6880 Betton Grange

The silence surrounding the delayed launch of this loco is deafening. Anyone on here know what’s going on?

 

A picture of 6880 fully lined out and painted has appeared on Heritage Railway Magazines website.

https://www.heritagerailway.co.uk/1...l8LTbKU3OT0X4cBZLV33TzoLygwhpbsA-bnaWTjmBZ6T4

 

The photo linked to shows it to be devoid of any lining and missing a few bits and pieces but nothing that might not normally be left off during commissioning.

 

If you zoom in on the image, you can see the lining on the boiler and cab, but the image isn't the clearest. But hopefully the first movements are imminent, if they haven't already as the image was taken late last week by the look of it.

 

I'd say its flattened back ready for varnishing, I'm sure its prototypical but it does look daft with that tender V's the 4000 gallon one they were working on not too long ago.

 

Enhances the large Manor vs. small Hall look rather.

 

You're right. My mistake. Apologies.

 

"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." Posted 23/3

http://www.6880.co.uk/news/

 

The SVR gala is 25 days away, it has got to be touch and go with that?

 

I'm fully expecting 7714 to be hauling the train I board at bewdley at 7.56 on the Friday of the gala!

 

I’d have to agree, I know there’s been some disappointment about Blue Peter not being in operation at the SSG but I think most folks would agree it’d be be better to have it in action after it’s been snagged and tested.

 

It's a shame that after getting so close to the finishing line, the Betton Grange group has blotted its copybook by promising the loco as a guest at several galas and then having to cancel the offer. I can't help contrasting the approach of the Brighton Atlantic Group which has adopted the "It will be ready when it is ready" approach and hasn't even given a date for its first public train on its home railway.

Furthermore, thinking of three GWR 4-6-0s which has recently entered traffic, in all three instances a much more sensible policy was adopted. I'm thinking of 2999, 4079 and 6989, all of which were restored/rebuilt (or whatever) at a location with only short running lines. They made their first movement steaming up and down a very limited distance and then went to an established heritage line (Admittedly after a brief spell at the somewhat shorter Battlefield Line in the case of 6989 if my memory serves me correctly) which could give them a good "shake down." 2999 and 4079 are now popular - and more to the point, reliable - visitors at galas while 6989 has done a good job in helping the Bluebell through its recent loco shortage now its teething troubles have been sorted.

I wish the Betton Grange group well and look forward to seeing 6880 in steam, Hopefully not too long to wait. After all, as with an A1 and a Brighton Atlantic, who would have thought we would ever see a Grange again? (I haven't seen 2999 yet) However, it's a shame that it has rather jumped the gun. I can't imagine there would have been any shortage of lines offering to run the loco in.

 

I don’t understand how there can be dissapointment about BP not being in operation when it was never ever going to be? LSL made that very clear, and just because it’s on the railway doesn’t mean it was going to run.

 

Im fully expecting it to be 6880 but then I only sit on the gala group so I wouldn’t know!

 

If it happens, great, but surely you understand people having doubts that a loco that is still yet to steam will be hauling trains at a gala 3 weeks tomorrow?

I'm very much looking forward to the gala, the timetable looks really good, I just hope that the Grange doesn't cause the svr issues by not being ready or rushed.

 

Woah, hang a sec on Martin, when did I say I was disappointed? I’m not even going to be there! Read what I actually posted again, some folks on here thought 60532 was a shoe in to star at SSG, then came the news that it wasn’t.
Much as it would be nice to see it cantering about on the Teaks or the ‘blood and custard’ set I can totally understand why its current owners might not want use it at this event.
Pure conjecture now on my part but could there be a plan to possibly relaunch it in association with a certain children’s tv program?

 

People doubt because they don’t have the information that we have/they claim they doubt so they can try obtain information.

Everything we know says we will be good. If not there is a back up plan.