On Saturday 27th April 2024 6880 Betton Grange was launched to the members at Tyseley running with 2 coaches on the carriage shed road. Speeches followed celebrating the recreation of one of the GWR’s iconic classes. The 81st Grange fills a gap in a missing class of locomotives not seen since 1965, 26 years since conception and 17 years in the making. We have today fulfilled our dream.

For the first time since 1965, yesterday saw a Great Western Grange once again steam. After warming up throughout the day 6880 Betton Grange saw the regulator opened around 4pm and the locomotive moved smoothly down the yard at Tyseley Locomotive Works. 21 years in the making, the future holds many opportunities for 6880 on Britains preserved railways

As 6880 nears completion painting in fully lined BR green is nearly finished. A few more mechanical items need finishing off before the locomotive can steam.

The locomotive is now in Tyseley’s paint shop and final painting continues

The completion of the two steam pipes saw them installed in the smokebox as the mechanical work at Tyseley nears completion. Not much longer now

The steam pipes are now being fitted into the smokebox and a first gloss coat of green added to the boiler as work towards completion advances

More painting inside the cab and additional work to the fittings bring the cab interior nearer completion

A first coat of green undercoat has been applied as a visible step forward towards completion

Most of the pipe work and cab fittings are now in place as work progresses. We expect 6880 to steam this year

Work advances as the cladding and cleating are added along with the final fitting of the back head fittings. The locomotive edging ever nearer to completion