‘Manor’s’ Minehead homecoming
‘Manor’ No. 7820 Dinmore Manor could return to the railway that it called home for the whole of its first tenyear ‘ticket’. Agreement in principle has been reached between the West Somerset Railway and Dinmore Manor Locomotive Limited (DMLL) for the Collett 4-6-0 to return to Minehead, for four months from June 2017. Currently based at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, No. 7820 has spent this summer on loan to the Dartmouth Steam Railway. For its WSR jaunt, it will take the place of ‘Hall’ No. 4936 Kinlet Hall on the roster for the line’s peak summer season, the latter having been moved to Tyseley by road on October 13 for overhaul. The WSR also requires cover for its own ‘Manor’ No. 7828 Odney Manor, which is having its boiler lifted in November and sent for contract re-staying of the firebox. As reported last issue, ‘7F’ No. 53809 is also remaining on hire to the WSR during 2017, alongside resident No. 53808 and ‘4F’ No. 44422. By next summer, Dinmore Manor will be coupled to its third tender since it returned to steam in April 2014. It was first paired with the Churchward 3,500gal tender from ‘Dukedog’ No. 9017, on loan from the Bluebell Railway, and is currently running with tender No. 1761 from another engine in the DMLL fleet, under-overhaul ‘2884’ 2-8-0 No. 3850. However, the restoration of its own tender - Collett 3,500gal No. 2928 - is almost complete at Toddington, with only painting and varnishing left to be done.