NEW-BUILD COLLETT ‘Grange’ No. 6880 Betton Grange will now not make its public debut at the Battlefield Line’s Winter Steam Gala as originally planned, owing to the “number of outstanding tasks required to complete the locomotive.”
The 6880 Betton Grange Society had planned to launch the replica Collett 4 ‐ 6‐0 at a private event for members at Tyseley Locomotive Works on January 13, before moving the ‘68XX’ to the Battlefield Line for running-in (SR553), during which it was hoped to participate in the Winter Steam Gala on February 3/4 alongside ‘Large Prairies’ Nos. 4144 and 5199. However, the society announced in early January that it was postponing the launch as there were still several tasks to be completed.
In a statement, the society said: “Although there was a chance that outstanding work could be completed in time, there was no guarantee that the locomotive would be able to move under its own power should any faults be identified during a private test ‐steaming the day before. At that stage it would be too late to cancel the event, so the decision was taken to postpone it while outstanding work is carried out.
“In addition to the remaining work, the locomotive is mostly in green undercoat and has a number of external fittings still awaiting fitment. Delaying the steaming will allow the locomotive to be brought up to a more presentable condition. Outstanding t
