NEW-BUILD NEWS
Tender tank for Gresley 2-8-2 nearing completion and due for delivery in January.
Prince of Wales debut now set for 2022
‘ P2’ No. 2007 Prince of Wales is now expected to steam for the first time at the end of 2022 – a year later than the original target date of 2021.
Mark Allatt of the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust confirmed: “The project plan still says the end of 2021 – but that depends on everything going to plan, and when you’re building a steam engine in the 21st century, it doesn’t!”
The project suffered a setback when the keyways on the plain coupled axles were found to have been machined incorrectly (SR465) and more recently, there have been delays in the production of the motion.
However, funding is also a consideration, added Mr Allatt: “We’re raising about half a million pounds a year – which is very good going – but we’re struggling to get it above that, and to finish it by 2021 we’d need it to be £700,000 a year.”
2020 looks set to be the ‘year of the tender’ for the ‘P2’, with its tender tank expected to be delivered in January.
Manufactured by North
View Engineering Solutions of Darlington, the tender tank was described as “substantially complete” in December, with all four sides fitted to the internal baffle plates.
Having been grit-blasted and filled with water to check for leaks, the tank was expected to be delivered to the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust’s Darlington Locomotive Works in January.
Already at the works (as pictured in SR500) are the four 4ft 2in tender wheelsets, which are now being painted, while construction of the tender frames, by Ian Howitt of Crofton, Wakefield, is also “structurally complete” with the first pair of axlebox horn blocks having been trial-fitted.
During the last three years, volunteers at the Darlington works have produced 160 feet of decorative half-round beading, which contractor Ian Matthews is now blacksmithing and fitting to the tank.
Delivery of the frames to
Darlington is anticipated in April, after which, said Mr Allatt, “we’ll probably be working on the tender for most of the year to do all the plumbing and wiring”.
The trust’s Tender Club, which
aims to raise £450,000 from 250 supporters donating £1,500 each plus Gift Aid, has so far raised almost £90,000. For details of this and other fundraising schemes, see www.p2steam.com