LNER Class P2

The locomotives were designed by Nigel Gresley to haul express trains over the difficult Edinburgh to Aberdeen section of the London and North Eastern Railway. In the design Gresley was influenced by recent French practice, in particular passenger locomotives of the Paris à Orléans railway.The Engineer. 1 June 1934 p.551, cols.1-2

The first locomotive of the class, No. 2001 Cock o' the North, was introduced in 1934. It was built at Doncaster Works,The Engineer. 1 June 1934 p.551 col.1 with Lentz-type{{citation needed|date=December 2013}} rotary-cam actuated poppet valve-gear supplied by the Associated Locomotive Equipment Company,The Engineer. 1 June 1934 p.551 cols.2-3 and a double-chimney Kylchap exhaust, each chimney using four nozzle blastpipes.The Engineer. 1 June 1934 p.552 col.1-2 The chimney system was designed to take different fittings to allow experimentation with exhaust arrangements.{{citation needed|date=December 2013}}

The boiler barrel was of the design used on Gresley Pacifics, fitted to a larger firebox. The front end design was of the same form as the Class W1 locomotive, No. 10000, derived from Dr. Dalby's wind tunnel research, and the attached tender was of the standard design used on Gresley Pacifics.The Engineer. 1 June 1934 p.552 col.3 The P2 introduced a vee-shaped cab front, designed to give a better view forward. (The same design was later used on the A4 and V2 express engines).{{sfn|Spencer|1947|pp=190-191}} No. 2001 was fitted with a Crosby chime whistle which Gresley had obtained from Captain Howey of the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, and which was originally intended for one of that railway's Canadian Pacific style locomotives.{{sfn|Spencer|1947|p=191}}{{citation| url = http://www.rhdr.org.uk/locomotives-winston-churchill.html| title = No. 9 Winston Churchill| access-date = December 10, 2013| publisher = Romney Hyth and Dymchurch Railway|quote = .. a pair of Crosby chime whistles that Howey had bought in Canada, and had impressed Nigel Gresley on a visit to the RH&DR. Howey then presented Gresley with the second whistle which in turn was fitted to the new LNER express Cock o' the North}}

The second locomotive of the class, No. 2002 Earl Marischal was completed by 1935, also at Doncaster, and was fitted with Walschaerts valve gear, as used on Gresley Pacifics, and had a greater superheater heating area of {{convert|776.5|sqft|abbr=on}}, obtained by using larger diameter fire tubes.{{citation| url= http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/images/f/f3/Er19350104.pdf| journal = The Engineer|date = 4 Jan 1935| title = Locomotives and Railcars of 1934|page = 16|volume = 159}} At low cutoffs smoke clearance on No. 2002 was unsatisfactory: wind tunnel experiments led to an additional second pair of smoke deflectors being fitted inward of the first.{{sfn|Spencer|1947|loc=p.193; Fig.33, p.192}}

No. 2002 proved to be more efficient than 2001, due to a lower cylinder clearance volume and because the stepped-cam cutoff modifications made to No. 2001 reduced economical working relative to the infinitely variable cutoff of No. 2002. Consequently, the following locomotives were built with piston valves.{{sfn|Spencer|1947|p=193}}

By June 1936 the third engine had been produced: No. 2003, Lord President, based on the design of No. 2002 but with the external design modified to resemble the Silver Link locomotives. (see LNER Class A4). The locomotive weight was reduced to {{long ton|107|3}}. The wedge-shaped front was found to lift the engine's smoke clear of the driver's view;{{citation|volume=162|journal = The Engineer|title = L.N.E.R. - New Locomotives| date = 3 July 1936| page=20|url = http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/images/9/92/Er19360703.pdf}} No. 2002 was altered to this form in 1936, and No. 2001 in 1938.{{harvnb|Boddy|Brown|Neve|Yeadon|1983|p=169}}

Three further locomotives, Mons Meg, Thane of Fife and Wolf of Badenoch, were under construction at Doncaster in 1936.{{citation| url = http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/images/b/be/Er19360626.pdf| title = Raid and Road| journal = The Engineer| volume = 161| date = 26 June 1936| page = 677| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141008115319/http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/images/b/be/Er19360626.pdf| archive-date = 8 October 2014| df = dmy-all}}

No. 2004 was fitted with an experimental butterfly valve blastpipe bypass, manually activated to prevent fire-lifting at high cutoffs. This was later replaced with a plug valve and higher bypass pipe diameter, but both designs had problems with sticking due to carbonised deposits.{{sfn|Spencer|1947|pp=193-194}} No. 2005 lacked the Kylchap double chimney of the rest of the class,{{sfn|Livesay|1939|loc= p.342 col.2}} and No. 2006 had a different boiler design, with a longer combustion chamber, and firebox heating area and volume of {{convert|253|sqft|abbr=on}} and {{convert|319|cuft|abbr=on}} respectively with a Robinson superheater. The production series was completed in 1936.{{citation needed|date=December 2013}}

Shortly after being put into service, on 19 June, No. 2001 was tested with a 19 bogie carriage train of 649 tons on a return journey between Kings Cross, Grantham and Barkston; the locomotive hauled the train at an average speed of over 50 mph, with peak speeds of over 70 mph.{{citation| url = http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/images/7/74/Er19340629.pdf| title = Cock o' the North|journal = The Engineer| date =29 June 1934| page = 645|volume=157}} Drawbar pulls of around 6 tons at around 60 mph were recorded, representing a peak output of more than 2000 horsepower.{{citation| url = http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/images/2/24/Er19340706.pdf| journal = The Engineer| date = 6 July 1934| pages = 16–17| title = Dynamometer Tests of "Cock o' the North"| volume =158}} In late 1934, the locomotive was sent to Vitry, France for static testing.{{citation| url = http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/images/2/2c/Er19341214.pdf| journal = The Engineer| volume = 158|title =Railway and Road Matters| page = 593| date = 14 Dec 1934}}

Point contact on the infinitely variable cams of No. 2001 led to cam damage after ~10,000 miles of service, resulting in the replacement with stepped cams giving six steps of cutoff (12, 18, 25, 35, 45 and 75%).{{sfn|Spencer|1947|p=193}} By 1939 No. 2001 had had its rotary-cam poppet-valve valvegear replaced with Walschaerts gear.{{sfn|Livesay|1939|loc=p.342 col.3}}

In 1939, E. H. Livesay reported from the footplate on the performance of No. 2004 Mons Meg on the early morning 'Aberdonian' non-stop from Edinburgh to Dundee – a train with gross weight of 320 tons. Peak speeds of over 60 mph were noted, with 55 mph on a 1 in 100 gradient, and an average speed of {{convert|44.25|mph|abbr=on}}. Despite the vehicle's long wheelbase ({{convert|19|ft|6|in|abbr=on}}), and the frequent curves on the route, Livesay did not report any serious problems with ride quality.{{sfn|Livesay|1939|loc=p.342 col.3; p.343 col.1}} On the return trip, with a load of 360 tons gross, he recorded a peak of 68 mph on a 1 in 100 down section, with an average speed of 38 mph including several stops and speed restrictions. Livesay reported favourably on the acceleration of the train, recording 50 mph reached from standstill over 1.25 miles, with 60 mph reached in under 2 miles.{{sfn|Livesay|1939|loc=p.343 cols.1-2}} Further Edinburgh to Dundee and return runs were made in the afternoon with 355 and 450 ton gross loads, recording average speeds of 40.25 and 33 mph respectively.{{sfn|Livesay|1939|loc=p.343 col.3; 344 col.1,2}}

Cecil J. Allen reported travelling behind No. 2002 ‘’Earl Marischal’’ on a seventeen-coach train of 545 tons tare and 580 tons full from King's Cross to Scotland. The locomotive passed Finsbury Park without slipping and reached Peterborough, Grantham, Doncaster, York, Darlington, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen all ahead of schedule.{{sfn|Allen|1962|pp=95-96}}

{{main|LNER Thompson Class A2/2}}

File:York Locomotive Yard with A2-2 Pacific geograph-2827807-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

The P2s were rebuilt into Class A2/2 4-6-2 'Pacifics' during 1943/4, starting with No. 2005 Thane of Fife. This was because they suffered from a range of issues in service, from high fuel consumption, to serious crank axle failures.{{sfn|Hillier-Graves|2021|p=205}}

According to Bert Spencer, a senior LNER engineer, the class was rebuilt due to reliability problems during the difficult conditions of the World War II period, and additionally to take the opportunity to try out a different valve gear arrangement.{{sfn|Spencer|1947|p=234}}

Other sources supposed that the rebuilding might be because the class's wheelbase was too long for the routes it worked, and that the railway would have been better served if the class had been transferred to more suitable routes.{{sfn|Spencer|1947|loc= Discussion p.220 (O.S.M. Raw); p.230 (Sutherland)}} Cecil J. Allen supported such a view, believing the engines would have been welcomed on services between King's Cross and Newcastle.{{sfn|Allen|1962|p=96}} Oliver Bulleid was quoted that the class had been placed into services in which they were under-utilised or misused, leading to poor fuel economy.{{sfn|Spencer|1947|loc = Discussion of paper p.211-212}}{{sfn|Hillier-Graves|2021|p=206}}

Railway author O. S. Nock suggested that Gresley's successor, Edward Thompson, may have made largely unsubstantiated criticisms of the class in order to justify the rebuilding.{{citation|last=Nock|first= O.S|title= British Locomotives of the 20th Century |volume=2|publisher= Book Club Associates, London|year= 1984}}

| {{dts|1944|09|}}

|-

| 2002

| Earl Marischal

| {{dts|1934|10|}}

| {{dts|1944|06|}}

|-

| 2003

| Lord President

| {{dts|1936|06|}}

| {{dts|1944|12|}}

|-

| 2004

| Mons Meg

| {{dts|1936|07|}}

| {{dts|1944|11|}}

|-

| 2005

| Thane of Fife

| {{dts|1936|08|}}

| {{dts|1943|01|}}

|-

| 2006

| Wolf of Badenoch

| {{dts|1936|09|}}

| {{dts|1944|05|}}

|}

No original members of the class were preserved, as all were rebuilt into LNER A2/2 Pacifics by 1944, and subsequently scrapped.{{Cite web |title=Prince of Wales to be rebuilt as Thompson Class A2/2 at first overhaul |url=https://www.a1steam.com/prince-of-wales/news/prince-of-wales-details/emprince-of-walesem-to-be-rebuilt-as-thompson-class-a22-at-first-overhaul#:~:text=Sadly,%20the%20design%20was%20never,new%20100mph%20steam%20locomotive%20No. |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=A1 Locomotives |language=en-GB}} However, two new engines are now being built: one by the P2 Steam Locomotive Company in the original shape (LNER P2 Class 2007 Prince of Wales), to be numbered 2007 as a new member of the class; and the other by the Doncaster P2 Locomotive Trust as a replica of No. 2001 "Cock o' the North" in streamlined condition.

{{main|LNER P2 Class 2007 Prince of Wales}}

In 2010 the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, who were responsible for the construction of 60163 Tornado, announced plans to hold a feasibility study into building a new P2 class locomotive,{{Cite web|url=https://www.p2steam.com/|title=Welcome to the project to build the new Gresley class P2 No. 2007 Prince of Wales - P2 Steam Locomotive Company|website=P2 Steam Locomotive Company|language=en-US|access-date=2016-11-27}} which would be numbered as 2007 and named "Prince of Wales".{{citation|url = http://www.a1steam.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=586:gesley-p2-study-announced&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=123|title = Gresley P2 study announced|publisher = A1 Steam Locomotive Trust|date = 25 April 2010|access-date = 28 April 2010|archive-date = 7 July 2011|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110707072713/http://www.a1steam.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=586:gesley-p2-study-announced&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=123|url-status = dead}}

In the September of 2011, the trust approved the commencement of a feasibility study,{{cite journal |last1=Langer |first1=Graham |title=Back on Track – the 2011 Convention |journal=The Communication Cord |issue=24 |pages=5 |url=https://www.a1steam.com/Portals/0/tcc24.pdf |access-date=4 May 2025 |quote=In September the Board agreed to proceed with the feasibility study…}} which was divided into three stages.

The first stage involved creating an electronic model of the engine for track dynamic analysis; Tornado was used as the basis for this modelling, together with track position data supplied by Network Rail – Tornado had been fitted with accelerometers during its testing – the data from which provided a basis against which to validate the modelling data and assumptions. The second and third stages were to involve creating a computer model of a P2, and then analysing modifications to the design using the computer software. Modelling data for the P2 design and a modified design with a LNER Class V2 type pony truck was published in early 2013. The rail-dynamics software used was Resonate Group's 'VAMPIRE' product. The computer modelling showed acceptable dynamics and the project to build No. 2007 was officially launched in September 2013 at the A1 Convention with a seven- to ten-year construction timetable.

The locomotive is said to share 70% commonality of parts with Tornado, including the boiler and tender.{{citation| url=http://www.p2steam.com/about-the-p2slc/mission-introduction| title = Mission / Introduction| quote = [it] has around 70% commonality with Tornado, including the boiler, tender and many other detailed fittings|publisher = The P2 Steam Locomotive Company}} Modern modifications to the original design include roller bearings (also featured on Tornado) and an all-welded, all-steel boiler; the final build will utilise Lentz poppet valve gear.{{citation| url=http://www.p2steam.com/building-no-2007/design| title = Design| publisher = The P2 Steam Locomotive Company|access-date = November 12, 2013}} In most other respects and appearance, the loco, to be numbered 2007, will match that of the original No. 2001 Cock o' the North prior to streamlining.

On 14 November 2013 the P2 Steam Locomotive Company (P2SLC) announced that the name of its new P2 would be Prince of Wales, in honour of the 65th birthday of Charles, Prince of Wales.{{citation| url= http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/10806657.Steam_engine_will_be_named_af/ | title = Steam engine will be named after the Prince of Wales| first = Andy|last =Walter| date = 14 November 2013| newspaper =The Northern Echo}} Construction began in May 2014 with the locomotive's frames being cut at Tata Steel's Scunthorpe works.{{citation| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-27503995| title = Prince of Wales P2 steam locomotive construction starts| date = 21 May 2014| work = BBC News Humberside}}

The project cost is estimated at £5,000,000.

File:ETH-BIB-Schnellzuglokomotive LNER-Klasse P2 Nr. 2001 Cock o th North-Ans 15671-05-092-AL-FL (cropped).tif

The Doncaster P2 Locomotive Trust (Registered Charity No. 1149835) plans to build a working replica of the prototype No. 2001 Cock O' The North{{Cite web|url=http://www.cockothenorth.co.uk/|title=cockothenorth.co.uk {{!}} Doncaster P2 Locomotive Trust|website=www.cockothenorth.co.uk|access-date=2016-11-27}} as modified in 1938, using Gresley motion, Walschaerts valve gear, and an A4 style 'Bugatti' streamlined front.{{citation| url = http://www.cockothenorth.co.uk/mission_statement.html| title = Mission Statement| access-date = 3 December 2013| publisher = Doncaster P2 Locomotive Trust| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131203043616/http://www.cockothenorth.co.uk/mission_statement.html| archive-date = 3 December 2013| url-status = dead| df = dmy-all}} The locomotive's frames were cut in April 2014 at Tata Steel's Wednesfield works.{{citation| title = Cutting the frames for LNER P2 "COCK O' THE NORTH"| type = video| editor-first=Andy |editor-last = Fisher|editor2-first=Dandan| editor2-last = Fisher| publisher = youtube| date = April 2014}}

From 1935 to 1937, Märklin built P2 No. 2001 Cock O' The North and No. 2002 Earl Marischal in a black fantasy paint scheme. The catalogue number of the O gauge tinplate three-rail steam locomotive was L70/12920.{{cite web |url=https://www.brightontoymuseum.co.uk/index/Cock_O%E2%80%99_The_North_locomotive_LNER_2001_(M%C3%A4rklin_L70-12920LNER) |title= Cock O' The North locomotive LNER 2001 (Märklin L70-12920LNER) |website=Brighton Toy Museum}}

In 2013, Hornby Railways collaborated with the A1 Locomotive Trust to produce models of the class, starting with the original Cock O' The North, for release in early 2014. It was made available in both a low-level "Hornby Railroad" specification, and a more detailed version including a third level of the model with Hornby Railways' new Twin Track Sound (TTS).{{citation| url = http://www.p2steam.com/news/current-news/21-hornby| title = Hornby Gresley Class P2 Mikado 2-8-2| date = 27 September 2013| first = James| last = Hayes| publisher = The P2 Steam Locomotive Company}}{{citation| url=http://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/news/10750955.Darlington_steam_engine_plans_have_a_model_future/| title = Darlington steam engine plans have a model future| first = Andy| last = Walker| date = 20 October 2013| work = www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk}} They are also currently in development of a model version of Prince of Wales, as documented on an episode of UKTV's "Hornby: A Model World".{{citation| url =https://uktvplay.co.uk/shows/hornby-a-model-world/series-1/episode-9/6283218058001|title = Hornby: A Model World | Yesterday Channel|website=uktvplay.co.uk}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{citation|journal = The Engineer|url=http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/The_Engineer_1934/06/01|date = 1 June 1934| volume = 157| title = L.N.E.R. Eight-Coupled Locomotive|at = pp.551-552, illus pp.550,553|ref=eng1934}}
• {{citation |last1=Boddy |first1=M.G. |last2=Brown |first2=W.A. |last3=Neve |first3=E. |last4=Yeadon |first4=W.B. |author-link4=Willie Yeadon |editor-last=Fry |editor-first=E.V. |title=Locomotives of the L.N.E.R., part 6B: Tender Engines - Classes O1 to P2 |date=November 1983 |publisher=RCTS |location=Kenilworth |isbn=0-901115-54-1 }}
• {{citation| url = http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/images/4/4d/Er19391006.pdf| journal = The Engineer| date = 6 October 1939| volume = 168| pages = 342–344| title = Scottish Locomotive Experiences. No.III - L.N.E.R. Edinburgh and Dundee Trains, "P2" Class Engines| first = E.H.| last= Livesay }}
• {{Cite journal | last1 = Spencer | first1 = B. | title = The development of L.N.E.R. Locomotive design, 1923–1941 | doi = 10.1243/JILE_PROC_1947_037_023_02 | journal =Journal of the Institution of Locomotive Engineers | volume = 37 | issue = 197 | pages = 164–243| year = 1947 }}
• {{cite book |last=Allen |first = Cecil J. |title= British Pacific Locomotives |year=1962 |publisher= Ian Allan Ltd.}}
• {{cite book |last= Hillier-Graves |first=Tim |title= Thompson, His Life & Locomotives |year= 2021 |publisher= Pen & Sword Books}}

{{refend}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{Cite journal | doi = 10.1243/JILE_PROC_1934_024_041_02 | title = 2-8-2 Type express passenger locomotive, London & North Eastern Railway | journal = Journal of the Institution of Locomotive Engineers | volume = 24 | issue = 120 | pages = 469–471| year = 1934 }}

{{refend}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{citation| title = LNER P2 Class|first = Malcolm S.| last = Frost| type = lecture, video| editor-first=Andy |editor-last = Fisher|editor2-first=Dandan| editor2-last = Fisher| publisher = youtube| date = 10 April 2014}}
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h36bNsdtezU Part 1], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=567TKx7Kw34 Part 2]

{{refend}}

• {{citation| url = http://www.lner.info/locos/P/p2.shtml| title =The Gresley P2 Passenger 2-8-2 (Mikado) Locomotives| work = www.lner.info}}
• {{citation |url=http://www.railwaywondersoftheworld.com/cock-north.html| title = Cock o' the North| journal= Railway Wonders of the World |date=26 April 1935 |number=13|volume=1| pages=400–406 |editor-first=Clarence |editor-last=Winchester }}, contemporary account of the locomotive

{{LNER Locomotives}}

Category:Streamlined steam locomotives

Category:2-8-2 locomotives

P2

Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1934

Category:Scrapped locomotives

Category:Standard-gauge steam locomotives of Great Britain

Category:1′D1′ h3 locomotives

Category:Passenger locomotives