FUNDING pledges for the second iconic locomotive to be built in the region in the past 50 years are steaming towards £2 million.

Gresley class P2 steam engine Prince of Wales, which will be built in Darlington have passed £1.8 million just 20 months after the £5 million project was launched.

With an eye on Father's Day next month, the organisation behind the plans for engine No. 2007 has released a new batch of components for sponsorship.

P2 class locomotives were the most powerful passenger steam engines to operate in the UK, designed by Sir Nigel Gresley to haul trains on the tough Edinburgh to Aberdeen route.

Sadly, the design was never fully developed and the engines were scrapped in 1961.

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, which famously built the iconic Tornado locomotive in Darlington, has embarked on the Prince of Wales project through its P2 Steam Locomotive Company subsidiary.

Public interest in seeing a new Gresley class P2 become a reality sooner rather than later is high and more than 650 people have already signed up to the company's ‘P2 for the price of a pint of beer per week’ (£10 per month or more) covenant scheme.

In addition to this core scheme, funds have been raised through a range of other methods, meaning the project has already received pledges of more than £1.8m (including Gift Aid) of the £5m needed over the next seven years.

A Dedicated Donations scheme – open to existing supporters – means backers can sponsor individual components, such as one or more of the 18 wheel spokes for £600 or a wooden cab window frame for £400.

Further components available for sponsorship will become available as construction progresses.

Mark Allatt, chairman of the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, 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 20 months ago, with over £1.8 million of the required £5 million pledged to-date.

"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 in 2021.

"However, to maintain this progress we need to continue to raise in excess of £700,000 per year.

"We are therefore taking the opportunity of Father’s Day to give the Dedicated Donation scheme a boost.

“This initiative is a unique opportunity for supporters to have their father or grandfather’s name associated with a component of No. 2007 and the funds raised will help to ensure that Prince of Wales will be completed within the next seven years.

“No one can now doubt that we really mean business. 2015 will see further major announcements as the construction of Prince of Wales gathers pace.”