Large Prairie No. 4160 moving to South Devon line until 2033
WESTERN Region ‘5101’ class 2-6-2T
No. 4160 will call the South Devon Railway (SDR) home for the duration of its next boiler certificate.
The development comes after an agreement was struck between the loco’s owners Four One Six 0 Ltd, the railway, and new custodians Locomotive 5542 Ltd.
The Large Prairie has been under overhaul at the Llangollen Railway since coming out of service in 2015, but as part of the new arrangement the project will be completed at the SDR’s Buckfastleigh works.
No. 4160 will then join the SDR’s operating fleet until at least January 2033 under the care of Locomotive 5542 Ltd, the owners and operators of SDR-based ‘4575’ 2-6-2T No. 5542.
The latter locomotive was the subject of an agreement with the SDR last August that will see it operated and maintained by the railway for the next 30 years.
No. 4160 had previously been a long-time stalwart at the West Somerset Railway, where its restoration from former Barry condition was completed in 1993.
Apart from visits to other heritage lines, and three years out for overhaul between 2003 and 2006, the loco was a regular sight on trains between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead.
A spokesman for Locomotive 5542 Ltd said: “We are very pleased that Four One
Six 0 Ltd has selected Locomotive 5542 Ltd to be custodians of No. 4160 to work with the South Devon Railway to complete the overhaul.
“We look forward to working closely with Four One Six 0 Ltd over the coming years and seeing No. 4160 steam again on the South Devon Railway and on many heritage railways around the UK.”