‘BETTON’ BOILER FUND HITS TARGET

Three years after its launch at the ‘Steel, Steam & Stars IV’ gala of 2015, the £225,000 boiler appeal for No. 6880 Betton Grange has reached its target. A donation of £1,000 under the 6880 Society’s ‘Adopt a Grange’ scheme placed the metaphorical needle of the appeal’s ‘pressure gauge’ – alluding to the 225lbs/sq. in working pressure of the ‘Grange’s Standard No. 1 boiler – on the ‘red line’ on March 6. Publicity Director Paul Appleton said: “We still need £19,950 for the superheater elements, plus an estimated £40,000 to finish work on the bottom end and reassembly. The main items to fund, apart from the superheater elements, are the two main steam pipes.” The boiler – originally from former ‘Barry Ten’ Hawksworth ‘Modified Hall’ No. 7927 Willington Hall – is under overhaul at Tyseley Locomotive Works, where the replacement front barrel section has arrived and the new backplate section is having its rivet holes drilled for attachment to the foundation ring.

LYNN MOORE/6880 SOCIETY An unusual view of Betton Grange’s boiler (from Willington Hall ) at Tyseley, turned upside down with the firebox foundation ring at the top, showing the backplate removed and the water space between the inner firebox and outer wrapper.