Last week, this eagerly anticipated locomotive took another big step towards completion, as the tender frames which were being manufactured off site were delivered to the Darlington Works.
On 12th June, the tender frames for P2 No. 2007 Prince of Wales made the first leg of their journey to Darlington Locomotive Works (DLW). The completed frames were dispatched from Ian Howitt’s works in Wakefield for final gritblasting, preparation and painting in primer. This was undertaken at a specialist contractor to save mess and cost at DLW and the process was complete on 19th June.
The frames were delivered to DLW on Friday 21st June, signifying a major milestone achieved in the project to build the P2. Further fitting out will be required for pipework and conduits, with discussions around European Train Control Systems (ETCS) requirements ongoing. The tender tank (delivered in 2020) will be affixed to the frames as the tender takes shape. The tender wheel sets also require balancing but can be trial fitted before that occurs.
P2 Project Director and Trustee, Richard Courteney-Harris MBE, commented: “This is a significant milestone in Prince of Wales’s build and is testament to the continued efforts of everyone involved to bring it to fruition. We’re absolutely delighted that we have another large piece of the P2 jigsaw back home and look forward to assembling the tender parts in due course. I hope supporters are hugely proud of what their faith in us has achieved.”
Of the £450,000 required to finish the tender, so far over £250,000 has been spent, with around half of that being raised by the dedicated fundraising effort of “The Tender Club”. The remainder has been funded by regular P2 donations, which diverts spend away from other areas of the project and affects the rate of the build. With work still required to attach the tank to the frames, affix piping and electricals and balance the wheels, we still need your support.
The Trust invites anyone interested in the future of main line steam to join the club today to help No. 2007 Prince of Wales steam as soon as possible! More information can be found here.