New County 4-4-0 main frame assembly completed
TYSELEY LOCOMOTIVE Works, Birmingham, has completed the assembly of the main frame components for the Churchward County Trust’s new-build Great Western Railway 4-4-0 No 3840 County of Montgomery. The next phase of work will involve having the cab, splashers and running plate manufactured, while work on the new cylinders and coupled wheels takes place with suppliers in Halifax and Sheffield.
Machining of the front-end extension frames is on hold until the new cylinders have been cast and allowed to de-stress – which takes at least 12 months. This will enable the final machining of the extension frames and cylinders to be carried out simultaneously. The Trust has ordered the four 6ft 8.5in driving wheels to be cast by Trefoil Steel, Sheffield, using a pattern generously loaned by the Great Western Society that was used to cast the wheels for Saint 4-6-0 2999 Lady of Legend.
The Trust is working closely with Didcot-based GWS, which is donating a boiler from nonrestored 2-8-0T 5227. Other GWSsourced parts include the bogie wheels, axleboxes, horns and a Churchward 3,500-gallon tender chassis. When completed the locomotive is expected to run at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway.