Introduction  

This locomotive is owned by Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) PLC and is undergoing overhaul at Bridgnorth. The overhaul is supported by:

• The Friends of Locomotive 4930 Hagley Hall, an independent group based on the Severn Valley Railway with the objective of raising funds to contribute towards the restoration.

• The SVR Charitable Trust, which has already made substantial contributions towards various projects on the Railway such as the launch and ongoing operation of the Heritage Skills Training Academy.

• The Heritage Lottery Fund who have part-funded the project.

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As at March 15th 2018

From the website:

The polystyrene patterns for 4930’s new cylinders have now been transported to the foundry for casting. The foundry is currently forming the moulds with the intention that casting should take place during week commencing 19th March.

Subject to successful casting, we hope to have the new cylinder castings on display at the Severn Valley Railway Open House Weekend in Bridgnorth Works on April 7th/8th.

The Friends of Locomotive 4930 Hagley Hall will have their Sales Stand at the SVR Spring Steam Gala at Kidderminster on 16th/17th/18th March. Please call and see our sales items.

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As at January 30th 2018

The polystyrene patterns for the casting of new cylinders for 4930 Hagley Hall have been completed at Premier Patterns following comprehensive design work by Stafford Road Design Ltd. The patterns will shortly be making their way to the foundry for casting, and we are confident that 4930’s new cylinders will be delivered to Bridgnorth in the next few weeks. Meanwhile, ultrasonic testing of 4930’s driving and bogie axles has taken place at Bridgnorth as part of the locomotive overhaul programme.

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October 1st 2017

Throughout the Summer, design work for the new cylinder castings for 4930 has been moving ahead. The lack of original engineering blueprint drawings of early Great Western Hall cylinder blocks has been overcome by an innovative solution by Stafford Road Design Ltd. Their Facebook page has an interesting animation of valve timing in action.

Back-engineering the GW Grange Class cylinder blocks, which possess many similarities with those of early Halls, and comparison with the existing 4930 measurements has resulted in a replication of the present cylinders.

Design work is now complete, and is now subject of rigorous authentication and validation by an independent assessor.

The tendering process for manufacture of the polystyrene moulds used in the cylinder casting process, and for the metal casting of the new cylinders, is now under way.

The locomotive frames are likely to be stripped at Bridgnorth over the next three months.

Friends of Hagley Hall website, September 22nd

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July 13th 2017

If you want to see some more pictures then pop along to the Severn Valley Railway's "Behind the Scenes" this weekend, there'll be more photo's including showing how we go from this to the final design.

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July 9th 2017

The works drawing has yet to be found. Stafford Road Design report the design is being based on the details from the later 18.5" x 30" cylinder as used on the Grange and the details from the 19" x 30" 28/47XX cylinder block. This along with building the loco around it should result in a recreation of a Hall cylinder block, without the original works drawing.

They have a video on Facebook (no log in required) of the 3D work https://www.facebook.com/StaffordRoadDesignLtd/videos/1754503147911432/

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July 7th 2017

Stafford Road Design Ltd. have posted two new images of 3D CAD modelling for the new cylinders, added to the gallery above. "Most of the valve gear in, just a couple more and she will be ready for full clearance testing."

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July 2nd 2017

Stafford Road Design Ltd. have posted on their Facebook page (no sign in required) that the new cylinders for 4930 are coming along well. All the peripheral parts are in place and the basic cylinders are being mocked up now. 

Stafford Road Design provides "engineering requirements from 3D CAD modelling and rendering through to full engineering resource from concept to completion." Their website www.84a.co.uk shows they are working on a Victoria Bridge design in 3D and 6880 Bretton Grange cylinder design through to completion.

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March 18th 2017

The Friends of Locomotive 4930 Hagley Hall have issued a further news update on the overhaul timetable and new cylinder block.

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January 7th 2017

The Friends of Locomotive 4930 Hagley Hall have issued a further news update on the tender and cylinder block.

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October 31st 2016  

The Friends of Locomotive 4930 Hagley Hall have issued a further news update. 

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October 25th 2016  

The new tender tank arrived at Bridgnorth on 24/10/16 and is ready to be fitted. (Friends' Twitter page).

The Friends of Locomotive 4930 Hagley Hall have issued a news update at 24/10/16. 

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October 19th 2016   

The Friends of Locomotive 4930 Hagley Hall have issued a news update at 19/10/16. This week the locomotive has been out of traffic for 30 years. The tender is nearly complete and the casting of new cylinders is becoming a very real probability. As the restoration continues apace, so do the Friends' efforts:

• There is a new way to donate. Text HALL29 and your £ amount to 70070.

• The Group would welcome new volunteers to help with the tasks of cleaning and painting the many components awaiting re-fitting to the locomotive. Please contact GWR4930@yahoo.co.uk for further information.

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September 21st 2016   

The Friends of Locomotive 4930 Hagley Hall have issued a news update at 21/09/16. Do click on the link for the full report. Highlights include:

• They have now exceeded the figure of £110,000 towards the overhaul.

• Renovation and repainting of tender components continues during volunteer sessions at Bridgnorth. 

• A work party has split the two halves of the cylinder block, to allow full examination of the condition of the interior passages. Subsequent inspection has, however, confirmed that the cylinders have been previously patched, and are therefore now considered to be beyond repair. Engineering drawings of early “Hall” cylinders are now being sourced, and the likely way forward will be the casting of new cylinders.

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