Update on the project to build Gresley class P2 No. 2007 Prince of Wales - Britain’s most powerful steam locomotive

We will be holding a series of roadshows across Great Britain in 2020. The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, also the builders, owners and operators of 100mph famous new steam locomotive No. 60163 Tornado, has announced that it will be holding a number of presentations on the project to build new Gresley class P2 No. 2007 Prince of Wales in 2020. Entry into each roadshow is free with the first at Darlington Locomotive Works, Darlington on Saturday 18^th January 2020.

The class P2 2-8-2 ‘Mikado’ locomotives were the most powerful passenger steam locomotives to operate in the UK, designed by Sir Nigel Gresley to haul 600 ton trains on the arduous Edinburgh to Aberdeen route.  Sadly, the design was never fully developed, and they were rebuilt in 1943/44 and scrapped by 1961.  The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust (registered charity and builders of famous new steam locomotive No. 60163 Tornado) is building the seventh member of this class over seven years at an estimated cost of £5m. The project will demonstrate how the design can be fully realised through use of modern computer design techniques, enabling the new locomotive to deliver its full potential hauling passenger trains at high speed across today’s national network.

The first Roadshow is at Darlington Locomotive Works, Darlington. Each presentation will feature key Trust personnel including Mark Allatt (P2 Project Director) and/or David Elliott (Director of Engineering) and will cover the background to the project, progress to-date, future plans and details of how to get involved. The presentation will start promptly at 11:00hrs until 13:00hrs* on each of the days listed below and are open to existing supporters and members of the public:

• 18^th January - Darlington Locomotive Works
• 29^th February - London Transport Museum, Covent Garden, London
• 21^st March - Great Northern Hotel, Peterborough
• 18^th April - Darlington Locomotive Works
• 23^rd May - Nene Valley Railway, Wansford*
• 6^th June - Hallmark Hotel, Carlisle *
• 4^th July - Darlington Locomotive Works
• 23^rd July - Jurys Inn Aberdeen, Aberdeen *
• 22^nd August - Darlington Locomotive Works
• 3^rd October - Darlington Locomotive Works
• 10^th October - Great Northern Hotel, Peterborough
• 21^st November - Darlington Locomotive Works

* Please contact the office (01325 460163) for timings as these are being planned around trains hauled by No. 60163 Tornado.