LNER P2 Class 2007 Prince of Wales

The LNER P2 Class 2007 Prince of Wales is a steam locomotive under construction by the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust. It is named after the Prince of Wales.

LNER 2007 Prince of Wales
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerSir Nigel Gresley (original designer)
BuilderP2 Steam Locomotive Company
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-8-2 Mikado
Gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia.3 ft 2 in (0.97 m)
Driver dia.6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Trailing dia.3 ft 8 in (1.12 m)
Loco weight110 long tons 5 cwt (247,000 lb or 112 t) max.
Tender weight55 long tons 6 cwt (123,900 lb or 56.2 t) max.
Fuel typeCoal
Boiler pressure250 psi (1.72 MPa)
CylindersThree
Cylinder size19.75 in × 26 in (502 mm × 660 mm)
Loco brakeAir (Vacuum for heritage railways)
Performance figures
Tractive effort43,684 lbf (194.32 kN)
Career
DispositionUnder Construction

In 2013, the A1 Trust announced plans to build a LNER Class P2 locomotive and work commenced the following year. The A1 Trust has projected the cost of the locomotive will be around £5 million. As of 2019, the locomotive is under construction at Darlington Locomotive Works; the A1 Trust anticipate the locomotive will be completed in 2021.

History

Background

Six Gresley P2s were built at Doncaster Works between 1934 and 1936. They were designed by Nigel Gresley to haul express trains over the difficult Edinburgh to Aberdeen section of the London and North Eastern Railway.

Restrictions in-place during the Second World War caused the class to suffer mechanical problems during the 1940s which contributed to the decision to rebuild the class into LNER Thompson Class A2/2s. The rebuilt engines were withdrawn from November 1959, the last, 2002/60502 Earl Marischal, was withdrawn in July 1961. None survived into preservation.

Pre-launch studies

After LNER Peppercorn Class A1 60163 Tornado was completed, the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust considered building another locomotive. In 2010, it announced its intention to conduct a feasibility study into building a P2 class locomotive.[1] An electronic model was created for track dynamic analysis using Tornado as the basis and track position data from Network Rail to validate modelling data and assumptions.[2]

A digital model of the P2 was built based on original drawings held by the National Railway Museum.[3] A Solidworks computer aided design (CAD) model was created for use in the manufacturing process. The frames have been built using CNC machines from the CAD data.[3] Modelling data for the P2 and a modified design with a LNER Class V2-type pony truck, was released in early 2013.[2]

Project launch

In 2013, the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust announced plans to build LNER Class P2 steam locomotive number 2007. The royal family agreed that the engine would be named Prince of Wales and an announcement was made on the Prince's 65th birthday.[4]

In April 2014, construction commenced at Scunthorpe Steelworks, where the frame plates were rolled and flame profiled.[3] Construction process was expected to take seven years. The A1 Trust projected that the cost will be £5 million.[5]

Design

The P2 is based on the original drawings of 2001 Cock o' the North,[3] but is not an exact duplicate. It has extensive alterations to improve maintenance, lower life-cycle costs, address historic problems, and comply with modern operating requirements and standards. Modifications include roller bearings, an all-welded, all-steel boiler and Lentz poppet valve-gear.[2] The external appearance will match Cock o' the North in its original configuration before it was streamlined.[2]

Components in common with Tornado have been incorporated into the P2 as a cost-saving measure.[3] The trust estimates the locomotives will have about 70% of their parts in common, including the boiler and tender.[6]

David Elliott, the trust’s director of engineering observed that the original P2s had several shortcomings, difficulties when traversing tight curves and being prone to crank axle failures but was confident that these will be resolved by contemporary engineering techniques.[3] To address crank axle fatigue failures, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) has resulted in the axle diameter being increased to 10 inches (250 mm) compared the original 9 5⁄8 inches (240 mm). The curve problem was studied using Resonate Group's 'VAMPIRE' software to simulate the vehicle's rail dynamics.[2] The simulation determined optimal coupled wheelset clearances and design of a pony truck with side-spring control.[3]

The original P2 cylinder diameter of 21 inches (530 mm) is out-of-gauge where track has been positioned for a reduced platform gap.[3] To avoid excessive route limitations, the P2's cylinder diameter has been reduced to 19 3⁄4 inches (500 mm), and 3⁄4 inch (19 mm) was saved by using fabricated steel instead of cast iron for the cylinder block. To retain the same power output as the P2s, the boiler operates at 250psi instead of 220psi.[3] Because of improved heat treatment methods and modern tooling, a durable infinitely-variable cam can be used instead of the stepped cam adopted for the early P2s, enabling greater efficiency.[3]

The P2's boiler is 17 inches (430 mm) shorter than the original, and the smokebox is 17 inches longer.[3] The change was made because the extra boiler length failed to raise extra steam as firebox gases cooled towards its far end and the longer smokebox will provide a larger vacuum reservoir to smooth exhaust pulses. The boiler is based on Tornado's as is the complex superheater header and electrical system. The sloped smokebox meant that the P2's chimney required a unique casting.[3]

Name, number and liveries

As with 60163 Tornado, which was built as a new member of the class, the P2 is a new member of the class rather than a replica. The original P2's were numbered 2001-2006 and the new P2 will be 2007. Two months after launching the project it was decided to name the engine after the Prince of Wales.[7]

Project milestones
  • Nov 2013 (Nov 2013): 2007 to be named Prince of Wales.[8]
  • Feb 2014 (Feb 2014): James May creates 2007's smokebox door dart.[9]
  • Apr 2014 (Apr 2014): Frames cast at Tata Steel in Scunthorpe.[10]
  • Jun 2014 (Jun 2014): Driving wheels ordered.[11]
  • Jul 2014 (Jul 2014): Frames dedicated.[12]
  • Oct 2014 (Oct 2014): Roller bearings ordered.[13]
  • Jul 2015 (Jul 2015): 2007 construction 1/3 complete.[14]
  • Oct 2015 (Oct 2015): £2m raised in two years.[15]
  • Mar 2016 (Mar 2016): P2SLC launch "The Mikado Club".[16]
  • Jan 2017 (Jan 2017): James May makes slacking cock flange.[17]
  • May 2017 (May 2017): Tender frames ordered.[18]
  • Oct 2017 (Oct 2017): Campaign for 2007's boiler passes half way.[19]
  • Jan 2018 (Jan 2018): Campaign for 2007's clyinder block two-thirds completed.[20]
  • Mar 2018 (Mar 2018): Cylinder block fully funded.[21]
  • Apr 2018 (Apr 2018): Boiler half funded.[22]
  • Apr 2018 (Apr 2018): 2007's construction 40% funded.[23]
  • May 2018 (May 2018): Mikado Club reaches target.[24]
  • May 2018 (May 2018): Motion Components ordered.[25]
  • Jun 2018 (Jun 2018): 2007's tyres fitted.[26]
  • Jun 2018 (Jun 2018): Boiler tender issued.[27]
  • Jun 2018 (Jun 2018): Boiler cladding trial fitted.[28]
  • Jul 2018 (Jul 2018): Wheels arrive in Darlington.[29]
  • Aug 2018 (Aug 2018): Electrical equipment ordered.[30]
  • Sept 2018 (Sept 2018): V4 to be constructed after P2.[31]
  • Sept 2018 (Sept 2018): Wheelsets fitted to engine.[32]
  • Oct 2018 (Oct 2018): DB Meiningen to undertake boiler design.[33]
  • Oct 2018 (Oct 2018): First cylinder parts arrive.[34]
  • Nov 2018 (Nov 2018): 2007's construction 50% funded.[35]
  • Dec 2018 (Dec 2018): Construction progress.[36]
  • Nov 2019 (Nov 2019): Tender wheels delivered (Now awaiting balancing and roller fitting)[37]
  • Mar 2020 (Mar 2020): Tender tank delivered[38]
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References
  1. "Welcome to the project to build the new Gresley class P2 No. 2007 Prince of Wales". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
  2. Design, The P2 Steam Locomotive Company, retrieved 12 November 2013
  3. "Building the P2". Rail Engineer. 20 May 2016.
  4. "News - P2 Steam Locomotive Company". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. November 2013.
  5. Bowe, Charlotte (16 August 2018). "Prince of Wales plan is powering ahead". The Northern Echo. p. 8. ISSN 2056-4287.
  6. Mission / Introduction, The P2 Steam Locomotive Company, [it] has around 70% commonality with Tornado, including the boiler, tender and many other detailed fittings
  7. "News - 2007's name confirmed as Prince of Wales". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. 14 November 2017.
  8. "Prince of Wales name confirmed". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. 14 November 2013.
  9. "News - James May makes first P2 component". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. February 2014.
  10. "News - Forged in Fire". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. April 2014.
  11. "Driving Wheels Ordered". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. 16 June 2014.
  12. "Frames Dedicated". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. 21 July 2014.
  13. "2007's roller bearings ordered". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. 24 October 2014.
  14. "2007's construction 1/3 complete". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. 28 July 2015.
  15. "£2m raised". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. 2 October 2015.
  16. "News - The Mikado Club launched". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. March 2016.
  17. "James Mays slacking cock flange". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. 24 January 2017.
  18. "Tender frames ordered". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. May 2017.
  19. "News - Boiler campaign passes half-way". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. October 2017.
  20. "News - Cylinder block campaign two-thirds funded". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. January 2018.
  21. "News - P2's Cylinder block fully funded". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. March 2018.
  22. "2007's boiler 50% funded". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. 18 April 2018.
  23. "Prince of Wales 40% funded". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. 23 April 2018.
  24. "Mikado Club passes £3m". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. 16 May 2018.
  25. "Motion Components ordered". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. 31 May 2018.
  26. "Wheels tyred and crankpins fitted". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. 2 June 2018.
  27. "Boiler construction tender issued". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. 7 June 2018.
  28. "Boiler cladding trial fitted". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. 27 June 2018.
  29. "Wheelsets arrive". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. 23 July 2018.
  30. "Mainline equipment ordered". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. 8 August 2018.
  31. "V4 reaches pre-launch stage". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. 6 September 2018.
  32. "We have a Mikado". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. 18 September 2018.
  33. "Order placed with DB Meiningen". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. 8 October 2018.
  34. "First cylinder components arrive". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. 29 October 2018.
  35. "2007's construction 50% funded". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. 14 November 2018.
  36. "December construction progress". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. 21 December 2018.
  37. "Eight wheels on my tender......part one". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. 28 December 2019.
  38. "Eight wheels on my tender......part two". P2 Steam Locomotive Company. 24 March 2020.
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