Collett Grange Class

The Great Western Railway (GWR) 6800 Class or Grange Class was a mixed traffic class of 4-6-0 steam locomotive, built to replace the GWR 4300 Class 2-6-0. There were 80 in the class, all built at the Swindon works, using some reconditioned parts from withdrawn 4300 Class locomotives .

The GWR locomotive standardisation policy pursued by G.J. Churchward envisaged a range of locomotive classes which would be suitable for the majority of duties, and yet which would share a small number of standard components. Amongst the designs suggested in 1901 was a 4-6-0 with 5-foot-8-inch (1.727 m) diameter driving wheels, and the Standard No. 1 boiler. Although planned in 1901, none were built during Churchward’s lifetime. C.B. Collett, (Churchward’s successor at Swindon Works) rather introduced the Hall class with 6-foot (1.829 m) diameter driving wheels.


The 4300 Class of 2-6-0 tender locomotives had been introduced on the GWR for mixed traffic duties in 1911, and by 1932 there were 342 in service. However, by the mid 1930s some of the earlier examples were in need of attention and the class as a whole was struggling with some of the duties expected of them. Collett therefore revived the Churchward proposal, but modified the design to include a cab and controls to the current style. Between 1936 and 1939, one hundred 4300 Class were taken out of service and replaced by new 4-6-0 locomotives, eighty of which were of the 6800 (or Grange) class, whilst the remaining 20 were of the 7800 (or Manor) class. It had been intended to replace all of the 4300 Class in this way, but the Second World War stopped the programme.
Design and Production
The Granges were effectively a smaller-wheeled version of the GWR Hall Class
The wheels, valve motion and tenders were taken from the withdrawn engines, reconditioned and then used in the construction of the 100 new locomotives; the components from one old locomotive were spread amongst more than one of the new engines. The cylinders of the Granges were of the same size as those used on the 4300 Class, but the old cylinders could not be re-used because the cylinders and valves shared a common casting, and the new design called for the separation between cylinder and valve centre lines to be increased by 2 1⁄2 inches (64 mm). This was done in order to make the cylinders level with the axles, but still allow the use of the old valve motion parts.
The locomotives were built in two batches to a single order (Lot No. 308): Nos. 6800-6859 were built between August 1936 and December 1937, and Nos. 6860-6879 appeared between February and May 1939. They were all named after Granges in the area covered by the GWR. Further construction of the class was cancelled due to the outbreak of war. They were originally fitted with Churchward 3,500 imp gal (16,000 l; 4,200 US gal) tenders taken from withdrawn members of the 4300 Class. However, after the second world war several were fitted with newer 3,500 imp gal (16,000 l; 4,200 US gal) and 4,000 imp gal (18,000 l; 4,800 US gal) types.
The entire class was withdrawn from service between 1960 and 1965 and no examples were preserved. 6853 Morehampton Grange was a candidate for preservation by the GWS at Didcot,7808 was however purchased instead. However, GWR 6880 Betton Grange, the next Grange that was due to be built originally, is currently being built.
This 1st collection features 6800-6819 built 1936
Including this photo
6819 Highnam Grange ex works unknown location
https://tinyurl.com/1huowrln
And does anyone recognise themselves
6803 Bucklebury Grange unknown location
https://tinyurl.com/w37b6crp
Full collection of over 100 photos starts here with
6800 Arlington Grange leaving Truro on down Cornishman c1957
https://tinyurl.com/hbknz5zj

Neil.

 

38/102 = Southall (duplicates 42/102)

62/102 = Stroud ?

65/102 = Totnes ?

79/102 = Exeter St Davids

 

Agreed 65/102 is Totnes.

Cheers, Neil

 

I have added a new collection featuring the Collett Grange class locos
This second collection features 6820-6839 built in 1937
Included is this photo of a long gone service
6835 Eastham Grange approaching Bristol T.M. with a livestock service
https://tinyurl.com/55ephjdq
ex works at Swindon with just 2 years service left
6837 Forthampton Grange Swindon works 1st September 1963
https://tinyurl.com/1otb8xg4
Full collection of over 75 photos starts here with
6820 Kingstone Grange Exeter 5th July 1957
https://tinyurl.com/2ouhyjsy

Neil.

 

I have added a new collection featuring the Collett Grange class locos
This collection features 6840-6859 Built 1937
Included is this photo of
6855 Saighton Grange with 9F's 92118 + 92115 Tyseley roundhouse 11th July 1965
https://tinyurl.com/ymfutm43
Rail tour duty for
6848 Toddington Grange unknown location LCGB 'The Western Venturer Rail Tour' 6th February 1965
https://tinyurl.com/4by8jarp
Full collection
6840 Hazeley Grange Shrewsbury
https://tinyurl.com/khrbt62s

Neil.

 

73/76 Exeter St Davids. West Box is hidden behind train.

Neil

 

I have added a new collection featuring the Collett Grange class locos
This collection features 6860-6869 Built 1939
Including this photo of
6869 Resolven Grange doubleheads Castle 5082 Swordfish unknown location
https://tinyurl.com/y4b8kns8
2 for the price of 1
6861 Crynant Grange + 6810 Blakemere Grange Severn Tunnel Jct
https://tinyurl.com/wbyjt49a
Full collection starts here with
6860 Aberporth Grange Caerphilly works 24th March 1963
https://tinyurl.com/a54b9u

Neil.

 

I have added a new collection featuring the Collett Grange class locos
This collection features 6870-6879 Built 1939
Including this photo of
6879 Overton Grange and 9F 92243 unknown works
https://tinyurl.com/pymm8r9t
&
6876 Kingsland Grange Shrewsbury Shed
https://tinyurl.com/6nbr9m48
Full collection of 45 new photos starts here with
6870 minus Bodicote Grange nameplates and cabside number plates dumped at Oxley
https://tinyurl.com/9uza7vbs

Neil.

 

I have added new photos of the Collett Grange class locos
This collection features 6800-6819 built 1936
Including this photo of 6811 Cranbourne Grange & 4703 unknown location
https://tinyurl.com/yckszyrm
new photos start here with
6803 Bucklebury Grange Swindon shed
https://tinyurl.com/2s45v57n
to
6818 Hardwick Grange Worcester Shrub Hill
https://tinyurl.com/2p85375z

Neil

 

I have added new photos of the Collett Grange class locos
This collection features 6820-6859 Built 1937
Including this photo in the snow
6842 Nunhold Grange ex works condition in the snow at Swindon works
https://tinyurl.com/yckrfpbw
New photos start here with
6827 Llanfrechfa Grange Bristol Bath Road
https://tinyurl.com/3s9hebrx
to
6850 Cleeve Grange Swindon shed 24th November 1957
https://tinyurl.com/4kth9s2b

Neil

 

I have added 10 new photos to the Collection of Collett’s Grange class
6860-6879 Built 1939
Including this photo of
6867 Peterston Grange in deplorable condition but still retaining name and number plates unknown location
https://tinyurl.com/2p9a9xre
New photos start here with
6861 Crynant Grange Reading 16th August 1953
https://tinyurl.com/y3crcua4

Neil