The P2 Steam Locomotive Company has released an update on the progress in building No.2007 Prince of Wales.

The group has reached a point in the project where lots of essential work is going on but is rather unspectacular work. This includes pipework, electrics and brake gear fittings.

However, the group has ordered the tender tank, and are nearly ready to order the boiler.

When it comes to the frames, the group has received the first of two outside motion brackets. Following inspection, these will be fitted to the frames.

The last of the frame components, being 10 spring hanger brackets, have been ordered from North View Engineering Solutions. The original designs used steel castings, on first look they were similar to Tornado’s, however, they are different. The new spring hanger brackets are being redesigned as welded fabrications.

Two of the spring brackets have bearing housings. These are attached to the back of them to support the brake lever shaft. The group has modified the design of the brake lever from vacuum to air operation, this has altered the distribution of forces in the shaft.

The fitting of the motion brackets and spring hangers will complete the engine frame structure.

On to the wheelsets, and after the further delays, the pony truck cannonbox is back with Timson Engineering for final machining. Delivery to Darlington is expected soon.

Volunteers are making good progress with polishing the tyre rims.

The speedo drive return crank has been delivered and is being fettled and polished by the group’s volunteers.

Next up in the update is the boiler. The draft of the updated design has been received and finalised for quotes.

Preparations are being made to carry out the hydraulic test on the superheater header.

When it comes to the cylinders, further design work has been done on the cylinder block and valve gear in anticipation of manufacture work starting.

In the brake rigging department, the four fabricated brake cross stays have been delivered by North View Engineering Solutions.

The front and rear short brake links have been completed. The brake blocks have been ordered, and all of the brake pins have been made. The group expects the delivery of the two brake lever shafts from ID Howitt soon.

In the cab, Daniela has completed the drawings, the material has been delivered. The cab seats and cab seat cubicles are under construction.

The order of the tender tank has been placed with North View Engineering Solutions. Delivery of the base plate to Ian Howitt is scheduled for pre-fitting to the frames in June.

The completed tank is expected to be delivered to Darlington Locomotive Works in September, by this time, the group expects to have the frames on site.

The P2SLC are still awaiting delivery of the remaining tender axle, with a current expectation being mid-June. At that stage the four axles will be dispatched along with the wheels to South Devon Railway Engineering.

Efforts are being made to be loaned the patterns from the 71000 Duke of Gloucester team for the Davies and Metcalfe class K exhaust injector.

Manufacturers are also being looked into for the grease separator which is located in the exhaust steam pipe to prevent oil and grease from the exhaust steam being injected into the boiler.

Pipework is extremely important, so efforts have been concentrated on design and installation of pipe runs.

The first pipe to be made is the exhaust steam injector exhaust steam pipe, this is a 4″ pipe that carries exhaust steam from the cylinder block all the way back to the exhaust steam injector under the cab. Being so big, it has to be made first. It has been trial installed but each of the sections will require hydraulic testing before permanent installation.

The next pipe run will be the 2in vacuum pipe including the DV2 air/vacuum proportional valve.

Design is progressing well for the air brake and air reservoir pipes which also run the full length of the frames.

The casing for the new belt driven alternator prototype has been made by North Bay Railway Engineering in Darlington.

Meanwhile, Alan has made very good progress with routing the stainless steel electrical trunking and conduits through the frames. He has also been working on a design for a slightly bigger battery box which will see the permanent fitting of batteries with a larger capacity than those found on Tornado.

One change the group is making from the design of Tornado is the disconnecting of cables between the cab and frame so that the cab can be removed.

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