「廃れた技術ではない」英国で新たに蒸気機関車を建造するプロジェクトが進行中

This year marks the 200th anniversary of modern railway. In the UK, the birthplace of modern railway, a project is underway to build a new steam locomotive. It was the 1825 when the UK began to operate the world’s first railway service using steam locomotives, at a time when Japan was still living under the national isolation policy (Sakoku). Steam locomotives, built until the 1960s, once formed the backbone of Britain’s railways. Today, most have long been retired from active service. Yet nearly 300 of them are still preserved and kept running by railway enthusiasts across the country. Now, in the UK, a nation renowned for its steam locomotives, a new development is underway… “At this factory in Darlington, the birthplace of railways, a steam locomotive is now being built.” This is the Prince of Wales, the latest P2 class locomotive. A project began in 2013 to build a P2 class locomotive in the modern era, long after the first of its kind was built in the 1930s. ■Terry Graham (61) - P2 Project manager at The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust "It's essentially the same design as the engines that were built back in the 1930s, but it's got some modern technology put into it. it is interesting for people who remember these engines in the past but also there's a lot of young people who are /still interested in steam engines and /interested in the technology of the past and how you can put a modern twist on it." While based on the original drawings from when it was first built, 3D software was also used to design the components. This is a project where traditional craftsmanship meets cutting-edge technology. “The boiler that forms the heart of the steam locomotive has just been completed. Soon, massive driving wheels will also be fitted to this striking locomotive.” The boiler was commissioned from a factory in the former East Germany, where steam locomotives were still in use until the late 1980s. It was delivered earlier this month. ■Terry Graham (61) - P2 Project manager at The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust "The project is estimated to cost around 6.5 million British pounds(around 1.3 billion yen ) and is funded entirely through donations from supporters.so the idea was for the price of a pint of beer a week donate that to the trust so donate your five pounds a week to the trust 20 pounds a month you get a few thousand people doing that you'll get enough income in to be able to build an engine." While there are only two engineers working full-time on the construction, a dozen volunteers pitch in each week to help bring the new locomotive to life. In fact, they have already completed one steam locomotive. This is the Tornado, completed in 2008 after 13 years of work. It is the first lar This is the Tornado, completed in 2008 after 13 years of work. It is the first large steam locomotive to be built in the UK since the 1960s, a 21st-century creation of historic design. ■Terry Graham (61) - P2 Project manager at The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust "this one yesterday, last week, did a steam excursion train from Birmingham to York and back again." Once complete, the Prince of Wales will join the Tornado, carrying passengers on scenic and special excursions across the UK. And beyond that, there are plans to build yet another steam locomotive. ■Terry Graham (61) - P2 Project manager at The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust "it's not a dying technology as such. I mean we're looking at, we use coal but in the future we could look at using oil boilers or biofuel for making steam so you could still get the traditional steam engine in the modern world."