Following on from the previous update from the P2 project, the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust received some presents donated to them over the festive season.

Geoff Holland, Great Nephew to Edward ‘Teddy’ Windle, paid a visit to Darlington Locomotive Works where he very kindly donated a pair of Stones Lamps which will be placed on the rear of 2007’s tender.

The fixed headlamps which are found at the front and rear of most ex-LNER express locomotives take on an important role on today’s modern railway with steam on the main line.

These lamps have to be capable of muti-functioning displaying a white or red LED light, back in steam days these lamps only displayed a white light.

The donated Stones Lamps will house LED lights which will be placed inside the lamp cases, they will be wired up and fixed to the same design as those already on Tornado’s tender.

The Trust is also looking for more lamps, so if anyone else has some they would like to donate please contact the A1 steam locomotive trust.

Geoff also expressed how his great-uncle went to France with a P2… “My great uncle Edward ‘Teddy’ Windle was one of the team that went to Vitry in France with Cock of the North in 1934/5. After his death, I was given two passes he was given by French Railways for use on the trip. Would you like them?”

Those passes are now on display at Darlington Loco Works 2, and tell a story of a P2s trip over the channel when it operated on French Railways. 

Edward Windle was one of Gresley’s Chief Draughtsmen, he and his colleagues spent time designing some very innovative ideas which were taken and developed to the point where a fully functional locomotive was constructed.

He is also acknowledged for designing parts for the many Gresley Pacific’s and the monobloc cylinders for the V2 2-6-2s

On his trip to France, Edward travelled with the P2 and a young Oliver Bullied, who went on to design his own Pacific’s for the Southern Railway.

On returning to Britain, Edward was made Chief Designer to Arthur Peppercorn where he worked on the Class A1 4-6-2s, though they were always weary of Edward Thompson the then-current LNER C.M.E and made sure the A1 drawings were hidden whenever Thompson was in the room!