New boiler arrives at Didcot for Glamorgan
A MILESTONE has been passed in the project to create the 31st Hawksworth County 4-6-0, No. 1014 County of Glamorgan, with the delivery of its boiler to the Great Western Society site at Didcot Railway Centre.
The boiler arrived from Heritage Boiler Steam Services Ltd, where it is being constructed, on July 7 for trial fitting to No. 1014’s rolling chassis.
While at Didcot, the new smokebox and safety valves will be trial fitted and the boiler installed in the frames prior to a visit from HBSS staff. They will ensure that everything is properly lined up and to bolt the smokebox to the barrel.
The opportunity to sort out some critical plumbing issues will be taken at Didcot prior to it returning to Liverpool for completion.
No. 1014 has yet to have the new tubeplate fitted, and the tubes, header, grate and ashpan are still to be manufactured.
A project statement said: “It’s a long time since we’ve seen a Standard 15 boiler and here it is.
“This is such a massive achievement and goes a long way towards filling the hole of the remaining parts to have a Hawksworth County back in existence.”
Providing that there are no hitches, a supporters’ day will be held in the late autumn, where the opportunity will be taken to fit the double chimney from No. 1006 County of Cornwall and the safety valve bonnet, originally from
No. 6868 Penrhos Grange, and attach the newly completed Hawksworth flat-sided tender.
It is estimated that £100,000 is needed to complete the locomotive. Anyone wishing to donate is invited to telephone 01235 817200 or visit www.county1014.org