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|image = 7812AY7812_20170422.jpg|caption = 7812 Erlestoke Manor entering Arley with a Down train, July 2011in April 2017

'''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.

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 Both locomotives were thought to have been withdrawn at Shrewsbury on 6th 6 November 1965, and both moved to [[Barry Scrapyard | Woodham’s scrapyard]] at Barry in June 1966.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 13th 13 November 1965.

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Both 7812 and 7802 were acquired from Barry by [[The Erlestoke Manor Fund]]. 7812 was Around the 56th locomotive beginning of 1973, a small group of enthusiasts made a number of visits to leave Barry to select a suitable locomotive for restoration in conjunction with the then recently formed Dean Forest Railway Preservation Society. Although they had no preference for preservationa particular type of locomotive, departing 7812 appeared to be in May 1974 initially to Parkend good condition and after research and then to a professional inspection, the now-closed Ashchurch preservation near Tewkesburylocomotive was officially reserved at a meeting with Dai Woodham in February 1973.<ref>The Barry Story[[Bibliography#Books|Life Begins at Forty, Beckett & Hardingham EMF (2010compiled by S.V. Blencoe)]], p.11.</ref>

A move [[The Erlestoke Manor Fund]] was immediately formed to raise the proposed cost of £4,000. They were unable to obtain sufficient funds before the SVR followed introduction of 10% VAT on 23 April 197631 March increased the cost to £4, accompanied by two GWR breakdown vans numbers [[GWR 66 Breakdown Tool Van | 66]] and [[GWR 162 Riding/Dormitory Van | 162]] and [[GWR/BR 92090 Fruit D Van | Fruit D 92090]]400. Restoration A further increase of 7812 quickly began 50% was forecast at Bewdley, where 1 July 1973 due to the locomotive was one de-regulation of 5 scrap metal prices; fund raising efforts and a substantial bank loan enabled the purchase to participate in the ‘great boiler lift’ be completed on [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 1970-1979#1976 | 3 May 1976]]28 June 1973.<ref>SVR News 40Life Begins at Forty, p. 12.</ref>

Restoration The locomotive was completed moved to the 'departure sidings' at Barry where weekly working parties began preparing the locomotive for departure, with parts being accumulated and stored in time [[GWR/BR 92090 Fruit D Van | Fruit D 92090]] which was housed at Gloucester. It transpired that there was insufficient room at Parkend on the Dean Forest Railway, so a temporary home for 7812 to enter service on was agreed at the SVR in September 1979now-closed Dowty R.P.S. preservation site at Ashchurch near Tewkesbury.<ref>SVR News 53</ref> Service continued during 1980A quotation of £1, but in Spring 1981 the locomotive 100 from BR was failed accepted to move 7812 and [[4150]] to Parkend with boiler tube issues7812 continuing to Ashchurch.Both locomotives left Barry on Saturday 18 May 1974;<refgroup="note">SVR News 597812 and 4150 are respectively recorded as the 56th and 57th locomotives to leave Barry</ref>. These were addressed 7812 took part in time for a return an open day at Parkend on the Sunday and then continued to service in Spring 1982,Ashchurch the following day.<ref>SVR News 63Life Begins at Forty, p. 15.</ref> following which 7812 made several appearances on main line rail tours as follows:

|17 Apr April 1982||Welsh Marches Express || Hereford - Newport - Hereford || D/H with 4930 Hagley Hall || ||64-28

|24 Apr April 1982||Welsh Marches Pullman || Shrewsbury - Hereford || D/H with 4930 Hagley Hall || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/80s/820424wm.htm SBJ] ||64-29

|05 5 May 1982||Welsh Marches Express || Hereford - Chester || || ||66-9

|05 Jun 5 June 1982|| || Shrewsbury-Newport || D/H with 43106 || ||

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>  In 2012 it was filmed in scenes for a fantasy adventure film [[The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box]]. On Thursday 24 May 2012 the Olympic Torch arrived on the SVR. 7812 Erlestoke Manor carried the torch between Bewdley and Kidderminster, pausing for a photo opportunity with Bewdley Safari Park’s elephants. 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>.<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">7812_Hampton_Loade_20120825. jpg|7812 Erlestoke Manor with gold smokebox</gallery> 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 the locomotive immediately moved to Tyseley for overhaul to commence on 4 January 2018. The Erlestoke Manor Fund's goal is was "''To overhaul Erlestoke Manor 7812 during 2018 and 2019 for its return to service in 2020''" and space has been reserved at Tyseley for some of the work to take place there.,<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 ahead of a full return to traffic, although this was ended when two warm axleboxes were detected on the first day. The SVR's wheeldrop was not available until February 2023, and after examination it was considered prudent to return the locomotive to Tyseley for further checks on the coupled wheelsets. Running in on the SVR restarted on 5 April 2023 with a 'low key' entry into passenger service on 10 April ahead of an appearance at the SVR [[Spring Steam Gala]] the following weekend.<ref>EMF Newsletter no 81, April 2023</ref> In 2023 the EMF announced that after taking part in the Gala, 7812 would spend the summer on hire to the West Somerset Railway, as opportunities for use on the SVR were limited.<ref>[https://www.erlestokemanorfund.co.uk/7812-erlestoke-manor-to-make-a-temporary-move-from-the-severn-valley-railway/ 7812 'Erlestoke Manor' to make a temporary move from the Severn Valley Railway] EMF announcement, February 2023</ref> 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>.

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