The Big "Large Prairie" Appeal!

Returning 5164 to service.

Would you like to help?

Keeping our locomotives in fine fettle requires lots of things: people, money, goods, equipment and so on. Why not see if there's something you can do to help? You'll be surprised how diverse our needs are!

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Charitable Status & Gift Aid

The EMF now has Charitable status and can also accept Gift Aid!

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Who are we?

There are many volunteers who give up their time freely to ensure our two locomotives continue to run who come from all walks of life.

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Erlestoke Manor Fund

Welcome to our website. Here you can find out all about our two locomotives Erlestoke Manor and Bradley Manor, who both reside at the Severn Valley Railway.

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Upcoming Events

2024 Running

7812 Erlestoke Manor will be resident and running on the Severn Valley Railway until the end of April, before visiting the Bluebell Railway’s Gala from 10^th to 12^th May. Following this 7812 will visit the West Somerset Railway on hire until the end of October. We will aim to publishing planned running dates on our Facebook and Twitter pages

Latest News

July 2024

Summer 2024 News Update

Welcome to our summer report covering 7812 Erlestoke Manor’s early season SVR…

January 2024

New Year 2024 News Update

Welcome to our latest news update and we wish all supporters of…

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The Big "Large Prairie" Appeal - Returning 5164 to service

Want to help keep three GWR locos running for future generations to enjoy? Join Us!

Donate

Any donations in cash, or goods that we can sell in our Bewdley shop, are always welcome.

Welcome to the Erlestoke Manor Fund

Video credit to Steaming Around Yorkshire

Formed in 1973 EMF was successful in the rescue through fund raising and purchase of firstly Erlestoke Manor and later Bradley Manor from Woodham’s scrap yard in Barry, South Wales. Having been cast aside by British Railways as surplus and outmoded at the end of 1965, 7812 was rescued in 1974 and 7802 in 1979.

Once saved the fund’s attention focussed on returning 7812 to working order an aim which was achieved in 1979. Initially purchased solely for spare parts the fund was encouraged to restore 7802 to working order a practical and financial feat which was achieved in 1993. Since then both locomotives have proved their usefulness in regular heritage railway service.

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Get Involved

Shareholders

By becoming a shareholder you can help us raise essential funds. And in return you can get extra special benefits.

Volunteer

Help with a wide variety of tasks, from cleaning, painting or engineering to marketing, sales and finance.

Volunteers

Donate

Any donations in cash, or goods that we can sell in our Bewdley shop, are always welcome.

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Latest Facebook Posts

With 7812 at work on the SVR this Winter Season we have been pressing on with the completion of 7802 at Tyseley joinly by TLW workforce and our own volunteers. We are nearly there now and a steam test early in the New Year is the next stage. This photo was taken a couple of weeks ago when 7802 was coupled to our own 4000g tender which happens to be on site and will be used for testing before the loco itself leaves Tyseley. Meanwhile tender T2355 has been hired from the 2857 society for 2025 to be paired with 7802. Repainting of T2355 is now complete in readiness for 7802. Wishing all our supporters a Happy Christmas! Don't forget the SVR Winter Steam Gala on January 4th & 5th. See you there... ... See MoreSee Less

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The EMF Shop at Bewdley Station will be open this weekend for reduced hours due to other commitments of the volunteer team. The Shop will close tomorrow at 1.15pm. Similarly, it will be open for a couple of hours on Sunday, late morning/early afternoon. The weather forecast isn’t good of course. We are hopeful that some work can continue on 7802 at Tyseley while 7812 will be hauling Santa trains. ... See MoreSee Less

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Looking immaculate following a season in Somerset, 7812 was unloaded back at Kidderminster today ahead of SVR Santa services ... See MoreSee Less

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Announcement: ONE MANOR on the SVR and ONE on the WSRThe EMF can now announce that 7802 Bradley Manor, nearing completion of its major overhaul, will become its resident locomotive on the Severn Valley Railway upon its return to service in early 2025 and that its other serviceable locomotive – 7812 Erlestoke Manor – will go back to regular operation on the West Somerset Railway from May 2025 until the end of 2027. The Trustees of the EMF believe, following extensive discussions with both the SVR and the WSR, that this offers the best prospect of ensuring that supporters can see both Manors in regular operation over the next few years and ensuring that sufficient income is accrued to support the overhaul of 5164 and the next overhauls of both 7802 and 7812.With the main season hires of Erlestoke Manor to the WSR over the last two years having worked well for all parties - with the SVR not requiring to fully utilise both Manors - and a good working relationship in place, the EMF is delighted to see Erlestoke Manor go back to the WSR.This arrangement will provide some welcome stability for the EMF, whose Trustees are of the unanimous view that basing one Manor on each railway for the next few years represents the best ‘deal’ available to the charity.In the near term, 7812 will return to the SVR as planned at the start of November 2024 for SVR Santa operations and will remain at the SVR until after the Spring Gala (18th – 21st April 2025) before returning to the WSR. Before then, supporters can expect the 2025 season to begin with both Bradley Manor and Erlestoke Manor back at the SVR. Adrian Hassell, Chair, Erlestoke Manor Fund explains:‘We are very much looking forward to the return of Bradley Manor to the SVR in the coming months and our thanks go to both the SVR and WSR for their co-operation in supporting this arrangement for Erlestoke Manor in tandem.This is an excellent way to ensure that both Bradley Manor and Erlestoke Manor can be seen in regular operation over the next few years, whilst also accruing sufficient income to support the overhaul of 5164 and the next overhauls of both 7802 and 7812.’ ... See MoreSee Less

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