The Great Western Society 47XX Project has released their latest update, filled with the progress made on steam locomotive No. 4709 at Llangollen Railway.

Completion date?

After the team conducted a review, taking into account outstanding engineering work, they feel 2022 is an appropriate date which 4709 can be completed by.

This review was carried out after many supports expressed interests in when 4709 is likely to be ready to haul trains.

Work at Llangollen

Recent work at Llangollen has been on the frame, where the horn guides, horn tie bolts, and horn ties are being fitted one by one. Refurbishment of the axleboxes should start soon and all four coupled wheelsets and pony truck wheelset should have arrived back at Llangollen from South Devon Railway Engineering Ltd.

Further work will continue on the wheelsets, such as fitting both crankpin collars and taper pins, also building balance weights. When these are completed, the wheelsets can be painted.

With this good progress being made, the frame should be placed onto the wheelsets to form the rolling chassis this Summer. This will be a big step closer to seeing 4709 in steam. The Project would now like to start building 4709’s tender, with them looking for volunteers to assist them with the task.

Anyone who would be interested in helping build the Tender, please contact Project Engineer Paul Carpenter at [email protected]

• Visit the Great Western Society 47XX Project’s website
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