Betton Grange boiler fitted at Tyseley Locomotive Works
A SIGNIFICANT milestone in the construction of new-build GWR 4-6-0 No. 6880 Betton Grange was achieved on Wednesday, March 18, when its overhauled boiler was lowered onto the chassisattyseleylocomotiveworks.
The newly constructed ashpan was fitted at the same time.
The boiler had passed its steam test on December 6 and work since then has focused on preparing the chassis to receive the boiler and final painting in protective paint of the boiler itself. The boiler, a standard Swindon No. 1 unit, came from former ‘Barry Ten’ Modified Hall No. 7927 Willington Hall, and which is identical to the type used on the Granges, all of which were scrapped by the mid-1960s.
Recent weeks have seen the boiler cladding and cladding sheets prepared, with work on replacing the cab, which had to be removed prior to it being lifted in, and preparing and fitting all of the boiler backhead fittings, gauges, etc. Meanwhile, the many pipe runs are also being worked upon.
The smokebox remained to be fitted and work was progressing well when the coronavirus pandemic halted volunteer working parties and the planned movement to the Llangollen Railway for running-in has had to be put on hold, especially now that Tyseley Locomotive Works has also been closed, with the workforce sent home.
Work had also been progressing in parallel on the hired tender that will run with No. 6880.
This is the one from GWR 2884 class 2-8-0 No. 3814, the locomotive itself currently subject of a major restoration at Llangollen.
Meanwhile, the Betton Grange Society still needs to find around £100,000 to complete construction of its own replica 3500 Collett tender to main line standards. Twentyseven were built under Lot A118 and numbered 2242-2268 for use with the Granges, none of which have survived. In view of the numerically appropriate last tender in this group, the one being built for No. 6880 will be numbered 2268.
The different tender ‘clubs’ to support the appeal are as follows:
■ Ton-up Club £100 donation ‘Ton For the Tender.’ Benefits include a Betton Grange pen and pin badge, inclusion on the 6880 Roll of Honour and a special thank you card.
■ 3500 Tank Club. Donate £350 and your benefits will include a Betton Grange pen and pin badge, inclusion on the 6880 Roll of Honour and a special thank you card, plus a replica shed plate with the GWR or BR(WR) shed code of your choice or, a replica 6880 smokebox number display plate.
■ The Chassis Club: Donate £1100 and benefits include a Betton Grange pen and pin badge, inclusion on the 6880 Roll of Honour, a special thank you card, plus a replica tender plate numbered 2268 and your name on a plaque placed within the tender.
➜ For full details visit www.6880. co.uk or contact Lynn Moore for an information leaflet at: 6880 Tender Appeal, 224 Staining Road, Blackpool, Lancashire FY3 0DL, or email lynn@6880.co.uk