ONE MANOR on the SVR and ONE on the WSR

The Erlestoke Manor Fund is pleased to 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.’

Kerry Noble, General Manager, West Somerset Railway adds:

After two successful seasons with 7812 Erlestoke Manor being a visitor to our fleet, supporting peak services, we are pleased to be able to have the locomotive joining the home fleet on a longer-term basis.

We would like to thank the Erlestoke Manor Fund for their support to the West Somerset Railway and look forward to 7812 Erlestoke Manor returning to the WSR in Spring 2025.’