The Project to build P2 steam locomotive No.2007 Prince of Wales has announced that their Motion Club, which was launched back in April 2018, has passed the ‘one third' mark of its 175 member target.
60 people have signed up to ‘The Motion Club', which aims to raise the £210,000 to manufacture the motion for P2 No.2007 Prince of Wales.
What is a P2 steam locomotive?
The P2s, also known as The ‘Mikados', was the most powerful express locomotive in the UK. Designed in the 1930s by Sir Nigel Gresley, they were designed to haul 600-ton trains. The build of 2007 is at an estimated cost of £5 million and will use modern construction techniques, such as Computer Aided Design (CAD).
In order to complete No.2007 Prince of Wales by their target of 2021, the project needed to order the heavy motion in 2018. Thanks to the generosity of the supports, the group were confident enough to order the motion.
A £181,000 order has been placed with Stephenson Engineering Ltd of Atherton, Manchester for the heavy motion. This order includes the forging, machining and heat treatment of the following:
- Intermediate coupling rod LH/RH
- Trailing coupling rod LH/RH
- Leading coupling rod LH/RH
- Outside connecting rod LH/RH
- Inside connecting rod assembly (including strap, gluts and strap nuts and washers)
- The combined piston and rod.
The order is expected to be delivered in batches between December 2018 and December 2019. The first item to be delivered towards December 2018 will be the intermediate coupling rods. Orders to follow for the motion include rod bushes, oil box covers and miscellaneous components.
If you would like to support the P2 Steam Locomotive Company, then the Motion Club has special benefits, which include:
- Opportunity to buy a 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 Motion Club badge
- Opportunity to join one of the teams building No. 2007
- First choice of other components to sponsor
- Special Motion Club day with Tornado
- Special limited-edition version (signed/numbered) of Stuart Black's drawing of No. 2007 Prince of Wales
What did the officials say?
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 £3m has now been donated or pledged. Recently we have been focused on preparing to wheel No. 2007 and completing the boiler cladding.
“We now want to turn our attention to the motion which is our next major design and manufacturing challenge. Given the level of support The Motion Club has received in just three months, we are confident we can raise the additional £135,000 needed to pay for the heavy motion, and remain on-track for completion of new Gresley class P2 locomotive, No. 2007 Prince of Wales 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 Motion 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.”
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