‘Night Owl’ wheelsets arrive at tyseley as axlebOx surveys start

The wheelsets for the Great Western Society’s ‘47XX’ No. 4709 have arrived at Tyseley for further work towards wheeling the Churchward 2‑8‑0 this summer. Having had their tyres profiled at South Devon Railway Engineering, the driving wheelsets will have their crankpin collars and lead balance weights fitted at the Birmingham workshop. All the axlebox horn guides have been fitted to the frames at Llangollen, while the castings for the spring hanger brackets (produced from patterns loaned by the Betton Grange project) have arrived for machining. Brackets for the running plates have also been delivered. The final task before No. 4709’s wheeling is the restoration of the driving axleboxes from ‘5205’ 2‑8‑0T No. 5227, which are being surveyed prior to seeking quotes, and will require new underkeeps and oil pads. Around £50,000 is needed to wheel the frames, plus a further £10,000 to order the springs. For more details or to donate, contact GWS Chairman Richard Croucher at Didcot Railway Centre, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 7NJ, email chairman@didcotrailwaycentre. org.uk or visit www.4709.org.uk