Milestones reached in Darlington project to build Britain's most powerful steam locomotive

Work has begun on assembling the crank axle for the Gresley class P2 steam locomotive No 2007 Prince of Wales.

Meanwhile, a fundraising initiative to pay for the wheeling of the engine has reached its initial target of £200,000.

P2 No 2007 Prince of Wales

The powerful passenger steam locomotive is being built by The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust operating in Darlington Locomotive Works sheds at a cost of an estimated £5m.

It is anticipated that the assembly of the axle will be completed in early June, which will permit final machining prior to fitting of wheels and tyres which will then complete the wheel set.

It is then hoped the works will have the engine wheeled by before the end of 2017.

Mark Allatt, P2 project director at The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, said he was confident that the rolling chassis will be completed this year, before adding the locomotive remains on track for completion in 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.”

The Mikado Club was launched at the end of March 2016 to raise £200,000 from 160 members to wheel the engine.

Following a fundraising drive by the Trust, the last three weeks has seen over £33,000 donated to The Mikado Club and the achievement of its initial £200,000 pledged target almost three months ahead of plan.

Mr Allatt added: “To maintain this rate of progress we need to raise more than £700,000 per year, which given the nature of the regular donation scheme becomes more challenging as each year passes.

“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 joining The Mikado Club.”

Earlier this month, around 50 people gathered at Darlington Locomotive Works in Hopetown Lane at one of a series of roadshows being held around the UK, to hear all about the the project so far, which was launched in 2013, and the next stages of development.

The class P2 2-8-2 ‘Mikado’ locomotives were the most powerful express passenger steam locomotives to operate in the UK, designed by Sir Nigel Gresley for the London & North Eastern Railway to haul 600 tonne trains on the arduous Edinburgh to Aberdeen route.

For more details, email enquiries@p2steam.com