ONLY INCHES IN IT AS REBUILT ‘COUNTY’ IS CUT DOWN FOR MAIN LINE
Is County of Glamorgan a new-build or a rebuild? The answer has dictated how much it will be reduced in height for main line operation. Wayne Jones & Partners Company Ltd, the Vehicle Acceptance Body for the Great Western Society’s No. 1014, has confirmed that the Hawksworth 4-6-0 is classified as a rebuild of an original locomotive – meaning that it is permitted to be 13ft 1in high. Entirely new-build machines, such as ‘A1’ No. 60163 Tornado and under-construction ‘Patriot’ No. 5551 The Unknown Warrior, must conform to a limit of precisely 13ft – but original and rebuilt engines are allowed the extra inch. County of Glamorgan, a replica of a locomotive withdrawn and scrapped in 1964, incorporates parts from two former ‘Barry Ten’ engines: the frames, cylinders and bogie of ‘Modified Hall’ No. 7927 Willington Hall, and the firebox from Doncaster-built ‘8F’ 2-8-0 No. 48518. The latter will be married to a new tapered boiler barrel, which was rolled last year. Although the double chimney (another original item, from No. 1006 County of Cornwall) falls within the 13ft 1in limit, and the cab roof has been modified to suit, the original design of the ‘County’ safety valves was 13ft 47/8in above rail level. To bring No. 1014 within the Network Rail limit, the GWS plans to fit safety valves shortened by 4in, similar to those fitted to ‘Kings’ Nos. 6023 and 6024. However, an original-height safety valve bonnet will be fitted for preserved line operation. At Didcot, measurements are being taken for the locomotive’s smokebox, together with the smokebox saddle, door and ring, while the running plates are being prepared for fitting. For the tender, the rearmost brake links have been delivered, leaving only a rubber seal for the vacuum brake cylinder to complete its ‘rolling chassis’.