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[[File:7812AY{{Infobox GWR steam loco|image = 7812_20170422.jpg|200pxcaption = 7812 Erlestoke Manor in April 2017|thumbconstruc = GWR Swindon Works|rightwheels = 4-6-0|rating = GWR: D, BR: 5MT|axleload = GWR: Blue|status = In Service|locono = 7812 |designed = Charles Benjamin Collett|locotype = '''GWR 7800'''|built = 1939|years1 = 1974|events1 = Purchased by The Erlestoke Manor entering Arley with a Down train.]]Fund|years2 = 1979|events2 = First steamed in preservation|years3 = 1985|events3 = Withdrawn for overhaul|years4 = 2008|events4 = Reentered service|years5 = 2017|events5 = Withdrawn for overhaul|years6 = 2023|events6 = Reentered service[[File:FredWellsDiary.jpg|200pxlength = 61ft 9¼"|thumbweight = 68t 18cwt|rightpower = 27,340 lb|Footplate diary showing probably pressure = 225 lb/sq in}}'''7812 Erlestoke Manor''' is a '''GWR Collett 7800 Manor class''' 4-6-0 mixed traffic locomotive. The Manor class was designed as a lighter version of the last move of 7812 by GWR Grange Class, giving a BR driverwider [[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 is one 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 three GWR Collett 7800 Manor class locomotives 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 SVRSevern Valley Railway was eventually selected, the others being [[GWR 7802 Bradley Manor | 7802 Bradley Manor]] and [[GWR 7819 Hinton Manor | 7819 Hinton Manor]]confirmed by a second referendum.<ref>Life Begins at Forty, pp. 19-20.</ref>

The Manor Class 4-6-0 mixed traffic locomotive was designed 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 lighter version of sales van and store which arrived on the GWR Grange Class, giving a wider Route AvailabilitySVR in April 1975. The first 20After 'prolonged negotiations between the various parties concerned', including all three at 7812 moved to the SVRon 23 April 1976, were built between 1938 hauled by English Electric Type 3 diesel 37183 and 1939 accompanied by two GWR breakdown vans, numbers [[GWR 66 Breakdown Tool Van | 66]] and incorporated parts [[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 old GWR 4300 Class MogulsFoley Park to Bewdley. BR built a further 10  Restoration of 7812 quickly began at Bewdley, where the locomotive was one of five to participate in 1950 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 rated by summer 1979 the locomotive had been steamed on several occasions. It was finished in a 'controversial livery', being the class 5MTfirst SVR-based locomotive to be restored in lined BR green. 7812 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 named after repeated in the evening for SVR members, although the Manor at Erlestokereturn was disrupted by wet weather, a village near Devizes resulting in Wiltshirean 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. It The rest of the year was then applying finishing touches before 7812 formally entered service in January 1939 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 BristolSVR board agreeing to its arrival on that basis.<ref>SVR News 54</Bath arearef>  Service continued during 1980, working passenger but in spring 1981 the locomotive was failed with boiler tube issues. The repairs also involved the firebox seam rivets and freight trains some copper welding, together with renewal of many stay nuts. Following re-tubing, 7812 returned to places such as Salisburyservice in spring 1982,<ref>SVR News 59, Weymouth60, Weston Super Mare and Cardiff63</ref> after which the locomotive made several appearances on main line rail tours as follows: <div id="MainLine"></div>{| class="wikitable"!Date!!Tour name !! Route !! Notes !! Web !!SVR News|-|17 April 1982||Welsh Marches Express || Hereford - Newport - Hereford || D/H with 4930 Hagley Hall || ||64-28|-|24 April 1982||Welsh Marches Pullman || Shrewsbury - Hereford || D/H with 4930 Hagley Hall || [http://www.sixbellsjunction.co.uk/80s/820424wm. Posthtm SBJ] ||64-29|-|5 May 1982||Welsh Marches Express || Hereford - Chester || || ||66-War9|-|5 June 1982|| || Shrewsbury-Newport || D/H with 43106 || |||-|colspan="6"|<small>For further information on sources and references, see [[The Severn Valley Railway on the main line#SVR-based locomotives which hauled revenue-earning services on the main line | The Severn Valley Railway on the main line]]</small>|-|} 7812 appeared in the 1983 TV movie [[The Weather In The Streets]]. The locomotive was based withdrawn from service in late 1985 with a large crack in an old firebox weld.<ref>SVR News 78</ref> Following the far Southwithdrawal of sister locomotive 7802 Bradley Manor during the [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2000-West2009#2000 | 2000 boiler crisis]]<ref>SVR News 134</ref>, often assisting with long distance expresses on the notorious ‘Devon banks’decision was taken to use 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 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 late 1960due 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 moved to Erlestoke Manor carried the Oswestrytorch 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</Shrewsburyref>.<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">7812_Hampton_Loade_20120825.jpg|7812 Erlestoke Manor with gold smokebox</Cambrian area where 7802 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 already workingfitted with a set of "goal posts". Both locomotives These were thought used in the early 1960s to have warn train crew working "under the wires" on newly electrified lines. The addition has been withdrawn 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 Shrewsbury the end of 2017 and the locomotive immediately moved to Tyseley for overhaul to commence on 6th November 1965, 4 January 2018. The Erlestoke Manor Fund's goal was "''To overhaul Erlestoke Manor 7812 during 2018 and both moved 2019 for its return to Woodham’s scrapyard at Barry service in June 19662020''",<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]]. However, The boiler passed its out-of-frames steam test in November 2015October 2021.<ref>EMF on Facebook, evidence in October 2021</ref> 7812 returned to the SVR at the form start of December 2022 for test running ahead of a footplate diary (see right) 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 presented considered prudent to return the locomotive to Tyseley for further checks on the coupled wheelsets. Running in on the Erlestoke Manor FundSVR 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, indicating 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 was still ' 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 service preservation on the SVR. The reported total may include mileage on the main line and on 13th November 1965hire to other railways<ref>SVR News 210, SVR-based Steam Locomotive Mileage 2017-2019, Duncan Ballard</ref>. == Gallery == <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">File:ExGWR_7812_'Erlestoke_Manor'.jpg|7812 Erlestoke Manor on shed at Bridgnorth, May 2016</gallery> == See also ==

==7812 Erlestoke Manor in preservation==Both 7812 and 7802 were acquired from Barry by *[[The Erlestoke Manor FundSteam Locomotives]]. 7812 was the first to enter service on the SVR in September 1979 and ran through to 1985. During this time it hauled a number of *[[The Severn Valley Railway on the main line | main line rail tours]] as well as services on the *[[SVR.-based locomotives visiting other events]] *[[Rolling stock currently under restoration]]After overhaul, Erlestoke returned to *[[Locomotives used on the Severn Valley Branch in commercial service |Classes of locomotives used on the Severn Valley Branch in 2008.commercial service]]

== See Also Notes==<references group="note"/>

[[Steam Locomotives]]==References==<brreferences />[[The Severn Valley Railway on the main line]]

[http://www.erlestokemanorfund.co.uk/ Erlestoke Manor Fund] [http://youtu.be/BfbFjxKR_8o SharposWorld video of 7812 climbing towards Foley Park tunnel, 20/12/14]{{SteamNavbox}}

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