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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.
Roller bearings ordered for No. 2007
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
No. 2002 Earl Marischal at York
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
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