Since our update at the beginning of February, work has progressed attaching the coupling rods to the wheels, ready for testing on the rotator. This involved fabricating gradient pins to fasten the rods, and fitting the horn stays beneath the frames to secure the wheels, before the locomotive was jacked up (the jacks then making a hasty journey south to Loughborough to aid
Tornado's overhaul!). The brake gear has also been fitted ready for set up. The rotator was then put in place to turn the second pair of driving wheels, with the rods keeping all eight in unison. Follow the link below to see some great footage of the wheels and crank axle turning!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rm8QuhfTN8w
Following the initial engineering tests, the railway press were invited to visit Darlington Locomotive Works to celebrate this milestone with us earlier today and see the spectacle for themselves. If you would like to witness the some of the first rotations of the P2's wheels , please visit DLW on our 5
th March open day. Our Open Days are back to their traditional open-house format on the first and third Saturdays of the month from 11:00hrs until last entry at 16:00hrs. No. 60163
Tornado was completed at DLW in 2008 and visitors to the Works can see the spectacular progress that the Trust is making with its second new main line steam locomotive, Gresley class P2 No. 2007
Prince of Wales. Pay us a visit to see the newly attached motion in all its splendour!
The final motion components are being machined at Stephenson Engineering ready for delivery this month. Follow the link to watch a short video and see sparks fly as they grind the studs for the big end straps.
https://youtu.be/LNLO0l9dHnI
The Motion Club closes at the end of this month! To join it follow this
link.