£100,000 appeal for the cylinder block for new Gresley Class P2 steam locomotive No. 2007 Prince of Wales reaches two-thirds in just three months

We are delighted to say that the £100,000 appeal to make the cylinder block for new Gresley class P2 No. 2007 Prince of Wales has reached two-thirds of its target in just three months. If the project is to remain on schedule for completion by 2021, the first components of the cylinder block have to be ordered in early 2018. At its annual convention on 30^thSeptember 2017, The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust set itself the challenge of raising £100,000 through The Cylinder Club from 100 supporters each donating £1,000 (plus Gift Aid) to the project in up to eight payments of £125 by standing order.

Following the success of The Founders Club (to get the project to the point of cutting the frames), The Boiler Club (to fund the construction of the boiler) and The Mikado Club (to wheel the locomotive), the Trust decided to establish The Cylinder Club to raise an estimated £100,000 required to make No. 2007’s cylinder block.

In return for supporting this appeal, special benefits for members of The Cylinder Club include:

• Opportunity to buy tickets (seat already reserved) on one of the first trains hauled by No. 2007 Prince of Wales
• Reasonable access to No. 2007 at all times
• Opportunity to buy exclusive Cylinder Club badge
• Opportunity to join one of the teams building No. 2007
• First choice of other components to sponsor
• Special Cylinder Club day with Tornado
• Special signed/numbered print of John Wigston’s new painting of No. 2007 Prince of Wales alongside No. 2001 Cock o’ the North and No. 2002 Earl Marischal.
  

Artist John Wigston has been an active supporter of The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust since its launch in 1990, producing the first painting No. 60163 Tornado called ‘The return of an A1’ of which many supporters have a print. John has donated the original artwork for his new painting of No. 2007 Prince of Wales alongside No. 2001 Cock o’ the North and No. 2002 Earl Marischal to the Trust to raise funds for the project.

The work involved in designing the new cylinder block includes:

• Convert the original P2 class one-piece casting into a welded fabrication including Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to check for structural integrity
• Improve the layout of the valves to reduce the clearance volume (affects cylinder efficiency)
• Re-route the steam and exhaust passages to physically separate them to prevent incoming steam from heating the outgoing exhaust
• Increase the size and improve internal streamlining of steam passages along Chapelon lines to increase maximum power and improve economy
• Reduce the overall width of the cylinder block to provide Prince of Wales with the widest possible route availability on the main line.

Manufacture of the cylinder block including:

• Producing the welded fabrication
• Stress relieving
• Grit blasting and painting with high temperature paint
• Machining
• Fitting cylinder liners and valve seats
• Manufacturing and fitting cylinder and valve covers
• Hydraulic testing the assembly.

Progress building Britain’s most powerful steam locomotive continues at Darlington Locomotive Works and includes:

• Frame plates for engine and tender rolled and profiled; engine’s frames erected at Darlington Locomotive Works; all major engine frame stays, brackets, horn blocks, axle boxes and buffers cast (44 in total); over 1,000 fitted and driven bolts ordered and delivered, approximately 800 now fitted to the frames
• All 20 wheels for engine and tender cast and proof machined; roller bearings for all engine and tender wheelsets and engine axles (including crank axle), tyres and crank pins delivered, tender axles, tyres ordered and first wheelset complete
• Preliminary discussions held with boiler manufacturers and forged foundation ring corners manufactured and machined; start made on boiler fittings with castings for combined injector steam and delivery valves
• 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; assessment and notified body appointed to oversee certification - first site visit made
• Cab erected and cab side window frames fitted; engine footplating and splasher kits delivered and permanently fitted to frames
• Smokebox door pressed details made and door completed, door frame manufactured, smokebox delivered and erected; chimney cast and fitted
• Crosshead castings ordered
• Boiler cladding assembly jig built, cladding crinolines and hoops rolled and fitted to jig, cladding sheets procured, rolled and being fitting to the jig
• Tender frame construction under way, axlebox and other tender castings ordered from William Cook Cast Products
• Nameplates and chime whistle delivered
• Over £1.3m spent, £1.7m raised and £2.7m pledged of the required £5m.

The project’s objectives for 2018 are to:

• Complete No. 2007’s wheelsets
• Continue the boiler procurement
• Order the cylinder block
• Design and order the first motion parts
• Progress work on the tender
• Commence the electrical design.

Mark Allatt, P2 Project Director and Trustee, The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, commented, “We are delighted with the level of support that the project to build Britain’s most powerful steam locomotive has received since its launch. Thanks to our supporters’ continued generosity, over £2.7m has now been donated or pledged. Our team at Darlington Locomotive Works has been focused on creating and assembling the boiler cladding and fitting the roller bearings and cannon boxes to the axles over the past few weeks.

“We have now turned our attention to the cylinder block which is our next major design and manufacturing challenge. If we can raise £100,000 through The Cylinder Club over the next few months we are confident that we will be able to place the order for the cylinder block for No. 2007Prince of Wales in the first quarter of 2018 and remain on-track for completion of the new locomotive in 2021. Achieving pledges of over two-thirds of our target within the three months means that we are well on the way towards achieving this.

“I would encourage all steam enthusiasts who haven’t yet contributed to this exciting project to help us to meet these deadlines by becoming a member of The Cylinder Club or a monthly ‘P2 for the price of a pint of beer a week’ covenantor. It’s time to get on board! This year will see further major announcements as the construction of new Gresley class P2 No. 2007 Prince of Wales gathers pace.”

To become a member of The Cylinder Club, email enquiries@p2steam.com, call 01325 460163 or visit www.p2steam.com for more information.