BUDDING engineers were invited to a behind-the-scenes tour of the construction of a locomotive.

Students at the University Technical College (UTC) in Newton Aycliffe, South Durham, visited the P2 Steam Locomotive Company in Hopetown Lane, Darlington, on Tuesday September 11 to witness the building of the company’s latest project.

At the site, the year-10 students were shown how metrology – the science of measuring – is used in traditional engineering as the company aims to build a Gresley class P2 Mikado steam locomotive.

Daniela Filova, one of the engineering team at P2, explained the complicated process of accurately measuring important geometry around a main axle, which is designed to move up and down in parallel ground plates that also must be aligned.

He also included the students in the project and allowed them to take part in some of the measuring process.

The visit was partnered by design and engineering company, Bignall Group Ltd, as well as P2 Locomotive, Hexagon Metrology, UTC and the AMAP applied sciences faculty of the University of Sunderland.

John Bignall, owner of Bignall Group, said the visit was beneficial to all those involved.

He said: “As partners of UTC, we saw an opportunity for everybody to get something out of it.

“It was cutting edge technology meets traditional engineering, giving the school children an opportunity to see the equipment used in a big project like this.

“The school had a great day out, the students were very much interested in the history of the region’s engineering and the metrology people were really happy to provide the service.”