New- build Churchward County 4- 4- 0 frames set to be‘ ready by October’
A SET of main frames for new Great Western Railway County 4-4-0
No .3840 County of Montgomery could be complete at Ty se ley Locomotive Works ( TLW) this autumn, 108 years after the last of the original engines was out shopped from Swindon Works.
The Churchward County Trust formally placed the order for the erection of the frames with TLW during early July.
The work will include the assembly of the main frame plates which had been cut in November 2018, the installation of the supporting stretcher plates with associated brackets, and the fitting of the horn blocks and spring hangers. Anew set of spring hanger brackets was delivered to Tyseley during June.
Progress
The assembly work will progress during the summer as TLW brings more staff back from furlough, with the frame assembly completed possibly by early October. It is planned that a fabricated rear dragbox will be constructed at Tyseley in parallel with the erection of the frames.
Meanwhile, the CAD drawings for No. 3840’ s two 18in x 30in cylinders have been sent to Premier Patterns in Smethwick, with a view to manufacturing the two polystyrene sacrificial patterns. The trust has obtained a competitive price from a foundry in Scunthorpe for the casting of the cylinders, and if all goes to plan the patterns could be ready for transport by late August.
Once cast, the cylinders will be allowed to de stress naturally before being transported to Roach Precision in Brierley Hill for final machining. This process will be carried out at the same time as the machining of No. 3840’s extension frames, which once complete will enable the front end of the County to be completed.
Support
To help finance the cylinders the CCT has launched a Cylinders Club, which aims toraise the required £ 40,000 by attracting 40 supporters to each donate £ 1000. This can bemade as a one-off-donation or through a monthly standing order of £ 25per month for 40 months, £ 50 permonth for 20 months or £ 100 per month for 10months.
Appeal supporters will receive an invitation to the launch of County of Montgomery, a seat on its first train, a special certificate acknowledging membership of the Cylinders Club, a framed and mounted print of No. 3840 by artist Stuart Black, their name on its roll of honour and life trust membership.
The names of all Cylinders Club members will be entered into a ballot, with the winner receiving a cast brass replica of No. 3840’ s cabside numberplate.
➜ Details canbe found atwww. churchward county. org. uk or by writing to Churchward County Trust, POBox10633, Leicester, LE90DU.