AN AMBITIOUS project to restore a historic train to its former glory has taken a step forward.

The Watercress Line’s Heritage Lottery funded-scheme to restore its flagship steam locomotive, the Merchant Navy class Canadian Pacific (CanPac), reached an important milestone this autumn.

The frames have been carefully lifted onto the wheels, marking an important step towards getting CanPac back in operation in 2019.

For months the line’s staff and volunteers have been working towards putting the locomotive’s frames onto newly-refurbished driving wheels.

It has included specialist work doing alignment checks, working on the axleboxes, restoring parts needed for the ‘re-wheeling’, moving the driving wheels alongside the frames and putting the wheels in the right order.

Railway engineering firm Arlington Fleet Services helped by providing overhead cranes to complete the preparation work and lift the frames into place on top of the driving wheels.

Dr Becky Peacock, outreach and interpretation officer for the Watercress Line, said: “The lifting and lowering of the frames was the nerve-wracking and time-consuming part of the day’s operation, with the axleboxes having to be carefully lined up with the holes in the frames as they were lowered inch by inch.

“What a relief to have everything finally in place.

“It was a brilliant day for all those involved and a pleasure to see the frames sitting back on the driving wheels. We’re grateful to Arlington and our own specialist team for all their patience and hard work.”

Dr Peacock added: “This is a significant milestone. It hails the start of the long process of reassembly and ultimately seeing the engine back in steam in 2019.”

The CanPac project is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund but the railway needs to raise £200,000 in match funding.