Visitors to the North Norfolk Railway this summer will have the chance to travel behind a type of steam locomotive not seen for almost 60 years as the line plays host to GWR 4-6-0 No. 6880 Betton Grange’ for a three month visit from August, the Poppy Line has announced.
Pictured is 6880 Betton Grange standing on the turntable at Tyseley Locomotive Works on March 15, before its planned first test steaming a week later, and with painting underway in early March. SCOTT BARNES
The engine has been created by the dedicated team of the 6880 Betton Gerange Society Ltd over the past 26 years after all 80 original members of the class were scrapped in the 1960s.
The GWR mixed traffic 4-6-0s were first introduced in 1936 and were direct replacements for the Churchward 43XX 2-6-0s and included wheels, valve motion and tenders from withdrawn engines.
The GWR’s standardisation policy has also enabled the group to recreate a member of the ‘Grange’ Class, using standard parts, including a Swindon No. 1 boiler, wheels and bogie from other locomotives, while the frames, cylinders, cab and fittings are all completely new. The tender is borrowed from WR 4-6-0 No. 7822 Foxcote Manor, while the society build a replica GWR Collett 3500- gallon tender to go with No. 6880.
The early work was carried out at Llangollen, including erection of the frames, with the boiler overhauled, and the latter stages of construction, carried out at Tyseley Locomotive Works in Birmingham. The locomotive was set to steam for the first time in March and will undergo testing, running in and if all goes well, will appear at a handful of special events, as highlighted in Heritage Railway issue 317, before heading to Norfolk.
NNR interim general manager, Graham Hukins said: “We are looking forward to welcoming ‘Betton Grange’ in the summer and giving our visitors the chance to ride behind this truly unique locomotive. The project to build a new Grange locomotive has taken three decades so we are privileged to host its first extended visit to a heritage railway.
“No 6880 will see extensive use on our summer and autumn services, the first time in six decades that a Grange will have been seen in day-to-day service and will also headline at our nine-day Festival on Rails Gala in late August,” he added.
Society director Paul Appleton said: “The Betton Grange Society are looking forward to taking their new locomotive to the North Norfolk Railway for an extended stay this summer and hope it will bring pleasure to thousands of passengers during its ‘holiday’ there. Although not a native of Norfolk, its 5ft 8in diameter driving wheels and Class 5 power-rating should make it perfect for tackling the climb from Weybourne past Kelling Heath to Holt.”
Keith Ashford, NNR CME, added, “We are looking forward to 6880 joining our fleet for the high season. Recreating a lost type of locomotive is a monumental achievement so we are honoured the society has entrusted us with being a big part of her first season.”
Betton Grange will be one of eight steam locomotives likely to run on the North Norfolk Railway during 2024. The line’s main season commences on 29 March and then trains operate on most days until 2 November. Trains run through 5½ miles of wonderful scenery between the Victorian resort of Sheringham and the Georgian town of Holt. Full details and timetables can be found at www.nnrailway.co.uk/opening-dates/ and passengers booking online in advance receive a generous discount.
