Engineering progress displayed on AGM day
Published 14 June 2015 | 
On AGM day the locomotive showed off its latest additions as the build continues at a good pace. At the front end Richard Cadge, Chris Moore and Paul Johnson inspect the new lamp iron brackets and the new front foot plating.
The motion bracket was trial fitted for the day as progress towards setting the final position of the cylinders continues.
Bill Hall holds the newly manufactured reverser handle
the new Steam Fountain casting sourced by Paul Johnson goes into stores awaiting use once the boiler is refurbished
Spring hanger components painted
Published 21 June 2013 | Here are three photos of the painting done at last weekends working party by volunteers They show the spring hanger components being prepared for the springs to be fitted and the front end of the locomotive.
Engineering Progress
Published 5 March 2012 | Progress on building 6880 is continuing as the following photographs show.
These bolts are for fixing the Extension Frames to the Main Frames
This is one of the Brake Shaft Castings
This is a view of the front end showing the cast brackets to support the front buffer beam
The footplating has been secured to the frames and painted
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.
5952 Cogan Hall
Published 3 February 2010 | The Board of 6880 Betton Grange (Society) Ltd are pleased to announce that they have been successful in purchasing 5952 Cogan Hall together with a substantial amount of spare parts. This is a strategic decision which will substantially reduce the time and cost of constructing Betton Grange.
In the medium term we propose to refurbish the bogie and later tender from Cogan Hall for use with 6880. The cost of a new bogie alone would be in excess of the purchase price for 5952. In addition the time required to refurbish the existing bogie will be substantially less than manufacturing and assembling from new. Refurbishing the existing bogie will also assist in providing information and experience necessary to construct a new bogie for Cogan Hall in the longer term.
We must stress that we do not propose to dismantle Cogan Hall to provide parts for 6880 or any other projects. The longer term desire is to restore Cogan Hall in its own right. This will be subject to separate fund raising. There has already been significant interest expressed by several of Betton Granges supporters in restoring 5952 by once 6880 is completed.
We must record our thanks to the Board of the Llangollen Railway for their agreement in allowing Cogan Hall to be moved to the railway. It is expected that 5952 will be moved to the Llangollen Railway before the Spring Gala 23rd to 25th April.
With regard to 6880 significant progress is being by Dave Owen’s team in completing the riveting of the dragbox and progressing with the horn guides. In addition the patterns for spring hanger brackets have been made and the brackets cast. The curved foot framing which will be fitted below the cab has been manufactured.
The Society is indebted to Pete Simpson from the Severn Valley Railway, for producing drawings for the new extension frames. Costs are currently being obtained for their manufacture. It is anticipated that an order will be placed for the extension frames before the summer.