Second major steel order for No. 3840

We are delighted to announce that we have placed a second large order with Tata Steel of Wednesfield for the 22 various plates that will eventually form the frame stretchers for new-build GWR ‘County’ class 4-4-0 County of Montgomery.

The plates will be cut according to Swindon drawing No. 43495, as supplied by the Great Western Trust at Didcot, and include the various cross members, front bufferbeam, rear wear plate and the racking plate. This will give the CCT all of the main platework required to complete the erection of No. 3840’s main frames, excluding the extension frames, coming after the cutting of the loco’s main frame plates on November 13.

The order has been generously been sponsored by CCT supporter and Founders’ Club member, Stephen Davies. Commenting on why he wanted to support the project in this way, Mr Davies said: “There are several medium to large six- and eight-coupled GWR locos running on our heritage railways, and a good number of small 0-6-0s too, but there really is a gap in the middle. As the only two preserved GWR 4-4-0s locos are currently not capable of being steamed, the ‘County’ will fill that void nicely.

“It is also interesting to see the standardisation that was put in place by Churchward reaping rewards with this build. As a retired mechanical engineer I have always appreciated this facet of GWR loco design and development.”

Project Leader Gary Boyd-Hope said: “We are very grateful to Stephen for agreeing to sponsor the production of these components, which puts us well on the way to achieving our goal of having the main frames assembled during the coming year. His faith in the project and desire to see County of Montgomery completed is a huge vote of confidence in what we are trying to accomplish.”

The new plates are expected to be cut during February and will join the main frame plates at Tyseley Locomotive Works where the frames are to be assembled.