Announcing Erlestoke Manor as Our Third Gala Visitor

With thanks to the Severn Valley Railway and the Erlestoke Manor Fund, I am delighted to be able to announce that our third visiting loco for the Cotswold Festival of Steam Gala "Swindon Built", is Collett 4-6-0, Manor Class, 7812, Erlestoke Manor:

Erlestoke Manor on the Severn Valley Railway

Erlestoke Manor will of course be running alongside our own Dinmore Manor.  Ostensibly the same, Dinmore Manor was built by BR in 1950, whereas Erlestoke Manor was built in 1939 by the GWR.  Both were of course built at Swindon.

Erlestoke Manor, seen from Dinmore Manor on the Severn Valley Railway

Erlestoke Manor spent the final few years of its working life allocated Oswestry, Croes Newydd & finally Shrewsbury and was commonly reported hauling the famed Cambrian Coast Express, a duty that our own resident Dinmore Manor often performed as it too finished its working life at Shrewsbury.  Both locomotives being withdrawn from Shrewsbury on 30th November 1965 and sent to Barry Island scrapyard, from where both were ultimately saved.

7812, Erlestoke Manor on a 30742 Charters event

As a reminder of our other guests to the "Swindon Built" gala, celebrating the 175 years since the founding of the legendary Swindon works, we also have, courtesy of the Great Central Railway, BR standard 9F, 2-10-0, 92214.

92214 at the West Somerset Railway

9F's were common visitors to our line during their relatively short working lives.  Built in 1959, 92214 is the youngest steam locomotive built at Swindon that is still capable of being steamed, although there are two others (92219 & 92220, Evening Star) which are younger still, though neither of those are capable of being steamed at the moment.  92214 bookends nicely with our own resident Churchward, 2-8-0, 2807 which was built in 1905 and is the oldest Swindon built steam locomotive capable of being steamed.  92214 is turned out in a lined green livery, the same as 92220, Evening Star (the last steam loco built at Swindon, and the last steam loco built by BR).

Our other guest, also courtesy of the Great Central Railway is Ivatt, 2-6-0, 46521.  You might be surprised to see an LMS loco included, but Swindon built a number of LMS locomotives of both the Stanier 8F class and Ivatt 2MT class.  None of the Swindon built 8F's are capable of being steamed at the moment, but two of the Ivatts are, including 46521.

46521 on a Don Bishop photo charter on the South Devon Railway

46521 on a Don Bishop photo charter on the South Devon Railway

46521 has only just been turned out in BR express green, a livery which she hasn't worn for many years, and is one of the few members of her class that wore that livery during BR service.  

This is all on top of our own home fleet of Churchward 2-8-0, 2807, Churchward, 2-8-0T, 4270, Collett, 4-6-0, Dinmore Manor and Bulleid 4-6-2, 35006, Peninsular & Oriental S.N Co which will be making its debut in public service in the heritage era at our gala.

Churchward, 2-8-0, 2807 in full flight

Churchward 2-8-0T, 4270 on a demonstration goods

Collett, 4-6-0, 7820, Dinmore Manor

Bulleid Pacific, Merchant Navy Class, 35006, Peninsular & Oriental S.N.Co.

The three days of the gala will feature an intensive timetable, including a late running of a 14 coach train on the Saturday, hauled by 35006 & 92214 top and tailed.  Trade stands and traction engines at Toddington (plus a bouncy castle for keeping younger visitors entertained) as well as the narrow gauge railway (rides included in the gala ticket price), a beer tent at Winchcombe and refreshments at Gotherington, along with rides on the demonstration track on a Wickham trolley or possibly hand pump trolley.   As with previous years, Brake van rides (£10 surcharge for a round trip, Toddington to Cheltenham Race Course and back) and footplate rides are available too. Discounted advance tickets are also available by following this link.   The timetable is now available online and can be found by clicking here.