GWR, 6800 'Grange' Class, 4-6-0, 6860 ‘Aberporth Grange’ - Era 3

Essentially the ‘Grange’ class were similar to the ‘Hall’ class, albeit with smaller wheels and the boiler pitched lower in the frames and Collett had also taken the opportunity to provide larger side windows in the cab, a screw reverser, lamp brackets on the smokebox door and 9” piston valves. The increase in tractive effort over the ‘Hall’ class, their excellent acceleration and easy steaming nature made the ‘Grange’ class a favourite with the crews and they were used on a variety of mixed traffic duties, in particular as Pilots from Newton Abbott.

From here, over a twenty five mile stretch of line characterised by tough gradients known as ‘The South Devon Banks’, the Granges would pilot trains, often loaded to twelves coaches and weighing in excess of 500 tons, over Dainton Bank (1 in 40), Rattery (1 in 50) and Hemerdon (1 in 42).

Originally the class were paired with Churchward 3,500 gallon tenders, many coming from the withdrawn ‘4300’ class locomotives, including four with modified higher sides and longer fenders and in time Collett’s own 3,500 gallon tenders were used.. From 1942, Collett’s larger 4,000 gallon tenders were used and, just occasionally, Hawksworth straight sided tenders.
Withdrawals started with No.6801 Aylburton Grange on October 27, 1962, with a further eight locomotives going by the end of 1963 and twenty five going in 1964. The last of the class, No.6872 Crawley Grange, was withdrawn on December 31, 1965 and none survived the cutter’s torch to make it to preservation.

Locomotive No.6860 Aberporth Grange was built at Swindon and entered service on February 11, 1939, allocated to Tyseley. The first of the final batch of ‘Granges’ to be completed, Aberporth Grange stayed at Tyseley until March 1959, when it moved to Penzance and was finally withdrawn from service in February 1965 from Cardiff East Dock.

Maximum curve Hornby 2nd radius + / 438mm+