The P2 Steam Locomotive Company, who are building the most powerful express passenger steam locomotive, has today announced their new £210,000 appeal to manufacture the motion gear for the P2 No. 2007 Prince of Wales.

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, who already operate and maintain A1 No. 60163 – the newest mainline steam locomotive, have set themselves the target of raising the £210,000 through ‘The Motion Club’ with 175 supporters donating £1,000, plus gift aid, in 8 payments of £125 by standing order.

The ‘Mikados’ were 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 techiniques, such as Computer Aided Design (CAD)

For the project to remain on schedule to complete No. 2007 by 2021, the motion needs to be ordered in 2018. The trust has already has had success with The Founders Club (getting the project to the point of cutting the frames), The Boiler Club (funding the construction of the boiler), The Mikado Club (to wheel the locomotive), and The Cylinder Club (to make the cylinder block), the trust has established The Motion Club to manufacture the motion.

In return for supporting the appeal, the following special benefits are included:

• 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.

The following work is involved in the manufacturing of the motion:

• Redesigning of the coupling and connecting roads to use the modern material.
• Incorporate the late-pattern BR-type continuous white metal lined crank pin bearing bushes
• Use of the late-A1 design of inside connecting rod which overcame the tendency for the original design of inside connecting rods on LNER ‘Pacifics’ to big-end failure
• Open die forging of six coupling rods, two outside connecting rods and the inside connecting rod and strap
• CNC machining of all rods
• Manufacture of oil box lids, coupling rod knuckle pins, nuts and washers and bearing bush keys
• The casting of leaded gunmetal and phosphor bronze castings of the crank pin bearing bushes
• Machining and white metalling of bearing bushes
• Fitting oil box tops
• Assembly of bearing bushes to rods
• Polishing rods.

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 £2.9m has now been donated or pledged. Recently we have been focused on preparing to wheel No. 2007.

“We now want to turn our attention to the motion which is our next major design and manufacturing challenge. If we can raise £210,000 through The Motion Club over the next few months we are confident that we will be able to place order for the motion on No. 2007 Prince of Wales by the end of 2018 and remain on-track for completion of the new locomotive 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.”

• Visit the P2 Steam Locomotive Company website
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