‘Maid of all work’ arrives at Minehead

IN ANTICIPATION of being able to run normal steam services again in spring 2021, the West Somerset Railway (WSR) has hired GWR 5101 2-6-2T 5199. It moved to Somerset from its Llangollen Railway base on December 17, 2020. The hire of the ‘maid of all work’ Class 4 from owners The 5199 Project lasts until December 31 and the loco will run for a minimum 35 days. It’s an ideal engine for the WSR, being capable of hauling most trains with ease. Many members of the class ran regularly on the steeply graded branch with eight-coach trains in GWR and British Railways days.

For 25 years the WSR was host to popular sister engine 4160, now under overhaul on the South Devon Railway at Buckfastleigh under the aegis of Locomotive 5542 Ltd.