THE project to build Britain's most powerful express passenger steam locomotive has taken another step forward – with work carried out on the driver's cab.

A trial fitting of the driver's cab for No. 2007 Prince of Wales took place at Darlington Locomotive Works, where the multi-million pound engine is being assembled.

Gresley 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.

The design was never fully developed and they were scrapped by 1961.

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust – a registered charity and builders of iconic steam locomotive No. 60163 Tornado – is building the seventh member of the Gresley class over seven years at an estimated cost of £5 million.

The ‘flat pack’ plate kit for the cab was profiled and rolled by SM Thompson of Middlesbrough.

Following delivery to DLW, a cradle was made to assemble the roof upside down.

The cab was turned the right way up and set up on the footplate.

This enabled the holes between the bottom cab angles and the footplate to be drilled. The cab was then taken off, dismantled and all the parts grit-blasted and primed.

Public interest in seeing a new Gresley class P2 become a reality sooner rather than later is high and over 730 people have already signed up to the fundraising covenant scheme since its launch a year ago.

The project has already received pledges of £2 million (including Gift Aid) of the £5m needed in just two years since the launch of the project.

Mark Allatt, chairman, 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.

"Our team has been focused on assembly of the cab, the erection of the frames, fitting the frame stretchers, horn guides and other components manufactured by external contractors over the past few weeks.

"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.

"I would encourage all steam enthusiasts who haven’t yet contributed to this exciting project to help us to meet these deadlines.

"This year will see further major announcements as the construction of Prince of Wales gathers pace.”

Meanwhile, the trust has announced details of Tornado's packed 2016 schedule – visit a1steam.com for details.