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Meeting Report of the Ipswich and District Historical Transport Society on November 27th 2024.

A very creditable total of 68 members and visitors attended our November meeting – the last of 2024.

We welcomed Liz Gibson from the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust with her illustrated talk on “Brand New Steam for the 21st Century”. Building the Prince of Wales, following in Tornado’s tracks.

There are few people left alive who remember Nigel Gresley’s LNER Class P2 Mikado, 2-8-2, number 2001 Cock o’ the North in her original form, or her five sisters in the class. She was the most powerful passenger express locomotive in the UK when she was built in 1934, having a tractive effort of 43,462 lbf at 85% boiler pressure.

The Earl Marischal  (number 2002) followed number 2001 into service with the addition of smoke deflectors. By June 1936 the third engine had been produced: No. 2003, Lord President, based on the design of No. 2002 but with the external front end modified to resemble the A4 Streaks. The remainder of the group were built with the same front end shape as the latter.

The class was rebuilt extensively by Edward Thompson as Pacifics in 1943 because of high fuel consumption and serious crank axle failures. He was also allegedly jealous of Gresleys success as a designer.

The original locos were mainly restricted to the Edinburgh to Aberdeen expresses and this may not have been the best route upon which to use the class – especially in the war years when maintenance was minimal. The rebuilds were not an improvement, as they suffered from poor adhesion and rough riding. I did not like the look of them either, because there was an inordinately ugly gap between the cylinders and the front buffer beam. They were scrapped early and had all disappeared by 1961.

Following the success of the building of A1 Class Pacific, 4-6-2 number 60163 Tornado in 2008; the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust announced its intention to conduct a feasibility study into building a seventh Class P2, the most frequently requested engine. The study included the examination of commercial, engineering, and certification challenges that may arise and discussions amongst the trust and regulatory bodies were "very positive". A 3D computer model of the P2 was created using original drawings kept in the National Railway Museum and used for track dynamic analysis using Tornado as the basis and track position data from Network Rail to validate the modelling data.

The project was officially launched in 2014. It was decided that number 2007 would be named Prince of Wales. The first component was made by Grand Tour’s James May. He made the smokebox dart at the Darlington Works; an event which was captured on film.

Tata Steelworks built the frame plates and these were welcomed at Darlington appropriately by Gresley’s two grandsons. There were some important design changes made to the new P2 structure compared with the original – for example:

- Frame stays were modified to allow for air braking. A necessity for steam locos traveling on the mainline.

- The 118A boiler as fitted to Tornado would be used. There would be three of these boilers in use so that both engines could continue earning revenue when one particular boiler needed work.

- Modern Timken roller bearings would be utilised.

- Cylinder size is smaller than the original because the latter would have fouled the current station platform edges. Power output is approximately the same, however, because the boiler is pressed to 250 psi compared with the original 220 psi.

- Crank axle wear has been considerably reduced with the use of modern more durable steel types.

- A new LED lighting system will be installed which will aid maintenance. This will be similar to that fitted to Tornado.

- It will be fitted with new Lentz/Franklin valve gear.

In saying all this; it will have a very similar appearance to those wonderful 1930’s photographs of Cock o’ the North. Importantly – she will sound the same; as a new Crosby-type chime whistle has been fabricated and will announce her arrival at stations on the mainline.

The date of completion is estimated to be in 2027 at a total cost which will approach £6.5 million. Much of this contributed by the public in various clubs eg The Valve Gear Club.

A Q and A session followed Liz’s talk in which she said that a V4 Class 2-6-0 was in the planning stages, named Highlander. After that a Gresley K3 was a possibility.

Our Chairman; Sylvia Kerridge thanked Liz and our appreciative large audience gave her warm applause.

Mervyn Russen

Liz Gibson. (with her permission)

The Cock O’ The North, as new, pictured in 1934.(Photo in the public domain)

CAD model showing sources of design. (Picture by permission of Liz Gibson)

Newly manufactured cylinder monobloc of No. 2007. (Photo by permission of Liz Gibson)