£100,000 appeal launched to make the cylinder block for No. 2007 Prince of Wales

We are delighted to announce a new £100,000 appeal to make the cylinder block for new Gresley class P2 No. 2007 Prince of Wales. If the project is to remain on schedule to complete No. 2007 by 2021 we need to order the cylinder block in 2017. The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust has therefore 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 has 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 ticket (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 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

David Elliott's design for an improved, fabricated P2 cylinder block - David Elliott

The work involved in designing and manufacturing 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 (which 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 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.

Mark Allatt 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 £2.6m has now been donated or pledged. Our team at Darlington Locomotive Works has been focused on creating and assembling the boiler cladding over the past few weeks.

“We now want to turn 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. 2007 Prince of Wales by the end of 2017 and remain on-track for completion of the new locomotive in 2021.

“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.