GWR ‘Manor' No. 7822 ‘Foxcote Manor' will be returning to the Llangollen Railway in 2020, following a brief visit to the West Somerset Railway.
The Manor returned to the West Somerset Railway in July after a winter period at the Llangollen Railway.
It arrived at the West Somerset Railway for contracted mechanical work, and also signed up for a longer period as a WSR home fleet locomotive for the 2021/22 season.
However, due to a locomotive shortage at the Llangollen Railway, Foxcote Manor will be returning to Llangollen to assist with running trains over the Bank Holiday Weekend and until October, when the locomotive will return to the West Somerset Railway for winter maintenance.
Currently, the West Somerset Railway is running no train services due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Elizabeth McGuinness, General Manager at the Llangollen Railway, confirmed to RailAdvent that 7822 Foxcote Manor would be arriving at Llangollen on Friday 28th August 2020, and would help operate trains until the end of October.
For details on the services and fares and to book your tickets for the Llangollen Railway, visit their website here
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Martin Fuller confirmed to me that, after staying on the West Somerset Railway till October this year, Foxy will return home for good. She’s not getting any younger. Nothing was said about a further loan period. Foxy needs to return to Llangollen as planned and stay on home territory so she can recover from being away for so long. The West Somerset Railway has been good to her, but after her last loan period there, due to end in October this year, the volunteers have realised she needs a long permanent break. Besides, Foxy is now 70 years old, and needs to rest from being on loan. She’s getting tired of being away so long.
Well at least it’s gratefully interesting that most Heritage Railways (especially these 2, the West Somerset & the Llangollen & Corwen Rlys) most definitely share, lend, loan and borrow fellow Preserved/Restored steam locomotives (both big and small).
That ex-Great Western Manor loco ”Foxcote Manor” is one ofthe most popular fan-favourite named steam locos within the UK Preservation Movement (in my book).
I do hope the ”West Somerset Railway” eventually Reopen Back Up and Running within the Foreseeable Future… Especially when it’s safe for them to do so.
And at least the Llangollen (& Corwen) Railway have Reopened Up & Running on the other hand.
This is my nickname for the ”Llangollen Railway” after all it does run up to 10 Miles in Length up & down the Dee Valley of the River Dee, hence my nickname ”Llangollen & Corwen Railway”.
Furthermore, I do believe that Foxcote Manor Loco is indeed one of up to 9 GWR Manor Locos that have been Preserved.