GWR 78xx Class 7812 Erlestoke Manor is a steam locomotive

Steam locomotive

A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...

 that serviced the Great Western Railway

Great Western Railway

The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...

. It was built at Swindon

Swindon

Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...

 in January 1939. First shed allocation Bristol, Bath Road. August 1950 shed allocation Newton Abbot

Newton Abbot

Newton Abbot is a market town and civil parish in the Teignbridge District of Devon, England on the River Teign, with a population of 23,580....

. March 1959 shed allocation Plymouth Laira. Transferred to Oswestry May 1960 and finally to her last shed allocation, Shrewsbury

Shrewsbury

Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...

, in February 1963. Withdrawn from British Railways service in November 1965, it was sent to Woodham Brothers scrapyard in Barry, South Wales, along with fellow manor class, Bradley Manor.

Preservation

Erlestoke Manor along with nine of its fellow manor class were saved from scrap and are preserved to this day. Erlestoke Manor completed its major overhaul at the Severn Valley Railway

Severn Valley Railway

The Severn Valley Railway is a heritage railway in Shropshire and Worcestershire, England. The line runs along the Severn Valley from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route...

 and ran for the first time on the 12th February 2008. It was confirmed fit for traffic just in time for the Severn Valley Railway

Severn Valley Railway

The Severn Valley Railway is a heritage railway in Shropshire and Worcestershire, England. The line runs along the Severn Valley from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route...

's reopening train. The locomotive is now in daily service on the Severn Valley Railway

Severn Valley Railway

The Severn Valley Railway is a heritage railway in Shropshire and Worcestershire, England. The line runs along the Severn Valley from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route...

.

7812 Erlestoke Manor went to visit the west Somerset Railway for their Spring Steam Gala 19th/20th 24th/27th March 2011. Alongside Visiting Locos BR 70000 Britannia, SR 30777 Sir Lamiel, GWR 2807, GWR 6430 & GWR 6024 King Edward I And the WSRs Home Fleet.

7812 Erlestroke Manor is one of 3 Manors at the Severn Valley Railway the other 2 being 7802 Bradley Manor and GWR 7819 Hinton Manor.

Allocations

First shed Jan 1939	Aug 1950	March 1959	May 1960	Last Shed
Bristol Bath Road	Newton Abbot Newton Abbot Newton Abbot is a market town and civil parish in the Teignbridge District of Devon, England on the River Teign, with a population of 23,580....	Plymouth Laira	Oswestry Oswestry Oswestry is a town and civil parish in Shropshire, England, close to the Welsh border. It is at the junction of the A5, A483, and A495 roads....	Shrewsbury Shrewsbury Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...

External links

• The Erlestoke Manor Fund More information on the loco and its history.