With thanks to Marvin for leaving us the web address, the second group aiming to construct a P2 (alongside the A1 Locomotive Trust’s consideration of the possibility) is the Doncaster P2 Locomotive Trust. This highly ambitious project is to build a new Cock o’ the North in its streamlined form, whereas the A1 Trust is considering a P2 with the semi-streamlined front end (see comments for clarification of the frequent references to ‘Bugatti’ styling with reference to P2s). From the latest update on the website, the group is close to placing an order for the frames.
2001 Cock o' the North, Project summaries
The original front end of COCK O’ THE NORTH is usually referred to as the ‘Hush-Hush’ style. Doncaster P2 Locomotive Trust Ltd are working towards having the frames machined. Once this has been completed they will move the project forward by making it into a free-standing chassis. People can give towards this in a variety of ways. Visit the website for details: http://www.cockothenorth.co.uk
We at the Doncaster P2 Locomotive Trust are building a replica of Sir Nigel Gresley’s 1938 rebuilt streamlined version of 2001 ‘Cock O’ The North’. It will have the ‘Bugatti’ style front that proved itself successful on the A4’s by dispersing smoke away from the cab. Sir Nigel Gresley replaced the ‘Lenz-Poppet’ valve gear, which had proved a failure, with ‘Walschaerts’ valve gear as the rest of the class 2002 – 2006 had when they were first built. The frames are now built and are on display in Doncaster.
Thanks Alan – I’m well aware of the project, and the site has been covering it since it went online in 2011. What you’ve found is the very first mention of 2001 on the site, when a reader first brought it to our attention. See all articles tagged as featuring 2001 here https://newbuildsteam.com/category/lner/2001-cock-o-the-north/, and also the ‘Projects’ page.
As I understand it, the A1 Trust’s plans for a new P2, if approved for construction, would be for a replica of “Cock of the North” in her original semi-streamlined form, (i.e. not with the A4 type Bugatti front.) The Doncaster group plans to build one with the fully streamlined A4 front end.
Thanks for the comment John – in fact that was the understanding here as well, I have just struggled with the terminology! I’d thought the ‘Bugatti’ style meant the semi-streamlined one, not the A4 type treatment; the other description used is ‘wedge’ which it seems to me could apply to either. Thanks for the correction.