‘County’ tender takes shape
THE re-creation of Hawksworth 4-6-0 No. 1014 County of Glamorgan continues to take shape at Didcot Railway Centre – the tender being the current focus of attention. It is being constructed on a new Hawksworth-design frame, incorporating a centre section and standard GWR wheelsets and axleboxes from a Collett tender.
As previously reported, the tank arrived in flat-pack form at Didcot, where all deliveries to the site have to be made by rail.
While similar in appearance to the standard Hawksworth tenders paired with ‘Modified Halls’ and later-built ‘Castles’, the tenders for the ‘Hawksworth Counties’ had a tank six inches wider to match the larger cabs of these 4-6-0s, making them 8ft 6in wide. The additional space allowed an extra ton of coal to be carried compared to the ‘Hall’ and ‘Castle’ tenders, although water capacity remained the same at 4000 gallons. None of the original wider tenders have survived.
It is hoped to complete the tender by spring 2022.
The loco itself has not been forgotten, however. “Volunteers are now working on the outside motion – starting with fitting the bearings to the coupling rods and then the connecting rods,” 1014 GWR County Project press officer David Bradshaw told the RM.
“They are also finishing the lubrication system. The next step will be the inside motion, which is being machined or renovated accordingly at Tyseley Locomotive Works.”
On the boiler, the new safety valve has been completed and work proceeds on the installation of the many fittings inside the barrel prior to the installation of the safety valve, internal steam pipes and tubes.
Awaiting manufacture are the steam pipes and the three-row superheater header.
“We think later in 2023 is now realistic to complete this loco,” added Mr Bradshaw.
Approximately £150,000 is needed to finish No. 1014. Donations can be made online at www.county1014.org