P2 Locomotive Company and related matters

Looking at that latest photo, I expect the leading pony wheels to be installed Monday, the cylinders Tuesdays, the motion/valve gear Wednesday................. I know it'll take longer, but the way they're going I could see most of the major components [bar perhaps the boiler] on site by the turn of the year.

 

Holy crankpin!

What an achievment! Congratulations from Norway

Imagine if Gresley knew about this...

regards,
Knut

 

Maybe they'll try to beat Stratford's record on whatever follows the V4

The benefits of a well resourced, well organised project, but also one that recognises the benefits of having a strong public profile (in order to fund the organisation and so on and so forth). I can't help but think a photo like this may bring in more money and contributions because it shows a project on the up.

 

That's the joy of roller-bearings and canon boxes, they slip right in!

More here.

Foxy.

 

Great link Foxy.

 

Hold on a tick, I'll just dig my Ouija board out .....

If they adopted Stratford's method of completed sub-assemblies galore .... and didn't mind about the rushed paint job, why not?

I'm half expecting the V4 to be followed with a U1. How we've managed to live without anything that long and bendy on the big railway for the last 60 years is a total mystery .... and I dare anyone to tell me a mainline Garratt couldn't manage 20 plus 'thunderbird' up the Long Drag!

...... what's "platform length" got to do with anything?

 

Considering that the wheelsets are somewhat... late, shall we say it was a wait worth waiting for - it has effected quite a transformation as now the locomotive has gone from a set of frames with cab and smokebox to becoming beyond recognition with the boiler cladding on as well.

It also emphasises the sheer size of the thing!

 

The ultimate expression of Big Chufferitis?

Joking aside, after the V4 comes the V3 (which I am looking forward to, if I'm still around) and apparently, a K3. But... how long before the "New Build" bubble bursts, if indeed it hasn't already? There are plenty of NB projects that are probably 20-30 years in gestation, never mind those that get no further than a Facebook page...

 

I don't think the new build bubble has burst, the largest locomotive groups in the country are probably all new build groups. I think it's more a case of some are better organized than others. Unfortunately people class them all the same as the are new builds, rather than looking at them individually like you would do with a normal restoration group. I would love to see some groups merge, ok I'm possibly agreeing with Paul Hitch on this, as some groups are lacking in key areas. Some have fantastic fundraisers, other fantastic engineers, but without having both the project can stall slightly. And as mentioned a few posts back you only have to look at the P2 to see that proven success generates more cash again.

 

That's plenty long enough to sort out some suitably humongous flanging blocks, call A1SLT and say "Guess what I've got?" .... I ask you ..... Who could possibly resist?

 

I am sure he will be looking down from on high with a very satisfied smile.

 

I also think so, as well take one`s hat off to the P2 team/members all their volunteers and supporters

 

Wholeheartedly agree.

 

I think new builds are mirroring railway preservation in general. There are premier league projects - well organized, well funded with a strong engineering base (ie P2, SVR, Clan Line), then there are projects, lines and restorations that carry on at a slower but more solid pace, then there are those that should be kicking on but seem to be struck by problems (often of their own making ie PR,) personality clashes and so on, and then there are those that look like no hopers that remain no hopers, and then there are ones that you would never expect to kick on that do.

There are obvious problems - deaths of key players (as we've seen with the County project), supply problems (ie the Patriot boiler), time/money issues - (ie Urie project finding some casting they'd bought were flawed but they were bought so long ago that they can't go back to the foundry), and with railways there is always the issue of individual egos. fallings out etc. And then there are issues outside of a project's control - land owners demanding projects vacate premises, changing economic conditions and so on and so forth.

Just like not every line can be the NYMR, I'd never tell say the IOWSR that they shouldn't do what they are doing (because they do it well), I'd never say that every new build has to be like P2 (I seem to recall for example that the Baby Deltic declined to do a brief Q & A with the New Build Steam site - not necessarily how I'd approach publicizing my project but it is their gig). My hope is that no line becomes WSR or PR, no loco project or otherwise becomes the Binbrook Crab.

Maybe the V4 will take 6 months to build and the Claud will take 50 years, maybe CHR will be a network in 20 years, maybe ESR might get to Shepton Mallet by 2050.

So, while I think you are right that in an ideal world there should be some consolidation, the nature of the activity means there will always be duplication and dilution, but that also means that there is scope for a variety of different approaches - whether that is a line or loco that wants to be super-authentic, or one that is less concerned with trying to replicate 1930 but wants to be mainline.

 

Given how the Doncaster P2 is progressing, I think Simon should buy the frames off them and build his A2/2

 

More chance of Simon finishing it than the Doncaster P2 group...

Keith

 

We could always build no.2001 Cock O’ the North like this...



Of course I’d be up for it - I wonder who else would be! But perhaps the tide is finally turning against popular opinion in favour of more evidence based views.

But that’s for another thread...

I am a founder member of the Prince of Wales build - just outside the top 100, at 103 - I cannot wait to see 2007 finally steam.

 

Did you pick that number yourself?

 

An illustrious number for the Thompsonian Gresley fan!

Tom

 

A happy coincidence, given the first steam locomotive I ever clapped eyes on was 103...60103.