50-YEAR FIRST: ‘GRANGE’ IS ON SHED AT TYSELEY
No. 6880’s looking the part, and ready for a star turn at locomotive works open day.
A ‘GrAnGe’ will be stabled at Tyseley this summer - the first of the class to be seen at the ex-GWr steam shed for over 50 years. No. 6880 Betton Grange, the new example being constructed at Llangollen, is to be a star attraction for the open days at Tyseley Locomotive Works on June 24/25. Having already made a journey to the Birmingham area as a ‘complete’-looking locomotive - for the Warley model railway exhibition in November - Betton Grange will present an even more impressive cosmetic appearance for its visit to the former 84E shed. By this time, it is planned to fit the Collett 4-6-0’s connecting rods, and temporarily place the cladding on the boiler from ‘Hall’ No. 5952 Cogan Hall - which is currently in the frames as a template for pipework. The boiler that the ‘Grange’ is ultimately destined to carry - originally from ‘Modified Hall’ No. 7927 Willington Hall - is already itself at Tyseley, where its overhaul has commenced. To complete the illusion, the intention is to couple Betton Grange to a Collett 4,000-gallon tender from one of Tyseley’s ‘Castle’ 4-6-0s. It will be the first ‘Grange’ to visit the shed since the end of Western Region steam in 1965 - evoking memories of No. 6853 Morehampton Grange, which was a favourite among Tyseley’s allocation, and the subject of an abortive preservation proposal when it was withdrawn in October 1965 (SR428). Having been temporarily stored in Pentrefelin carriage shed during the winter, No. 6880 was moved back into Llangollen workshops in early February, with LR Engineering contracted to carry out the machining of the connecting rods. By the time of the Tyseley visit, it is also expected that the motion will be complete and the pistons fitted.