Severn Valley Railway reunites trains
It was full steam ahead as the final three GWR Manor locomotives to work the famous Cambrian Network were reunited during a special event at the Severn Valley Railway.
All three took hundreds of visitors, both young and old, along the line between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth and there were exhibitions and reunions of former railway workers taking place.
The event paid homage to the Cambrian Coast Railway, which ran Manors between Shrewsbury, Aberystwyth and Pwllheli.
Stars on Saturday and Sunday were the last three locomotives to have worked on the line, former GWR locomotives No. 7802 Bradley Manor and No. 7812 Erlestoke Manor along with visiting No. 7820 Dinmore Manor, courtesy of Dinmore Manor Locomotive Ltd.
The trio was taken out of service in November 1965, and sold to scrap merchants Woodham Bros of Barry, being delivered to their yard in early 1966.
By sheer good fortune, Woodhams were heavily engaged in scrapping former BR wagons, and the locos lingered in their yard, eventually coming to the attention of enthusiasts.
In 1973, the Erlestoke Manor fund purchased 7812 for preservation, followed in 1979 by 7802 for use on the Severn Valley Railway.
Fellow enthusiasts from Dinmore Manor Locomotive Ltd came to the rescue of 7820, initially for use on the West Somerset Railway.
As well as re-uniting the last three Manors to see operational service on the Cambrian Network, the event marked the achievement made by preservationists in saving the trio of locos, which are still operational 50 years after being sent for scrapping.
The weekend also marked another milestone, the first formal return to service of Bradley Manor following its restoration at Bridgnorth.
As well as all three Manors in regular service, the weekend's highlights included No. 4566 and GWR Churchward Toplights in use alongside the Manors on a four-train special timetable, and famous named trains including a Cambrian Coast Express dining train.
Lewis Maddox, event co-ordinator, said: "It has been half a century since this last trio of Manors to operate on the Cambrian Line was taken out of service and condemned to what many thought would inevitably been a certain death.
"However, 50 years on, to have all three reunited and in full steam was a wonderful sight to behold and we are sure that many fellow steam enthusiasts will agree."
