GWR 7819 Hinton Manor

GWR 7819 Hinton Manor
7819 Hinton Manor at Kidderminster, August 2018
Built By	GWR Swindon Works
Configuration	4-6-0
Power class	GWR: D, BR: 5MT
Axle load class	GWR: Blue
Status	Awaiting overhaul
Loco Number	7819
History
Built	1938
Designed By	Charles Benjamin Collett
Type	GWR 7800
1973	Purchased by The Hinton Manor Fund
1977	First steamed in preservation
1995	Withdrawn for overhaul
Technical
Length	61ft 9¼"
Weight	68t 18cwt
Tractive effort	27,340 lb
Pressure	225 lb/sq in
Steam Locomotives

7819 Hinton Manor on display in Swindon in 2011

7819 Hinton Manor is a GWR Collett 7800 Manor class 4-6-0 mixed traffic locomotive.

Contents

7819 Hinton Manor in service

7819 Hinton Manor is one of three GWR Collett 7800 Manor class locomotives based at the SVR, the others being 7802 Bradley Manor and 7812 Erlestoke Manor.

The Manor Class 4-6-0 mixed traffic locomotive was designed as a lighter version of the GWR Grange Class, giving a wider Route Availability. The first 20, of which Hinton Manor was the last, 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.

7819 was named after the manor house at Hinton Waldrist near Oxford. Built in 1939, 7819 began life at Carmarthen, moving to Oswestry in July 1943. Apart from periodic transfers to Whitchurch, this remained 7819’s principal home for the next 20 years.

In March 1963, 7819 moved to Machynlleth. 7819 regularly headed the ‘Cambrian Coast Express’ from Shrewsbury and on 10 August 1963 double-headed the Royal Train with 7822 for HM The Queen's visit to Pwllheli.

7819 moved to Shrewsbury in January 1965, before being withdrawn by BR at the end of the same year.

7819 Hinton Manor in preservation

7819 arrived at the SVR from Barry Scrapyard in 1973, having been bought through the Hinton Manor Fund, with SVR Company help.

In spring 1977 a raffle organised by the SVRA Wolverhampton Branch was held to raise funds to buy fittings and restore the tender. Restoration was completed in the late summer of 1977, and 7819 was a prolific performer in the years that followed both on the SVR and the main line. The latter included the GW150 celebrations in 1985, when 7819 travelled to Plymouth, Swindon, Avonmouth and Newport, and also the 1987 Cambrian Cardigan Bay Express special service steam services between Machynlleth and Pwllheli where 7819 became the first steam locomotive in more than 20 years to haul a passenger service on this section of the Cambrian Coast Line. A full list of main line appearances is given below.

Date	Tour name	Route	Notes	Web	SVR News
07 Apr 1985	Great Western Limited	Bristol - Taunton (1) - Tiverton Jn(2) - Exeter St Davids(3) - Plymouth(4)	(1)D/H with 6000, (2)Solo, (3)Diesel Assisted, (4)L/E	SBJ	76-12
08 Apr 1985	Great Western Limited	Plymouth - Bristol Temple Meads	D/H with 4930 Hagley Hall	SBJ	76-12
26 May 1985	GW150 Portishead Shuttles	Bristol Temple Meads - Portishead return	Hauled first Steam Special on Spring Bank Holiday weekend		80-40
13 Aug 1985	GW150 Celebrations Excursions	Swindon Gloucester - Swindon	Various other runs around this time (pool of 7 locos used)	SBJ
21 Aug 1985	GW150 Celebrations Excursions	Swindon Gloucester - Swindon
24 May 1987		Machynlleth - Barmouth + return	Supplement to longer railtour		86-37
25 May 1987	Cardigan Bay Express	Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2		SBJ	85-33
26 May 1987	Cardigan Bay Express	Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2			85-33
27 May 1987	Cardigan Bay Express	Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2		SBJ	85-33
31 May 1987	Barmouth Bay Express	Machynlleth - Barmouth + return	Supplement to longer railtour	SBJ	85-33
20 Jul 1987	Cardigan Bay Express	Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2			86-38
21 Jul 1987	Cardigan Bay Express	Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2			85-11
22 Jul 1987	Cardigan Bay Express	Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2			85-11
26 Jul 1987	Cardigan Bay Express	Machynlleth - Pwllheli + return			85-11
02 Aug 1987	Cardigan Bay Express	Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2		SBJ	86-39
16 Aug 1987	Cardigan Bay Express	Machynlleth - Aberystwyth + return			86-39
19 Aug 1987	Cardigan Bay Express	Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2			86-40
23 Aug 1987	Cardigan Bay Express	Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2		SBJ
30 Aug 1987	Cardigan Bay Express	Machynlleth - Barmouth + return x2		SBJ
16 Jun 1991	Cambrian Limited	Shrewsbury - Barmouth	(75069 worked the return leg)	SBJ	100-38
23 Jun 1991	Cambrian Limited	Shrewsbury - Barmouth	(75069 worked the return leg)	SBJ	100-38
22 Sep 1991		?? Via Talerddig		Videoscene
29 Sep 1991		Shrewsbury-Machynlleth		Videoscene, Mainline 91 Volume 2	101-25
For further information on sources and references, see The Severn Valley Railway on the main line

In 1990 7819 conveyed HRH The Duke of Gloucester from Kidderminster to Bridgnorth for the official opening of the railway's boiler repair shop. The Duke drove 7819 for part of the journey. The locomotive also made the first operational entry into platform 2 at Kidderminster when it was brought into use on 25 November of that year.

7819 featured in an episode of the BBC drama series The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries broadcast in 1993.

Following a loan to the Nene Valley Railway in 1994, 7819 was placed in storage awaiting major repairs on 7 January 1995. After a period in store in the open the locomotive was cosmetically restored and placed on static display in the McArthurGlen shopping complex, Swindon. It returned to the SVR on 21 August 2018 and moved to static display at The Engine House in March 2019. The 'footplate' is accessible to allow visitors to climb aboard and learn how to operate a steam locomotive, and for weddings and civil ceremonies.

The locomotive was owned by the Hinton Manor Fund of which SVR Wolverhampton Branch was the major shareholder. It is now owned by The SVR Charitable Trust, having been formally transferred from the Hinton Manor Fund for a nominal sum in April 2004.

The Branch was the sponsor of the 2010 Autumn SVR raffle which was called “Fittings Fit for a Manor” to overhaul or replace worn out cab fittings as appropriate.

See also

Steam Locomotives
The Severn Valley Railway on the main line
SVR-based locomotives visiting other events

Links

SVR Charitable trust web site
GWR 7800 Class on Wikipedia
SVR Wolverhampton Branch handover gallery (retrieved 6 January 2017)
Historic England entry for the Grade II listed Hinton Manor building