WORK on a multi-million pound steam engine is already more than a third of the way towards completion less than two years into the project.

Gresley class P2 steam locomotive number 2007, Prince of Wales, will be built in Darlington, like its predecessor Tornado.

Delivery of the engine's 12 steel tyres means it is already 34 per cent complete by weight.

This rapid construction has been fuelled by the project’s successful fundraising campaigns which have seen pledges of 38 per cent of the £5m required to complete Britain’s most powerful steam locomotive by 2021.

In only 17 months since the launch of the project’s £10 per month regular donation scheme, funds either already donated or pledged have already reached £1.9m.

The class P2 2-8-2 Mikado locomotives were the most powerful passenger steam locomotives to operate in the UK, designed by Sir Nigel Gresley to haul 600 ton trains on the arduous Edinburgh to Aberdeen route.

Sadly the design was never fully developed and they were rebuilt in 1943/44 and scrapped by 1961.

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust is building the seventh member of this class through its P2 Steam Locomotive Company subsidiary.

The project will demonstrate how the design can be fully realised through use of modern computer design and modelling techniques, enabling the new locomotive to deliver its full potential hauling passenger trains at high speed across today’s national network.

Construction progress to-date includes:

• Frame plates for engine and tender rolled and profiled;

• Engine’s frames erected at Darlington Locomotive Works;

• All 20 wheels for engine and tender cast; eight 6ft2in driving wheels proof machined; engine’s tyres delivered;

• All major engine frame stays, brackets and horn blocks cast and machined – 26 in total; further 16 axle box and buffer castings underway;

• Roller bearings for all engine and tender wheelsets and engine tyres, axles and crank pins ordered;

• Over 1,000 fitted and driven bolts ordered;

• Preliminary discussions held with boiler manufacturers and forged foundation ring corners manufactured and machined;

• Nameplates delivered and chime whistle ordered.

Trust chairman Mark Allatt said: “We are delighted with the level of support that the project to build Britain’s most powerful steam locomotive has received since its launch.

“With Tornado’s overhaul now complete, our team at Darlington Locomotive Works is now ready to resume the erection of Prince of Wales’s frames, fitting the frame stretchers, horn guides and other components manufactured by external contractors over the past few months.

“We are hopeful that we will have completed the rolling chassis for No. 2007 Prince of Wales next winter and we remain on-track for completion of the new locomotive in 2021.

However, to maintain this rate of progress we need to continue to raise in excess of £700,000 per year, which given the nature of the regular donation scheme becomes more challenging as each year passes."

Visit p2steam.com for more information.