‘Night Owl’ will be a ‘machine of Swindon precision’
New ‘47XX’ No. 4709 will uphold the Swindon tradition of precision engineering when its frames are wheeled - hopefully by the year end.
Paul Carpenter, the engineering manager for the Great Western Society’s Churchward 2‑8‑0, has designed a “state of the art” horn grinder, using pictures of an original GWR machine. It will be used to prepare the axlebox horns to the close tolerances achieved by Swindon Works in steam days ‑ and will be made available for hire to other railways. Mr Carpenter told Steam Railway: “We are totally committed to getting it right first time, with high engineering standards ‑ so that when the boiler comes up for its first ‘ten‑yearly’ overhaul, we won’t need to touch the bottom end.” All of No. 4709’s wheels will soon be ready at Buckfastleigh, where the three original driving wheelsets (from ‘5101’ No. 4115) are shortly to receive new tyres and crankpins. The new driving wheelset has already had its crankpins fitted, with tyres to follow, while the pony truck set ‑ also from No. 4115 ‑ is being refurbished. All of the work done so far has been passed for main line operation by the group’s Vehicle Acceptance Body. Said Mr Carpenter: “This package of work represents the highest expenditure in any year for the project so far, and demonstrates our determination to get No. 4709 on its wheels as soon as possible. “To do so by the end of the year is realistic and achievable, provided the work can be funded.” Tasks prior to wheeling include the restoration of the axleboxes (originally from ‘5205’ 2‑8‑0T No. 5227) at £18,000, fitting and grinding the remaining horn guides (£6,000 and £5,000 respectively), and fitting the spring hanger brackets (£8,000). Offers of sponsorship or donations can be sent to GWS Chairman Richard Croucher at Didcot Railway Centre, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 7NJ. A further step towards a completed bottom end has been achieved with the acquisition of several motion parts, while Design & Development Engineer Don Ashton has completed drawings for the running plates and cab, for which quotes are being sought. At the Llangollen Railway, where No. 4709’s frames are situated, recently retired Chief Mechanical Engineer Dave Owen has agreed to become the project’s resident engineer. Another team will restore a Collett 4,000‑gallon tender for the locomotive at Didcot. To get involved, contact Mr Carpenter on 07958 250533 or at pcarpenter100@ btinternet.com Mr Carpenter added: “We have achieved this stage of construction in less time and certainly less cost than other projects ‑ but of course with a larger team we could achieve a lot more.”