A 60-TON tender tank which is part of a project to build Britain's most powerful steam locomotive has arrived in Darlington.

The A1 Steam Locomotive Trust is trying to construct a new Gresley class P2 No. 2007 Prince of Wales at Darlington Locomotive Works.

The trust, which is trying to construct the express passenger steam locomotive at an estimated cost of £5m, has now raised more than 70 per cent of the money needed.

In an attempt to fund the project, the volunteers have created The Tender Club to raise a further £334,000.

Project director and trustee Mark Allatt 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.

"Thanks to our supporters’ continued generosity, over £3.5m has now been donated or pledged – 70 per cent of the required £5m.

“We recently turned our attention to the tender which is now our major manufacturing challenge.

"Significant progress has been made with all three key parts of the tender – the wheelsets, the frames and the tender tank. We now need to raise a further £334,000 through The Tender Club over the next few months.

"This will allow us to remain on-track for completion of the new locomotive within the next three years."

He added: "I would encourage all steam enthusiasts who haven’t yet contributed to this exciting project to help us to meet these deadlines by becoming a member of The Tender Club or a ‘P2 for the price of a pint of beer a week’ covenantor."

The project aims to demonstrate how the design can be fully realised through use of modern computer design techniques, enabling the new locomotive to deliver its full potential hauling passenger trains at high speed across today’s national network.

The tender tank was manufactured by Darlington company North View Engineering Solutions (NVES) and was last week grit blasted at MIS North East, of Peterlee.

Tender frames, under construction by I D Howitt of Crofton are now structurally complete and the four tender wheelsets have been painted.

Mr Allat said workers were following Government guidance with regards to coronavirus. The works is closed to all non-essential staff.

For more information about project, email enquiries@p2steam.com, call 01325-460163 or visit www.p2steam.com.