P2 Locomotive Company and related matters

2 pictures posted on P2 FB page courtesy of Keith CrabTree

 

That looks quite incredible. Are the likes of the cylinder covers cast? I presume the cylinder and valve chests have liners.

 

Now that's one serious lump of ironmongery..... Wonder how long before the itinerant scrapmen try and break in and nick it!

 

I'd like to see the state of the Transit that they try to load it on!!!

 

So would I, but I would bet that they'd still have a go. It certainly doesn't in asian waters where they've stolen sunken battleships. Where there's will there's a way!

 

Impressive. Does it come apart for fitting or does it slot into the frames somehow as a unit?

 

1 unit, fitting before xmas, if all goes to plan.

 

Thanks, I think I can see how it fits in based on the image of the frames also on facebook.

 

And the boiler can't be that far off either, looking at recent photos, and before anyone says that's the A1 boiler, i mean the shot posted from Germany, recently, when the A1 boiler was already over here,

 

Xmas being mooted

 

Wow, that soon, could we be seeing the P2, in steam sometime in 2024

 

Nope 2025, is always spoken about, loads still to do.

 

It's only slipped three? years or so then - not bad.

 

Always good to look on the bright side then........

 

Considering all that has gone on since the Autumn of 2019 and the difficulties created during that period Trust has done pretty well in spite of all the obstacles thrust in their way as a result of decisions taken which were outside their control.

 

Indeed. Looking at the recent photos there appears to have been zero progress on the chassis this year. The monobloc casting was unveiled at last year’s convention, so machining and testing have taken a year? I forget just how late the boiler(s) are now. With the amount of cash that Tornado’s protracted overhaul is consuming I trust that my P2 contributions aren’t propping it up. (More disappointing news on that in the pipeline too I hear).

 

When you say zero progress on the chassis, I'd say the monobloc is a pretty big chunk of chassis.
Machining and testing have taken a year. Whether they should is a question, but given it requires specialist kit and welders (none of whom are cheap), allowing it to be done on an as and when basis if it's not on the critical path seems sensible to me

 

Post Covid everything seems to have suffered, where you need to have specialist contractors, they can't seem to move forward for a variety of reasons materials, etc, having the workforce ready, red tape, permissions that have lapsed, its all a perfect storm, The A1 trust have been very unlucky, first the boiler was delayed, then the work on installing the tubes had to be redone not once, but twice, and of course the costs are mounting up, with no revenue from the engine, hopefully things will be better in 2024, a corner will be turned that will see the A1, back in steam, then undergoing testing, and the p2, looking more complete with each month,

 

The ultimate irony is that Meinegen (sp?) are one of the few non "cottage industry" players in the market and they are the ones who dropped the clanger

 

You say unlucky. With the amount of ‘bad luck’ that has dogged this overhaul compared to the loco’s past history I’d be seriously questioning the project management abilities of the current incumbents at DLW. Just putting together a bunch of contractors and leaving them to it does not constitute due diligence.


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