‘County’ frames ready by autumn

THE Churchward County Trust (CCT) has placed an order for the assembly of the main frames for its new-build GWR ‘County’ class 4-4-0 with Tyseley Locomotive Works.

The work is expected to be complete by this coming October. The frame plates for No. 3840 County of Montgomery were cut in November 2018, but have been waiting for a slot in the works to become available.

The work will include the assembly of the main frame plates and installation of the supporting stretcher plates with associated brackets, and the fitting of the horn blocks and spring hangers. A new set of spring hanger brackets was delivered to Tyseley during June.

The assembly work will progress during the summer, with TLW expecting to have the frame assembly largely completed in time for the CCT’s planned AGM in late September.

It is also planned to have the fabricated rear dragbox constructed at Tyseley in parallel with the erection of the frames.

Another significant development in the project has been the submission of the CAD drawings for No. 3840’s two 18in x 30in cylinders to Premier Patterns in Smethwick for the two polystyrene sacrificial patterns.

A competitive casting quote has been received from a foundry in Scunthorpe, and if all goes to plan, the patterns could be ready for transport by late-August.

To help finance the cylinders the CCT has launched a Cylinders Club, which aims to raise the required £40,000 by attracting 40 supporters to each donate £1,000. Full details can be found at: www.churchwardcounty.org.uk