The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust and The Gresley Society Trust to jointly procure new 5ft8in driving wheel pattern
The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust is delighted to announce a further partnership with The Gresley Society Trust which funded the smokebox for No. 2007 Prince of Wales as part of the fulfilment of legacy request. The two organisations will work together to manufacture the shared 5ft8in driving wheel pattern for the new Gresley class V4 No. 3403 and the Gresley Society’s Great Northern Railway Gresley class N2 No. 1744. The class N2, which is 100 years old in 2021, is currently under overhaul and requires two replacement driving wheels. The production of the pattern will be project managed by A1SLT and funded by the Gresley Society, with its first use being for No. 1744.Philip Benham, chairman, The Gresley Society Trust, added, “We have worked with The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust before on their new build projects, and are delighted to be doing so once again to produce a new 5ft 8in driving wheel pattern for the Gresley V4 and our Gresley class N2. Currently under overhaul, No. 1744 celebrates her 100th birthday in 2021 and we anticipate she will require two replacement driving wheels either as part of the overhaul or within the foreseeable future. It’s very appropriate that the overhaul of the oldest surviving locomotive designed by Sir Nigel Gresley should also benefit the building of a further example of his final design.”
