The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust is building a brand new P2 class steam locomotive, and that project has taken another step towards completion thanks to the generosity of its donors. Just two months after its launch, the Valve Gear Club has raised over £50,000. Reaching this initial milestone enables work on manufacturing drawings to be finalised, and the production of a prototype and test rig to prove the technology, before it is fitted to the locomotive.
Reaching this first milestone so quickly is important as it allows this aspect of the build to gain momentum, however this is just the beginning as we will need to raise £250,000 more to complete the valve gear for all three cylinders.
P2 Project Director and Trustee, Richard Courteney-Harris MBE, said “I’m so very impressed and grateful for the way in which our wonderful supporters have generously leaned in to quickly raise over £50k in just two months. Their support means that we’re much further ahead of the valve gear game than originally scheduled, moving this last major engineering and development area closer to completion.”
The Gresley class P2 ‘Mikados’ were the most powerful express passenger locomotives to operate in the UK. They were designed by Sir Nigel Gresley to haul 600-ton trains over the arduous Edinburgh to Aberdeen route. The ultimate performance and economy of a steam locomotive is dependent on optimising the complete thermal system from the fire hole door to the top of the chimney. Assuming the boiler and smoke box are fundamentally sound, the most important areas for good design are the cylinders and valves.
The design and manufacture of the unique cylinder monobloc, delivered to Darlington Locomotive Works in autumn 2023, was the first step towards building the powerhouse of the P2. With that work complete, our attention has turned to the other side of that same coin: the valve gear. The P2 will be fitted with rotary cam, Lentz-Franklin poppet valve gear.
For manufacture and testing of the new valve gear design, the project needs to raise a total of £300,000. The Valve Gear Club seeks to raise these funds through donations of £1000, in a lump sum or smaller instalments. Full details can be found here.
We invite you to join the club today to help us build on this momentum and drive No. 2007 Prince of Wales to become Britain’s most powerful steam locomotive!