P2 Locomotive Company and related matters

I detect a third. You posting on here.

 

As ever we cannot resist feeding him. There is nothing inappropriate about the choice of loco - no loco will achieve universal approval - but rather than let it lay, some people just have to have a stir. Like you I cannot wait to see a P2 rise again and I for one will be contributing. Mr. Pole's absence will be of no concern to me.

 

Well, lets just see what he comes up with!

I've asked a question, I expect an answer....................................................... whether its justified or not...............................

 

The P2SLC seem to have made a 'snap decision' about the name without consultation. On this magnificent project, it is essential the name is evocative, inspirational, mysterious, attractive, unifying, enduring, emotive and, above all, appeals to all people.
Possibly, the name has been chosen by engineers without reference to the UK's vast creative community..

Unless HRH is funding it, the choice of name, which could have waited, may be devisive and will hit the rate of progress,,

 

I understand from comments made elsewhere by people involved, that the decision was taken many months ago, presumably once Royal Assent was given, but was embargoed until 14/11/13.

Perhaps the quote "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." is appropriate here?

 

With regard the name - OK, we've had our fun, but actually I'd suggest it is quite a dignified and sensible name, especially assuming it comes with actual royal endorsement.

On the more substantive point: Once you assume making any new steam locomotive is a sensible pastime - clearly doing so is at least partly built round romanticism - then what is inappropriate, or rather, what is appropriate? You can argue all you like about fitness to do the job (and certainly that is a prerequisite), but the cold reality is that the projects that are making big strides are those that excite a wide group of people, not necessarily those that are ultimately the best traffic engines. On those grounds, the radical looks and sheer brute strength of a P2 are about as exciting as you can get while choosing from British prototypes. The proof of that is the rapid way the project has raised money once the "go" button was launched - probably quicker than any other new build project so far.

On those grounds - and assuming the team can overcome the known flaws in the original so that they do end up with a loco that will be able to do its intended mainline duties, as I am sure they will be able - then I would suggest that far from being an inappropriate choice of engine, the P2 is perhaps the most appropriate choice of engine yet proposed as a new build.

Of all the mainline new builds, the P2 is the one I'd really like to see - and that coming from someone whose normal preferences are for locos 50 years older, 50 tons lighter and designed 50 leagues further south. YMMV...

Tom

 

I found these image on another forum..(not my images)

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/uploads/gallery/album_1412/gallery_8020_1412_5399.jpg
http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/uploads/gallery/album_1412/gallery_8020_1412_134235.jpg
theres nothing to say why 2007 couldn't some day run in BR green indeed as 60507 Prince of Wales with it's unusual smoke deflectors perhaps ?
After all if it's a recreation to fix what history didn't.. the numbering sequence would probably have been a 2-8-2 instead of a 4-6-2.

 

ADB968008, I am confused. One of those photos shows Great Northern as a Micado. Surely it was a Pacific ? I know it got modified by Thompson, but I thought it remained a Pacific ? Did it get converted again briefly during its life or is that a clever bit of photoshopping of an old photo ?

 

Yes I quite agree, when was Great Northern a Mikado? As far as pretty well everyone knows it was Gresley's first pacific as GNR 1470 built in 1922, and questionably rebuilt in 1944 or so by Thompson much to many peoples indignation.

 

Photoshop?

 

They are both fakes so either that or another manipulation package. If you look carefully at the track under 60113, you can see the join.

 

I don't think it's a "snap decision" at all. Given their marketing expertise with 60163, I'm sure the A1SLT/P2SLC will have done their homework on this. The Royal Family still gets great support from the UK population as a whole and even when the current Prince Of Wales becomes king, there will be another Prince Of Wales to take his place, the very popular Prince William. I'm not sure why the UK's "vast creative community" should be involved; they're not the ones who are building it.

 

Not only that, but the P2 could be 'twinned' in some way with the new aircraft carrier of the same name.

 

PoW has been chosen for hard-headed business reasons I would suggest, tempered by some sentimentality for HRH's keen interest in Tornado. PoW will ensure plenty of media coverage during the build, and a ready made excuse to get HRH on board once the loco is complete. Personally, it's the one new build I really want to see in the flesh, my money's already in, and as for the name it's of no consequence at all to me.

 

I agree its a decision that is not going to be reversed but it is a very odd choice for a loco designed for a company with virtually no connection to Wales. Maybe popular with the public but less so with the enthusiast fraternity who would prefer a more appropriate name but, marketing wise, I suppose the former is more important.

 

Think i'd support even if it was called something obscure like Canute or Hengist or something..... , sorry just had a real Deja vu there for a moment....

 

Must admit I hadn't noticed both machines were 2-8-2s, certainly looks like who evers "cut" both locos in two tween boilers and running gear......

 

There aren't many people around who'll remember the P2s in LNER days so the Scottish connection isn't that much of an issue to those who want to see one built IMO. I'll wager that the majority of money will come from people, myself included, who never saw a P2 in the flesh.

 

He'll probably be King by then and one of his lads will be Prince of Wales. Harry at the regulator, anyone?