Who are we?

The 6880 Society (a registered charity, No. 1100537) was formed in 1998 with the sole intention of recreating a Great Western ‘Grange’ class locomotive. While many of the other Great Western classes survived into preservation, none of the ‘Grange’ class escaped the breaker’s yard cutting touch. Therefore the group was set up to create Betton Grange, now completed in April 2024 becomingthe 81st ‘Grange’. Many members of the society brought with them the skills and knowledge from a previous project, which was the successful restoration of ex-Barry scrapyard large Prairie No. 5199.
With the completion of the cab for 6880 (just in time for the Crewe works gathering in 2005) and the acquisition of the boiler and other parts later in the same year, the attention focused on the completion of the main frames and extension frames, the latter arriving in April 2011  since then we have successfully appealed for the funds to have the cylinders cast using polystyrene formers. The casting taking place in October 2014 and fitted to the locomotive. Finally the boiler was refurbished at Tyseley Locomotive Works completing the locomotive and steaming her for the membership on 11th April 2024

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Where are we?

We are based at the Gloucester, Warwickshire Railway at Toddington, but can often be seen running at other preserved railways around the country