The GCR 567 Loco group has announced that it has ordered the locomotive’s four 6ft 9″ diameter driving wheel castings.

This is the latest step in the Great Central Railway‘s project to build a replica Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway 4-4-0 No. 567.

The wheel order costs 42% of the project’s total budget.

The group carefully considered various alternatives for the work, taking into consideration risk, price, schedule and quality.

The result of their deliberations was a decision to source all four driving wheel castings from the Trefoil Steel Co Ltd, Sheffield, the same source that the group used for the bogie wheels.

The group and the manufacturer have resolved the details for the acceptance criteria, and Trefoil has already started trial pours on the pattern.

This process will ensure that the wheels will be of the quality required for the locomotive’s future use, which will only be on preserved lines.

The project has been running for several years now.

In 2019, the first machinings were performed on the side plates, and last year, the group revealed the loco’s new drag box.

Readers interested in helping the group’s efforts can find out more information over on their website here.