Media contact
All media enquiries should be made to Mark Allatt at or on 07710 878979.
Please note that this is not a general enquiries number and is for press use only. The general enquiries number is 01325 460163.

Access to Darlington Locomotive Works

31/10/2014

Darlington Locomotive Works: We have a problem with folk turning up at the works expecting to be able to see round and look at the two locomotives. While we greatly appreciate the interest the Tornado’s return to Darlington has generated this is affecting our ability to safely work on the locomotives. The Works are open on the third Saturday of each month when there will be members of the Trust present who will be able to help. The following notice is now displayed at the Works entrance, “Darlington Locomotive Works is open to the public 11AM to 3.30PM on the 3rd Saturday of each month, with access via the Head of Steam Museum. Please be aware that for safety reasons we are unable to accept visitors during working hours unless by prior appointment.”

Please respect our need to keep the works clear of members of the public while work is in progress.

Roller bearings ordered for No. 2007

24/10/2014

The roller bearings for new Gresley class P2 No. 2007 Prince of Wales have been ordered from Timken and are expected to be delivered in mid 2015.

Following the success and reliability that Tornado has demonstrated, in no small part due to the use of roller bearings, the decision was made at an early stage of the definition of the new class P2 locomotive Prince of Wales to use the Tornado roller bearing axle design instead of the original plain white metal bearings fitted to the original class P2s locomotives.

The Timken Company which engineers, manufactures and markets Timken® bearings, will provide all the axle bearings for the new locomotive and tender on advantageous terms as well as the essential engineering support to fit them. Timken was a sponsor of No. 60163 Tornado which was completed in 2008 by The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust and was the first new steam locomotive to be built in Britain for almost 50 years. The company provided all of the roller bearings for Tornado which have performed faultlessly In return, The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust will provide Timken with appropriate publicity and access as accords a sponsor of No. 2007 Prince of Wales. The Trust estimates that the roller bearings would normally have cost in excess of £40,000.

Mark Allatt, chairman, The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, commented, “The Timken Company played a vital role in the construction of No. 60163 Tornado as a major sponsor and we are delighted to have them on board working with us on the construction of No. 2007 Prince of Wales, Britain’s most powerful steam locomotive. “Thanks to the help that such a world leading and technologically advanced company as Timken is giving us in providing the roller bearings for No. 2007, we are hopeful that we will have completed the rolling chassis for the new Gresley class P2 towards the end of next year and that we are on-track for completing the locomotive in 2021.”

A Timken roller bearing is pressed onto Tornado’s Cartazzi axle – identical to that on No. 2007 – P2SLC

Paul Sanders, Regional Sales Manager, The Timken Company, added, “Timken is proud to be associated with the successful project to build brand new main line steam locomotive No. 60163 Tornado and is delighted to be continuing that association with the building of No.2007 Prince of Wales, Britain’s most powerful steam locomotive. Our agreement to provide the roller bearings on advantageous terms and associated engineering support is one that is of great benefit to both parties. As with Tornado, the finished locomotive will be a tribute both to the dedication and vision of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust and the quality of Timken products.”

“This is a sponsorship arrangement that will enable us to demonstrate again the variety of uses to which Timken roller bearings can be put and one that demonstrates that The Timken Company is still the world’s leading authority on tapered roller bearings. We look forward to working with the Trust on the locomotive’s construction.”

Mark Allatt concluded, “With the ordering of the roller bearings from The Timken Company and the dedication of No. 2007’s frames in July, no-one can now doubt that we really mean business. 2014 will see further major announcements as the construction of the locomotive gathers pace. We are now appealing to those who want to be a part of this exciting project to become covenantors, sponsors and volunteers to help us maintain this momentum.”

The Boiler Club

22/10/2014

Following the announcement that all of the roller bearings for brand new steam locomotive No. 2007 Prince of Wales have been ordered, the project to build Britain’s most powerful steam locomotive has announced the formation of The Boiler Club to raise £600,000 for the boiler.

Following the success of The Founders Club, which was designed to get to the P2 Project to the point of cutting No.2007’s frames, the Trust has decided to establish The Boiler Club to fund the construction of Prince of Wales’s boiler. The Trust set an initial target for The Founders Club of at least £100,000 from 100 ‘Founders’ but due to the overwhelming generosity of its supporters actually raised £450,000 (including gift aid) from over 360 donors. It is the Trust’s desire to leave No. 2007 Prince of Wales debt free upon completion and therefore its aim is to raise at least £600,000 for The Boiler Club from 300 supporters each donating £2,000 to the project (in up to 40 payments of £50 by standing order). In return for this commitment, members of The Boiler Club receive these special benefits:

•Opportunity to buy ticket (seat already reserved) on No. 2007’s first main line train

•Reasonable access to No. 2007 at all times

•Opportunity to buy exclusive Boiler Club badge

•Opportunity to join one of the teams building No. 2007

•First choice of other components to sponsor

•Special limited edition version (signed/numbered) of the first official painting of No. 2007 Prince of Wales with No. 60163 Tornado – ‘Dream Team’ by renowned railway artist Chris Ludlow

•Special Boiler Club day with Tornado.

Mark Allatt, chairman, The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, commented, “The launch of The Boiler Club marks a significant milestone in the project to build Britain’s most powerful steam locomotive. The boiler is the beating heart of a steam locomotive and to keep the construction of No. 2007 Prince of Wales on schedule for completion in 2021 we need to place the order for the boiler in 2015 for delivery in 2018. It is our desire if possible to complete No. 2007 debt-free and so we have decided to launch The Boiler Club to raise £600,000 to fund Prince of Wales’s boiler.”

No. 2007’s boiler in detail:

•Use of diagram 118A Tornado boiler with detailed modifications to improve overhaul life

•Interchangeable with Tornado boiler

•Tornado boiler is 17in shorter than P2 boiler – No. 2007’s smoke box will be extended within the cladding

•250psi of No. 60163’s boiler will be retained to improve economy and increase maximum power

You can download the Boiler Club cash donation form here, the monthly donation form here, the standing order form here and you can view our privacy policy here.

The launch of The Boiler Club also saw the unveiling of the first official painting of No. 2007 Prince of Wales with the Trust’s first new-build steam locomotive No. 60163 Tornado entitled ‘Dream Team’ by renowned railway artist Chris Ludlow. The original oil painting will be the subject of a sealed bid auction to the benefit of No. 2007 Prince of Wales and No. 60163 Tornado to be announced later in the year.

One of Chris’s first pictures was of a Peppercorn class A1 Pacific like Tornado. Early retirement and a move to France gave him the opportunity to pick up where he left off. He won the ‘Prix Schefer’ in Paris in 2004 and, in 2011, the French national railway museum at Mulhouse mounted a solo exhibition of his work, which included around 30 paintings. Chris Ludlow added, “Steam locomotives are a lifelong passion. No other machine expresses elemental power in such an emotive, impressive fashion, and this is what I try to express in my work. The design of the Gresley class P2 Cock O’The North was influenced by the ideas of French steam genius André Chapelon, and the locomotive was tested in France during 1934. So it is fitting that as a French-based Gresley and LNER enthusiast, I should paint No. 2007 Prince of Wales alongside No. 60163 Tornado, alive and at speed.”

Mark Allatt concluded, “With the launch of The Boiler Club, no-one can now doubt that we really mean business. The next few months will see further major announcements as the construction of the locomotive gathers pace. We are now appealing to those who want to be a part of this exciting project to become covenantors, sponsors and volunteers to help us maintain this momentum.”

No. 2002 Earl Marischal at York

14/10/2014

Today is the 80th anniversary of No. 2002 appearing at an open day at York station.

As many of you will know, film of P2’s are very rare, however, our friends at the North West Film Archive at Manchester Metropolitan University have uncovered two films that show P2 2002 Earl Marischal. The films taken by two brothers who attended an open day at York station on the 13th October 1934 are 80 years old today. The Trust is currently working with the NWFA to acquire a copy for their ongoing research into the original P2 locomotives, until then we have been sent these fantastic screenshots from one of the films. To find out more about the North West Film Archive please see their website: www.nwfa.mmu.ac.uk. All images are copyright to the North West Film Archive.

P2 Convention in Chesterfield

14/10/2014

On Saturday 4th October the first Annual Convention of the P2 Steam Locomotive Company was held at the Casa Hotel, Chesterfield, following that of the A1 Steam Trust. A packed meeting heard from a range of speakers and were appraised of progress so far.

Founders and covenantors listen to presentations about funding and engineering – Rob Morland

The conference room was packed with supporters of Prince of Wales – Rob Morland

Chris Ludlow and his stunning painting, prints of which will be given to members of the Boiler Club – Rob Morland