorporating all the modifications and improvements fitted to Tornado’s boiler over the years. Once this is complete, we will be in a position to make a final decision on where the boiler is to be built.
“With a total of four quotes to build the tender tank, we are near to making a decision on which supplier we will select, with delivery expected in the autumn.”
This will leave the cylinder block as the largest outstanding component, and assistant mechanical engineer Daniela Filová has produced manufacturing drawings for its external steam pipes and elbows, so that quotes can be sought for these parts
However, there has been a setback with the tender axles, added Mr Elliott: “Unilathe at Stoke-on-Trent has delivered the three plain axles, but two attempts to manufacture the fourth axle have failed when the finished axles have been rejected during final nondestructive testing. This has resulted in Unilathe’s axle forging supplier carrying out further tests on their blank forgings and a sizeable batch being scrapped.
“A new forging has been made and we are promised delivery of the finished axle in April. Once it is received, the four axles will be sent with the wheels to South Devon Railway Engineering for assembly – they already have the tyres.”