Following their major ten-year overhaul, ex-GWR Manor Class 4-6-0s No. No. 7802 Bradley Manor and 7812 Erlestoke Manor are very close to returning to operational service.
Whilst it is hoped that 7812 Erlestoke Manor will be running on the Severn Valley Railway in time for this winter's services, the completion of 7802 Bradley Manor will take a little longer.
Bradley Manor required the complete replacement of a cylinder block following an incident in 2019. It is hoped repairs will be completed next year in time to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Erlestoke Manor Fund; the fund owns both Bradley and Erlestoke Manors, as well as ex-GWR Large Prairie No. 5164.
Adrian Hassell, Chair of the Erlestoke Manor Fund (EMF), is delighted with the progress being made and adds: “I am sure 7812 will be warmly welcomed back by the Severn Valley Railway, enthusiasts and the EMF alike after such a prolonged absence. The return of 7802 next year will complete the picture of returns before we start work on our recently acquired loco no 5164.”
The Erlestoke Manor Fund was formed in 1973, and after several years fund raising it purchased Erlestoke Manor from Woodham's scrap yard in Barry, South Wales in 1974 followed by Bradley Manor in 1979.
The fund initially concentrated on returning 7812 to working order using spare parts from Bradley Manor, which had been purchased specifically as a donor locomotive. 7812 returned to steam in 1979, but the fund was then persuaded to restore 7802 to working order as well. That was achieved in 1993. since when both locomotives have covered over 100,000 miles in preservation, mainly on the Severn Valley Railway. As well as Bradley and Erlestoke Manors, the Severn Valley Railway is home to No. 7819 Hinton Manor.
During their overhauls, the Erlestoke Manor Fund has issued regular updates on the manors' progress, including last October when 7812 passed its first boiler test, in March this year when it was reunited with its boiler, and in May when it had been repainted and its tender recommissioned.
In late 1985, 7812 developed a large crack in an old firebox weld and was withdrawn from service. Bradley Manor was withdrawn from service during the 2000 boiler crisis, so to enable Bradley Manor to make a quick return to service it was decided to replace its boiler with that from Erlestoke Manor. Eventually, Erlestoke Manor's boiler was overhauled and it returned to service in 2008.
At the end of the 2010 season, Bradley Manor was again withdrawn from service after running over 110,000 miles in preservation. The chassis was overhauled at Tyseley Loco Works whilst the boiler was overhauled in the Severn Valley Railway's Bridgnorth Boiler shop, and this overhaul was completed in November 2015. It returned to service in time for the ‘Manor 50' weekend that celebrated the end of steam on the Cambrian network.
