RAILWAYANA donated to keep a £5m steam locomotive build on track has found thousands of pounds for the project.

An anonymous supporter of Darlington’s A1 Steam Locomotive Trust’s bid to build No 2007 Prince of Wales in the birthplace of the railways donated seven sought-after cast iron and brass number plates and work plates for auction.

Auctioneers waived all seller’s fees for the locomotive charity which relies on rail enthusiasts to support its historic projects centred in the Darlington Locomotive Works sheds.

Three of the plates fetched more than £1,000 each for the Prince of Wales build with a total of £4,870 made at the auction held earlier this month in Pershore, Worcestershire.

A1 Steam Locomotive Trust P2 project director, Mark Allat, said: “This kind donation will help the Trust to maintain the progress necessary to complete the new locomotive by 2021.

“We are delighted with the level of support that the project to build Britain’s most powerful steam locomotive has received since construction started only three years ago.

“Thanks to our supporters’ continued generosity, well over £1m has been spent on construction, over £1.4m donated and over £2.4m pledged.”

He added: “We would encourage all steam enthusiasts who haven’t yet contributed to this exciting project to help us to meet these deadlines by becoming a monthly covenanter or even donating items from their railwayana collections.”