Unlike most other new-build projects which are underway and are building new members of lost classes like 2007 Prince of Wales and 2999 Lady of Legend it was decided to build a mock of one of the Great Western Railway 1000 or "County" Class engines, the chosen engine being 1014 (instead of the last built No.1029 County of Worcester or the last to be withdrawn No.1011 County of Chester) The project was launched in 2005 with the creation of the 'Three Counties Agreement' between the Great Western Society (GWS) and the Vale of Glamorgan Council saw three members of the Barry 10, all of the being ex-GWR locomotives, and a 3,500-gallon tender being used to help resurrect extinct GWR locomotives.

[1][2][3] The original engine was built unnamed in February 1946 and was allocated to Bristol Bath Road.

She received a double chimney in May 1958 and in September 1960 she was transferred to Bristol St Philip's Marsh.

Further transfers during her career included to Neyland and Shrewsbury with her final shed allocation being at Swindon.

Since none of the original County class engines survived into preservation (the last being 1011 County of Chester was withdrawn in November 1964 and sent straight for scrap at Cashmore's, Newport), it was decided by members at the Didcot Railway Centre to build a representation of one of the original engines from GWR & BR days instead of building the next member of the class as a large number of new build engines were being built at the time as new members of the class.

In order to operate on the mainline when completed, the engine will also require the fitment of: Speedometer, AWS, TPWS, OTMR & GSM-R.

A support coach to carry tools and spare parts for the engine, as well as crew members, will also have to be examined.