Supporters of The GCR 567 Locomotive Group who attended a special Supporters Day last October were shown a new major assembly, this being the rear drag box, which the Group hopes will be completed by the end of this year.

The dragbox is an essential part of the locomotive’s frame assembly. Its purpose is to stiffen the locomotive frame to prevent it flexing under dynamic loads. All of the locomotive’s traction power is transferred to the train through the drawbar that couples the locomotive to the tender.

The drawbar is secured by a 3-inch diameter pin that fits through upper and lower bosses which are the main components of the dragbox. By having a drawbar instead of a rigid coupling between the locomotive and the tender allows flexibility of movement so that the locomotive can negotiate curves and changes of gradient.

The new rear drag box is an excellent example of a fabricated assembly, and shows that progress on the project is moving to a more funded manufacturing approach.

The GCR 567 Locomotive Group is working to construct a classic Victorian express steam locomotive, the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway Class 2 4-4-0 by combining the original designs with modern construction techniques. When it is complete it is hoped to couple the locomotive to carriages of the Great Central Railway Rolling Stock Trust to re-create a typical Edwardian train from the early years of the Great Central Railway’s London Extension.

The project is based at the Great Central Railway (Nottingham) (GCRN) site at Ruddington just south of Nottingham. The frames have already been constructed and is utilising a number of major donor components including a cylinder block, Great Central Railway tender and coupling rods.

It is estimated that the cost to construct the locomotive is around half a million pounds and the projects welcomes support in various ways, either by making a donation, leaving a legacy, becoming a volunteer, or sponsoring a component, Full details of how to be come a supporter are available online at https://www.gcr567loco.co.uk/supporters.