The Churchward County Trust (CCT) has announced that its Forty 4-4-0s Club fundraising initiative has reached its £40,000 appeal target.

The Trust launched the Club in spring 2019, to finance the casting and proof machining of the four coupled wheels for the new-build steam locomotive No. 3840 County of Montgomery.

Supporters adopted’ one (or more) of the original 40 ‘County’ 4-4-0s for a £1,000 donation, with donors receiving a certificate and framed photograph of their adopted locomotive in recognition of their support. The first set of coupled wheels was ordered and cast in 2021.

The last remaining ‘County’ – No. 3809 County Wexford – has recently been adopted by CCT member David Hancox.

The money raised enabled the Trust to pay for the four wheels to be cast by Trefoil Steel in Sheffield last year using a pattern loaned by the Great Western Society at Didcot. After proof machining at Boro’ Foundry in Lye, West Midlands, these moved to the workshops of Riley & Son (E) in Heywood, Greater Manchester, where they are to be tyred and assembled on their axles.

Commenting on the achievement, CCT Chairman, Gary Boyd-Hope, said: “The Trust is exceedingly grateful to David Hancox for adopting No. 3809 and propelling us to our £40,000 target. The Forty 4-4-0s Club has been a very successful initiative for us, and I must also thank all the other donors who have helped us by adopting one of the ‘Counties’.

“The conclusion of the appeal sets us up nicely for the launch of a new fundraising initiative this summer to complete the front end of the locomotive. This will include the machining and lining of the cylinders, the assembly of the extension frames, the fitting of the completed front end to the main frames, and some associated work on the superstructure. This will result in the first complete set of ‘County’ 4-4-0 frames to be seen in 90 years. Further details will be announced soon.”