The P2 Steam Locomotive Company has announced that the Motion Club has passed the three-quarter mark.
The Motion CLub was set up to fund the motion for Gresley No.2007 Prince of Wales.
It has now reached 135 members of its 175 target, having been launched in April 2018 to raise £210,000 for the motion.
This follows on from the success of The Founders Club, get the project to the cutting of the frames stage, The Boiler Club, get the boiler funded, The Mikado Club, to wheel the locomotive, and The Cylinder Club, to make the cylinder block.
An order for the motion was made last year thanks to the generosity of the donators.
The order included the forging, machining and heat treatment of the nine heavy motion rods, intermediate coupling rod LH/RH, trailing coupling rod LH/RH, leading coupling rod LH/RH, outside connecting rod LH/RH and the inside connecting rod assembly and the combined piston and rod.
In return for supporting this appeal, special benefits for members of The Motion Club 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
- The 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
The motion is expected to be delivered in batches throughout 2019, with the first items, the intermediate coupling rods, expected to be delivered in the second quarter of 2019. Orders to follow for the motion include rod bushes, oil box covers and other miscellaneous components.
What did the officials say?
Mark Allatt, Trustee and P2 Project Director, 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, well over £3m has now been donated or pledged with half of the required £5m already received.
“We now want to turn our attention to the motion which is our next major manufacturing challenge. Given the level of support The Motion Club has received, we are confident we can raise the additional £40,000 needed to pay for the heavy motion from 40 supporters and remain on-track for completion of new Gresley class P2 locomotive – No. 2007 Prince of Wales – by the end of 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! Next year will see further major announcements as the construction of new Gresley class P2 No. 2007 Prince of Wales gathers pace.”
Where Next?
News Homepage
For the Latest Railway News
RailAdvent Online Shop
Framed Prints, DVD's / Blu-Ray's and more
LocoStop Community
Come and share your railway pictures
P2 Steam Locomotive Company
Visit their website
