Building Britain's Most Powerful Steam Locomotive

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• Rob Morland, BSc (Hons) CEng FIET, Trustee and Director, Electrical Engineering, The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust
• Wednesday 03 February 2016, 18:30-21:00
• Institute for Manufacturing, 17 Charles Babbage Road, Cambridge CB3 0FS.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Publicity Officer, IMechE Beds & Cambs area.

Rob Morland will describe the project to build and operate a Peppercorn Class A1 Pacific steam locomotive, the 60163 “Tornado”, for mainline and preserved railway use, and progress on the project to build a Gresley P2 2 -8-2 to be named “Prince of Wales”.

In 1990 a group of people came together to share an extraordinary ambition – to construct a brand new Peppercorn A1 Pacific steam locomotive. They formed The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust and after nineteen years of incredible effort that locomotive, No. 60163 Tornado, moved under its own power for the first time in 2008. Now the same group is building a second new locomotive – this time it is a Gresley P2 2 -8-2 to be named “Prince of Wales”. When it is complete it will be the most powerful steam locomotive operating on the British main line.

Rob’s talk will begin by telling the story of Tornado’s construction, and recent operations, an amazing tale of cooperation, skill and sheer hard graft which defied the critics who said it could never be done. The A1 Trust has over 2500 regular supporters (Covenantors) who have all played some part, small or large, in guaranteeing that we have steam on the main line in the 21st Century. He will then go on to talk about the P2 project, which has got off to an amazing start with over £1.6 million already pledged in just over a year towards the expected construction cost of £5 million. He will talk about some of the engineering challenges of maintaining a steam locomotive to meet the tough requirements of today’s main line, and will outline some of the features of the new P2 which will set it apart from the original locomotives and ensure that it turns heads wherever it goes.

See www.a1steam.com and www.p2steam.com for more information on the locomotives and for details of how you can get involved.

Rob Morland is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the IET . He has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust since 1993, when he created the first electronic project plan for the locomotive construction. In 2006, with the engine nearly complete, he took on the role of Director, Electricals and designed and built an all-new electrical system for the locomotive. Over the past three years he has designed and built another new electrical system, this time for the A1 Trust’s rebuilt support coach. He now maintains both systems, alongside being a regular member of the A1 support crew, looking after the engine on main line tours and preserved railways around the UK. Rob is now actively involved in planning the electrical system for the P2 and sits on Network Rail’s Heritage Stakeholder Group, which is advising on the fitment of ERTMS to the heritage steam fleet. When he’s not working with the A1 and P2 he enjoys driving on the Talyllyn Railway in Wales. In parallel with this he runs his own consultancy company, operating in the product design, social media, mobile telecoms and railway communications fields.

Date: Wednesday 3rd February 2016

Time: Refreshments served from 18.30. Talk starts at 19.00. Ends by 21:00 following questions and discussion.

Venue: Institute for Manufacturing, Cambridge University, Alan Reece Building, 17 Charles Babbage Road, Cambridge CB3 0FS (directions).

Parking: Car parking arrangements have changed and all car parks now have barriers. Carpark directions and entry codes will be advised closer to the date. There are a small number of parking spaces in the service road beside the IfM.

Free to attend. Booking not required. All welcome.

This talk is open to the public and is suitable for young people, students and engineers. You are encouraged to pass on this invitation and bring with you colleagues, friends and family who are interested in railway engineering.

This event is organised by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Beds and Cambs area.

This talk is part of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (Cambridgeshire Area) series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• Institute for Manufacturing, 17 Charles Babbage Road, Cambridge CB3 0FS
• Institution of Mechanical Engineers (Cambridgeshire Area)

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