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{{Infobox GWR steam loco
|image = 7812AY7812_20170422.jpg|caption = 7812 Erlestoke Manor entering Arley with a Down train, July 2011in April 2017
|construc = GWR Swindon Works
|wheels = 4-6-0
|years5 = 2017
|events5 = Withdrawn for overhaul
|years6 = 2023
|events6 = Reentered service
|length = 61ft 9¼"
|weight = 68t 18cwt
|power = 27,340 lb
|pressure = 225 lb/sq in}}
'''7812 Erlestoke Manor ''' is a '''GWR Collett 7800 Manor class ''' 4-6-0 mixed traffic locomotive. The Manor Class 4-6-0 mixed traffic locomotive class was designed as a lighter version of the GWR Grange Class, giving a wider [[GWR Power and Weight Classification|Route Availability]]. The first 20, including all three at the SVR, were built between 1938 and 1939 and incorporated parts from old GWR 4300 Class Moguls. BR built a further 10 in 1950 and rated the class 5MT.
==7812 Erlestoke Manor in service==
In late 1960, 7812 moved to the Oswestry/Shrewsbury/Cambrian area where 7802 Bradley Manor was already working. Both locomotives were thought to have been withdrawn at Shrewsbury on 6 November 1965, and both moved to [[Barry Scrapyard | Woodham’s scrapyard]] at Barry in June 1966. However, in November 2015, evidence in the form of a footplate diary (see below) was presented to the Erlestoke Manor Fund, indicating that Erlestoke Manor was still in service on 13 November 1965.
<gallerymode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
File:FredWellsDiary.jpg|Footplate diary showing probably the last move of 7812 by a BR driver
</gallery>
==7812 Erlestoke Manor in preservation==
Work continued on the locomotive at Ashchurch, although at a 'low ebb' as the future of the DFR became uncertain.<ref group="note">BR had announced that they intended to retain the Lydney to Parkend branch indefinitely, putting the DFR's future in doubt.</ref> A referendum of the Fund's members expressed the wish for the locomotive to be based at an operational line with main line access. Various options were considered and the Severn Valley Railway was eventually selected, confirmed by a second referendum.<ref>Life Begins at Forty, pp. 19-20.</ref>
The SVR announced that the move had been agreed in summer 1975.<ref>SVR News 36</ref> A fund member acquired [[LNER 4236 Gangwayed Passenger Brake]] to be fitted out as a sales van and store which arrived on the SVR in April 1975. After 'prolonged negotiations between the various parties concerned', 7812 moved to the SVR on 23 April 1976, hauled by English Electric Type 3 diesel 37183 and accompanied by two GWR breakdown vans, numbers [[GWR 66 Breakdown Tool Van | 66]] and [[GWR 162 Riding/Dormitory Van | 162]], together with Fruit D 92090.<ref>SVR News 140</ref>. [[John Fowler 150hp Diesel Shunter No 17 Highflyer|Diesel Shunter No 17 Highflyer completed the move from Foley Park to Bewdley.
Restoration of 7812 quickly began at Bewdley, where the locomotive was one of five to participate in the 'great boiler lift' on [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 1970-1979#1976 | 3 May 1976]].<ref>SVR News 40</ref> The boiler had been refitted by autumn 1977<ref>SVR News 45</ref> and by summer 1979 the locomotive had been steamed on several occasions. It was finished in a 'controversial livery', being the first SVR-based locomotive to be restored in lined BR green.
On Saturday 1 September 1979 the locomotive was formally renamed by Swindon Works manager Harry Roberts in a ceremony at Bewdley, before hauling an inaugural "shareholders' special" to Bridgnorth and back. The trip was repeated in the evening for SVR members, although the return was disrupted by wet weather, resulting in an announcement on the Bridgnorth PA that "The train arriving at Platform 1 is the one that left 45 minutes ago!" The trip was eventually completed well after midnight. The rest of the year was then applying finishing touches before 7812 formally entered service in 1980.<ref>SVR News 53</ref> The EMF also announced that they had acquired 7802 Bradley Manor to provide a spare boiler and other parts, with the SVR board agreeing to its arrival on that basis.<ref>SVR News 54</ref>
Service continued during 1980, but in spring 1981 the locomotive was failed with boiler tube issues. The repairs also involved the firebox seam rivets and some copper welding, together with renewal of many stay nuts. Following re-tubing, 7812 returned to service in spring 1982,<ref>SVR News 59, 60, 63</ref> after which the locomotive made several appearances on main line rail tours as follows:
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7812 appeared in the 1983 TV movie [[The Weather In The Streets]]. The locomotive was withdrawn from service in late 1985 with a large crack in an old firebox weld.<ref>SVR News 78</ref> Following the withdrawal of sister locomotive 7802 Bradley Manor during the [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2000-2009#2000 | 2000 boiler crisis]]<ref>SVR News 134</ref>, the decision was taken to use Erlestoke’s Erlestoke's repaired boiler and refurbished bogie to allow Bradley Manor to make a quick return to service.<ref>SVR News 136, 208</ref> A similar swap took had taken place during April 1948 when boiler number 14/6406 was removed from Erlestoke and later fitted to Bradley in November 1948 following repair.<ref>[http://www.erlestokemanorfund.co.uk/EMF_history.html EMF History]</ref>
In due course, Erlestoke Manor’s own overhaul was completed in time for a return to service in 2008, attached to a new 3,500 gallon well tank tender constructed using parts and wheelsets from an old tender.<ref>SVR News 208</ref>
On 29 August 2012 Erlestoke Manor masqueraded as sister [[GWR 7802 Bradley Manor]] and was given a Bradley Wiggins-style makeover with a coat of gold paint and sideburns in honour of Team GB's success at London 2012 Olympics<ref>Midlands Business News, 29 August 2012</ref>.
On 26 August 2016, the engine emulated sister Bradley Manor by achieving 100,000 miles of running in preservation, the event being commemorated with a special headboard announcing "Still going strong -- 100,000 miles".<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/svrofficial/posts/1083453811732320 SVR Official Facebook Page], "Erlestoke Manor strikes gold", retrieved 30/08/2016</ref> In March 2017 the tender was fitted with a set of "goal posts". These were used in the early 1960s to warn train crew working "under the wires" on newly electrified lines. The addition has been made so that 7812 was in near-1965 condition during her final year in traffic.<ref>Erlestoke Manor Fund Twitter feed</ref> Erlestoke Manor's 10 year 'ticket' expired at the end of 2017 and she moved to Tyseley for overhaul to commence on 4 January 2018. The Erlestoke Manor Fund's goal was "''To overhaul Erlestoke Manor 7812 during 2018 and 2019 for its return to service in 2020''",<ref>[http://www.erlestokemanorfund.co.uk/about-us/our-goals/ EMF Web site 'Our Goals and Objectives' page]</ref> although progress was inevitably affected by the [[2020 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic]]. The boiler passed its out-of-frames steam test in October 2021.<ref>EMF on Facebook, October 2021</ref> 7812 returned to the SVR at the start of December 2022 for test running before a full return to traffic.
In 2023 the EMF announced that after an appearance at the [[Spring Steam Gala]], 7812 would spend the summer on hire to the West Somerset Railway, as opportunities for use on the SVR were limited.
At the end of 2019, 7812 had recorded a total of 110,743 miles in preservation on the SVR. The reported total may include mileage on the main line and on hire to other railways<ref>SVR News 210, SVR-based Steam Locomotive Mileage 2017-2019, Duncan Ballard</ref>.
== Gallery ==
<gallerymode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
File:ExGWR_7812_'Erlestoke_Manor'.jpg|7812 Erlestoke Manor on shed at Bridgnorth, May 2016
</gallery>
*[[Rolling stock currently under restoration]]
*[[Locomotives used on the Severn Valley Branch in commercial service|Classes of locomotives used on the Severn Valley Branch in commercial service]]
==Notes==
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==References==
