Plan to build new Class P2 'Mikado' locomotive to a design by Sir Nigel Gresley

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Yorkshire Post:

Full steam ahead for plan to build new loco to design by Scotsman engineer


Flying Scotsman in Fairburn, Yorkshire, as it travels from Castleton to the National Railway Museum in York

A project to build a new steam locomotive to a design by the engineer of Flying Scotsman has raised nearly £90,000 in a month, its organisers have announced.

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, which operates the new 100mph Tornado engine, seen on Yorkshire’s Settle-Carlisle line earlier this year, said a crank axle had already been completed for the new loco, a P2 class engine to be called Prince of Wales.

The original class P2 “Mikado” locomotives were the most powerful passenger steam engines to operate in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom). They were designed by Sir Nigel Gresley to haul 600-ton trains on the Edinburgh to Aberdeen route.

Sir Nigel was chief engineer of the London and North Eastern Railway, and also designed the Mallard, which could reach 126mph and still holds the record as the fastest steam locomotive in the world.

Mark Allatt, project director for the new P2 engine, said the axle construction and the latest financial pledges were two significant milestones.

“We are delighted with the level of support that the project to build Britain’s most powerful steam locomotive has received since construction started only three years ago,” he said.

The new loco is said to be on track for completion in 2021, but its progress depends on raising more than £700,000 a year, which, Mr Allatt said, “becomes more challenging as each year passes”.

He added: “We would encourage all steam enthusiasts who haven’t yet contributed to become a monthly covenantor or support one of our other fundraising initiatives.”

[JayMac]

So close. A lack of definite articles preceeding locomotive names, except Mallard. I'll give this journalist 7/10.

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

I thought the LMS^▸ (London Midland Scottish - 1923 to 1948) Princess Coronation class were the most powerful UK^▸ (United Kingdom) steam locos ever built.  Anyway, my trainspotting days were in the Midlands and I always preferred LMS locos to LNER^» (London North Eastern Railway - about).

[Red Squirrel]

According to my my sources, the Midland's 2290 (Lickey Banker) at 192.6kN beat a Princess Coronation's 180kN. However, the LNER^» (London North Eastern Railway - about) P2 turned out 193.3kN. As far as I can see, nothing ever beat that in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom).

All of these look a bit weedy in comparison with a Union Pacific 'Big Boy' though - they churned out a somewhat more impressive 602kN, or 4690kW if you prefer.

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

Ah, kN is a measure of a Force, which was usually expressed as Tractive Effort for a steam locomotive.  Power is Force X Velocity, so the loco with the highest TE is not necessarily the one with the highest power output.

[grahame]

According to my my sources, the Midland's 2290 (Lickey Banker) at 192.6kN beat a Princess Coronation's 180kN. However, the LNER^» (London North Eastern Railway - about) P2 turned out 193.3kN. As far as I can see, nothing ever beat that in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom).

All of these look a bit weedy in comparison with a Union Pacific 'Big Boy' though - they churned out a somewhat more impressive 602kN, or 4690kW if you prefer.

Hmmm ... 69999 @ 324kN ... according to Wikipedia

It was both the longest and the most powerful steam locomotive ever to run in Britain.

No chance on the St Blazey table, then?

[eightf48544]

The Lickey banker or the LNER^» (London North Eastern Railway - about) Garrett were hardly express locos. isn't drawbar horse power a better indication.

From Wikipedia the P2 pulled 6 tons or 2000 hp. 

From Wikipedia re Duchess Even though the load was 610 long tons (680 short tons; 620 t), the train was propelled up the climbs to the summits at Shap and Beattock at unprecedented speeds. Drawbar horsepower (the power conveyed directly to the 20 coach train) was frequently over 2,000 hp (1,500 kW) and a maximum of 2,511 hp (1,872 kW) was recorded. This remains the official British record for a steam locomotive to this day. Because there were unmeasured variables, the horsepower at the cylinders could only be estimated; Cecil J. Allen thought it to be 3,333 hp (2,485 kW) whilst O. S. Nock was more conservative at 3,209 hp (2,393 kW).[90][91]

Churchward's standard for express locos was 2 tons at 70mph.

Which group are they talking about as there 2 groups trying to recreate a P2.

[Chris from Nailsea]

This is the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, which operates Tornado.

[rower40]

They've already built a crank axle.

Now they just have to put this into the DNA regeneration machine (as seen in "The Fifth Element"), and 3-D printing does the rest.

[Western Pathfinder]

A bit more than just the crank axle !..
See below
  https://www.p2steam.com/category/news/

[Red Squirrel]

A bit more than just the crank axle !..
See below
  https://www.p2steam.com/category/news/

I followed the link and thought I'd entered a parallel universe - the heading says "May has been hugely successful". Then I realised they were talking about the month, not the Prime Minister.

[broadgage]

A splendid project, and looking at the amount of work completed, likely to be running in not many years time.

Subject to a proper testing and inspection regime, I very much hope that network rail permit it to run routinely at 90MPH, and perhaps faster still.

Will we ever see the record held by Mallard broken by a newly built steamer ?

[Western Pathfinder]

A splendid project, and looking at the amount of work completed, likely to be running in not many years time.

Subject to a proper testing and inspection regime, I very much hope that network rail permit it to run routinely at 90MPH, and perhaps faster still.

Will we ever see the record held by Mallard broken by a newly built steamer ?

Would like to think so 

[onthecushions]

I'm never quite sure why new steam loco's are being built when so many are still rusting in sidings or out of service for repairs, although I understand the gaps in LNER^» (London North Eastern Railway - about) preservation and the temptation to a "Men's Shed" project.

As the real aim is to provide for steam excursions, it might be better to invest in service exchange units for existing loco classes where numerous examples exist of the same classes. We have multiple LMS^▸ (London Midland Scottish - 1923 to 1948), GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) and SR^‡(resolve) express loco's and it would surely make sense (for main line certified units at least) to have a fresh boiler, re-tyred wheels, motion etc ready to exchange on withdrawal, avoiding the 10-year turn-round.

I realise that many owners are involved but the buzz words are availability and cost.

Perhaps I'm happier with EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit)'s

OTC

[Red Squirrel]

Perhaps I'm happier with EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit)'s

Maybe so: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puvQ0P3QFIw