Betton Grange

It looks like the malcontent has his page removed or removed it himself which is why the link no longer functions. Frankly the movement needs a public spat such as this like a hole in the head and I was appalled by the language used to make the case against the LR and Betton mob.

Foxy

 

I can get the engineering report fine too.

 

I have just been checking the Grange website for any news updates which I could prompt the forum with and discovered this photo which I hadn't noticed before:

It shows 6849 Walton Grange ex-works and the loco seems to be attached to a Hawksworth County tender, as the tender is a lot wider than the Grange cab.

Here is the link... http://www.6880.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/6849-Swindon-Works-150358.jpg

A few Granges (4?) did run with a Hawksworth tender, although I am pretty sure in this instance it was just a temporary works 'attachment' as the photo appears to be dated 1958 when there was still a full compliment of Counties.

I am not sure if the wider County tenders ever ran with anything other than a County.

 

I'm intrigued by the loco behind... Surely it can only be a welsh 0-6-2. She looks very similar to a photo of 357, which is shown as a works shunter in Durrant, but RCTS has her withdrawn in Jan 1956, so does that mean that 1958 is a bit late for the date?

 

Don't know the number but it's definitely a Taff Vale 'A'.

 

I have just located another photo of 6849 taken the same time at Swindon Works. Its a rear 3/4 shot of ex works 6849 'attached' to the same Hawkworth tender but does not show the Taff Vale tank. The photo was taken by R C Riley and its on page 34 of the colour book 'The Heyday of Swindon and its Locomotives'. The date of this photo is shown as 15th March 1958.

 

6849 Walton Grange returned to service on 19 March 1958 after a Heavy General repair at Swindon. It was paired with Churchward 3,500 gallon tender no 1719 not the County tender shown in the picture. It was allocated to Laira. An interesting feature is that it was now fitted with a high superheat boiler from a Modified Hall, as planned for Betton Grange. Incidentally the extra wide (non-standard) Hawksworth County tenders were not fitted to any other class in service

David

 

I assume that the wider County tenders would not have fitted behind anything - in the same way (although for different reasons) that the King tenders were one off's - did see a picture of a King with a Hawksworth tender once (another works pairing) - looked very strange.

 

Not sure if this is correct, but the difference in the King tenders was the fact they had larger water feed pipes, apart from that I think they were a standard Collett 4000 gal tender. I presume 6023/4 had tenders modified to suit when being restored.
Overall, in theory I understand all GWR locos/tenders could be coupled together physically as they all had the same coupling/drawgear arrangements. The differences as I see it were,

28/38xx 2-8-0's, No steam heat connections.

Counties, Wider Hawksworth tender.

Kings, Larger water pipes as said.

 

See the aim is for 6880 to steam by 2016. What's the latest on the wheels as they were sent to SDR in order to be ready for SSS3. Not long to go to have them ready though!

 

I haven't seen anything (no emails) and have just checked to see if the 6880 website has had any updates on this matter. I will post here if I receive any news.

 

See someone's tried to update Wikipedia for us, though apparently we'll be running in 2013!

GWR 6800 Class 6880 Betton Grange - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

And as for the Project milestones listed on Wikipedia ..... the footplating secured to frames and painted is shown as the only milestone after the cab !!

 

Yep, no mention of rear dragbox, rear bufferbeam, extension frames, hornties and hornguides...

 

I guess the cab, and running boards are much more important than trivial little thing like the extension frames. Wiki is bang on as always!!!!!

 

With the gala only a week away is 6880 likely to be on her wheels?

Engineering Progress – Nov 2011 | Betton Grange 6880

 

Well maybe not but this is railway presevation, time scales are well known to slip!!!!

 

Regarding 6880s, wheels that were the spare set for 7325 from 4156.

I was recently informed by another member from another new build project that the wheels were not far off completion from retyring.
I was also told that there was one wheel that had a casting flaw that may well preclude it from being used on the mainline.
Maybe it is this issue and how to remedy it that is causing the delay?
No doubt with modern welding techniques a satisfactory repair can be made to satisfy the VAB.

 

Some images showing 6880 wheels being re-tyred at the SDR.

I understand the images were taken last weekend during the SDR 4 day Gala.