P2 Progress

This page is a digest of progress to date building the new Gresley Class P2 No. 2007 Prince of Wales.

Headline news: One of the motion brackets trial fitted – David Elliott

ENGINEERING PROGRESS TO DATE:

  • Engine’s frames erected; all major engine frame stays, brackets, horn blocks, axle boxes and buffers cast; around 1,000 driven bolts fitted to the frames
  • All engine wheelsets complete; materials for tender wheelsets delivered
  • Boiler design study commissioned, and forged foundation ring corners manufactured and machined; start made on boiler fittings with castings for combined injector steam and delivery valves; regulator castings delivered; superheater header cast and machined; boiler cladding manufactured and trial fitted to frames; boiler order (for an heir and a spare) placed with DB Meiningen for delivery in July 2021
  • Study into ride and suspension completed using rail industry standard Vampire® software; finite Element Analysis completed on re designed crank axle to ensure locomotive complies with modern standards
  • Cab erected and cab side and spectacle window frames fitted; engine footplating and splasher kits delivered and permanently fitted to frames
  • Smokebox assembled and trial fitted to the frames; chimney cast and fitted
  • Tender tank and frames construction under way, axlebox and other tender castings produced by William Cook Cast Products
  • Nameplates and chime whistle delivered
  • Significant progress on design and manufacture of pipework and electrical system
  • Many non-ferrous fittings being cast and machined

FUNDRAISING

Over £2m spent, £2.5m raised and £3.3m pledged of the required £5m.

As of end June:

  • We have over 920 active covenantors bringing in almost £190,000pa including GAD (over £17pp pm including GAD)
  • The Boiler Club has 179/300 members at £2,000pp excluding GAD
  • The Motion Club has 139/175 members at £1,000pp excluding GAD
  • The Tender Club (new) has 25/250 at £1,500pp excluding GAD
  • Dedicated Donations have brought in around £350,000 inc GAD
  • The Founders Club, The Mikado Club and The Cylinder Club have all closed having reached or exceeded their targets