Progress Update January 2011
Published 30 January 2011 | 
On Sunday 9th January the AGM was held at Llangollen. Fourteen members were present. The formalities completed, three new Board members were voted in. We now have the following people in position on the Board and a group of people designed to carry the project forward at an increased pace.
Quentin McGuinness – Chairman and a founding member. Also the Treasurer
Richard Cadge – Membership Secretary
David Huntbatch – Sales and Marketing
Paul Appleton – Publicity.
Pete Thomas – Engineering.
Alan Naylor – Company Secretary
Meanwhile at Llangollen, the cab is being erected onto the rear of the locomotive, with the detailing of the running plate curvature now apparent. The hornguides are being fitted and the front four are nearly fixed. The Extension Frames are now on order and below is a photo of the two profiles as delivered to our supplier, Stones of Street. They will shortly be machined to our drawings and are expected at Llangollen in March.
Finally, we are planning a General Members Day this Spring. There are over 150 people to invite to what should be a lively day with the extension frames fitted, progress on the construction of the locomotive will be there for your inspection. The date is to be announced.
Progress Update, April 2010
Published 25 April 2010 | We have now had all the riveting completed to attach the cab steps to the main frame, and the completed the fitting of the rear dragbox, rear bufferbeam and buffer plates including the riveting. 6880 volunteers have marked up and drilled out all the holes over the last 12 months.
The saddle plate has also been successfully riveted into place after being built and marked out by Ian Massey last summer. 6880 now awaits the arrival of the extension frames which will be riveted in front of the saddle. It is hoped for these will arrive later this year.
Jonathan Kerr, 25th April 2010.
Progress Update, August 2009
Published 16 August 2009 | 6880 news
Well it’s been a while….
But at last we seem to be out of the coma called the “Steel Steam & Stars II aftermath” it is time to get back into the groove, namely building 6880. We will again be spending time adding to what has been built so far.
There will be a full gala report in the next newsletter, and a web update, but I can say, yes it was successful, yes it raised a significant amount of money and without doubt raised the profile of Betton Grange and Llangollen Railway even further. The downside is lack of real progress on the construction of 6880 due to the Gala taking up so much time, but now we are in possession of a healthy bank account we can now make some progress, as I will now explain;
We are in the process of placing orders with Llangollen engineering to:
- Fit the dragbox permanently along with the back buffer beam, rubbing plates and the two pressed steel brackets. This will all be riveted, but all the parts have been trial fitted and drilled.
- Fit all the Hornguides, Hornties, rear stretcher tie bolts, pins etc to the requires standards.
The extension frame drawing has now been finalised by Pete Simpson. Discussions are due to take place on methods of construction during the next few days. The original was a forging, and to adhere to the original it is is the correct method, but at a cost. Cutting it out of high-grade steel and fabrication may be a better present day alternative.
As soon as we have a clear path on the best route the order will be placed, but to assist with the speed of construction most of the components that fit round the extension frames have already been made or are about to be ordered.
We are putting together an order with Angle Ring in Tipton for all the curved sections of footplate angle (eight in all), also the last two pressings for the front dragbox. There are also a few other components on the list.
With a bit of luck we should have enough cash to finish the frames front to back, albeit without wheels cylinders or bogie.
Not a bad achievement considering it is ALL new.
As mentioned a while back now the NRM has given up all its drawing secrets we are in a much better position to be able to order what we need, when we need it, something that was not always possible even a short time ago.
We are looking to step up the progress at the working weekends as there is much input we can now make. No doubt I will be cracking the whip and requesting sick notes for lack of attendance!
The last working weekends have seen the cab dismantled as it is now in the way and needs to be in dismantled in order to be fitted. There is quite a bit of preparation work ready for September.
The sales and promotion stand is visiting the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry Great Garret Gathering, with Quentin, Phil Macey, Jon Kerr, Mick, Emma, Richard Cadge and myself. There is also a planned Members Weekend on October the 10th, more details to be announced as we put this together.
I hope this post addresses the balance of news, without a Gala to plan, run, and organise it leaves us with time to concentrate on what this project is all about, building the 81st Grange
Thanks for you patience and support.
Will Naylor
February News
Published 5 February 2009 | 6880
The first of new parts arriving ready for the 21st – 22nd of Feb’s working weekend are the nuts and bolts to fit the brake hangar brackets.
They have been made by Premier Engineering in Southport from drawings by Keith Gilbert of the 1014 County Project at Didcot, the brackets also supplied by Didcot have had counter bores put in the back of them so collar studs can be fitted…..all a bit technical I know, but that is the way with this sort of project. After fitment the next part to consider manufacturing will be the brake hangars themselves.
A second visit to the NRM at York took place on the weekend of the 24th – 25th of Jan, first time visitors were Quentin and Peter Thomas. I think Quentin was taken aback by the enormity of the task and was surprised just how disorganised the Great Western drawings collection is, but after the weekend we reckoned we were over two thirds of the way through. We have found some more drawings relevant to 6880, one being the cab and splasher drawing, and the other for the rocking arms. Our next planned visit will be during May.
Most of the side brackets which hold the footplate angle in place are now in the process of being machined and should be ready for the working weekend.
I took a trip to Microform near Wakefield who specalise in data capture and they copied seven microfilm aquired from Ted Lacey who is in charge of Didcot’s drawings. The films were scanned and blown up into 1/4 sections providing us with readable dimensions and we have found that what was supplied by Ted was about 95% legible.
Our bogie wheels are now at the South Devon Railway where they will be tested for any cracks and flaws in the axles, and if sound then the next step will be have new tyres fitted.
5199
After a reported 73 steamings and 100% reliablity in traffic, with only a few small jobs needing attention, 5199 has flown the flag for team and the Llangollen Railway while out earning her next overhaul. She has proved to be an excellent performer in traffic and has now departed from the Bluebell Railway and is now a little closer to home at the Churnet Valley Railway.
Will Naylor.
Happy New Year
Published 2 January 2009 | HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM 6880
News just in..
The image above shows 8 pressed steel brackets which support the footplate, the two bigger ones brace the saddle plate which holds the rocking arm brackets in place. I have been preparing them by welding up the folds and as of the 31st of December 2008 are in the machine shop with an estimated completion date for early Feb.
The first set of drawings from the NRM are due to arrive next week and these will include the cylinder drawings. I am off to Wakefield on Monday 5th Jan to copy 7 microfiche drawings in attempt to have more readable drawings, there are just a few dimensions that could be clearer.
Next weekend I should be down at the Bluebell Railway preparing 5199 for her trip back up North to the Churnet Valley Railway.
Will Naylor.