Britain's most powerful passenger locomotive.

[RyanOPlastry]

Ten months after the P2 project was launched, the frames went on display in Darlington at the weekend.
The first Driving wheel has been cast and the rest of the wheels ordered along with numerous other castings.


P2 News

[dvs_dave]

Nice, although I'd love to see one of these bad boys in working condition.
The Allegheny class steam loco's. Almost 500kN/7500hp tractive effort!
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2-6-6-6

I've seen one at the Henry Ford museum and the scale of it is simply staggering.

Anyway....carry on

[Yertis]

I wonder if they'll take it all to bits again after ten years and rebuild it as a powerful but ugly pacific?

[Simpo Two]

Am I right that the P2 evolved into the Pacifics (ie like Mallard) - and if so why aren't they building the more famous shape?

http://www.dieselpunks.org/profiles/blogs/sunday-s...

[Yertis]

Simpo Two said:

Am I right that the P2 evolved into the Pacifics (ie like Mallard) - and if so why aren't they building the more famous shape?

http://www.dieselpunks.org/profiles/blogs/sunday-s...

The P2 was tried with a couple of 'nose treatments', including the 'Bugatti' profile of the A4s (Mallard shape). But that was while they still retained their original 'Mikado' 2-8-2 wheel arrangement. That wheel arrangement caused all kinds of issues an so Gresley's unpopular successor – Thompson – had the P2s modified to the 'Pacific' 4-6-2 wheel arrangement, so they looked like this:



These were scarcely more successful and were all broken up.

Among train buffs the front end they've chosen is I think more evocative, the Bugatti shape being so closely similar to the A4s.

[Yertis]

Yertis said:

The P2 was tried with a couple of 'nose treatments', including the 'Bugatti' profile of the A4s (Mallard shape). But that was while they still retained their original 'Mikado' 2-8-2 wheel arrangement. That wheel arrangement caused all kinds of issues an so Gresley's unpopular successor – Thompson – had the P2s modified to the 'Pacific' 4-6-2 wheel arrangement, so they looked like this:



These were scarcely more successful and were all broken up.

Among train buffs the front end they've chosen is I think more evocative, the Bugatti shape being so closely similar to the A4s.

I got some stuff wrong in there (eg the picture ), but I was writing off the top of my head. The basic gist is right.

[WelshChris]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Come to North Wales and I'll show you our Garratts - the world's most powerful 2' gauge locomotives.

[RyanOPlastry]

Yertis said:

That wheel arrangement caused all kinds of issues

As part of the feasibility study for 2007 a thorough dynamic analysis has been undertaken, and the behaviour of the original P2s has now been fully understood, and can be corrected with a V2 style pony truck. 2007 should ride as well as Tornado and have a lower axle loading, allowing 2007 to go places that Tornado is prohibited.
lots of info here

[SWTH]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Do it. You need to.

Better from the footplate, but there is something to be said for riding in 'Glaslyn' (the observation car) and enjoying the sights with a G&T or three.

As for the P2, A4 front end is ok, but 2001/2002 looked even better

[SWTH]

WelshChris said:

Come to North Wales and I'll show you our Garratts - the world's most powerful 2' gauge locomotives.

Chris - are you a vol?