ERLESTOKE MANOR FUND PROPOSES TO TAKE ON ‘LARGE PRAIRIE’ 5164
Severn Valley Railway-based ‘Large Prairie’ No. 5164 looks set for a change of ownership, with advanced negotiations for it to become part of the Erlestoke Manor Fund.
Having a “small, diminishing group of shareholders”, the 5164 Preservation Group – the current owners of the GWR ‘5101’ 2-6-2T – voted by a large referendum majority to offer the engine to the EMF for a nominal sum.
EMF trustees have agreed in principle to accept the offer, subject to No. 5164’s existing SVR locomotive agreement being transferred, which is now under discussion.
With its previous boiler certificate having expired in January 2014, No. 5164 has been on static display at Barrow Hill since March that year, and will remain there for the time being. All EMF funds are currently directed towards the respective repair and overhaul of its two SVR-based ‘Manor’ 4-6-0s, Nos. 7802 Bradley Manor and 7812 Erlestoke Manor, both at Tyseley Locomotive Works.
Bradley Manor is receiving new cylinders after the right-hand casting was smashed while the engine was on hire to the West Somerset Railway last year. The new castings are being machined by Roach Precision Engineering of Brierley Hill, with delivery expected in late August or early September.
Erlestoke Manor is undergoing its ‘ten-yearly’ overhaul, and its bottom end is now being reassembled, with the bogie and coupling rods refitted.
EMF deputy chairman Adrian Hassell said: “An approach from the 5164 Preservation Group has presented the exciting possibility of the acquisition of a third locomotive, which would not only safeguard its future within a charitable organisation strongly affiliated to the SVR, but it is an appropriate and well regarded locomotive that aligns with the fund’s objectives.
“We believe that, if overhauled, 5164 would be a positive contribution to the fund, both in attracting shareholders and volunteers, but the focus remains on returning Erlestoke Manor and Bradley Manor to steam and funding would not be diverted onto 5164, which we would see very much as ‘one for the future’ if the transfer of ownership concludes.”
The EMF became a Community Benefit Society last year, combining the benefits of incorporation with those of charitable status (SR493).