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{{Infobox GWR steam loco
|image = 4150_20120721.jpg
|caption = 4150 in course of restoration at Bewdley(Jul 2012)
|construc = GWR Swindon Works
|wheels = 2-6-2T
4150 is a GWR 5101 class 2-6-2T locomotive, commonly referred to as a 'Large Prairie'. Large prairie tanks were a common sight on the GWR, with more than 300 built between 1903 and 1949 to the same basic design. The locomotives were designed to haul semi-fast and suburban passenger services to tight schedules, and were also used on medium distance freight services. A number of the class were allocated to [[Kidderminster]] and [[Shrewsbury]] sheds and were regularly used on the Severn Valley Railway in its declining years. Classmate 4175 was involved in the [[Level crossing at Hill Farm, Northwood Lane#Accidents in the BR Era|fatal accident at Northwood Lane level crossing]] in August 1964.
The 5101 Class was an updated version by CB Collett of Churchward's 1903 3100/5100 Class. Fellow class member [[GWR Large Prairie 5164]] is an early 1930 example, while 4150 is a later post-War example. The 41xx number arose from the GWR practice, where more than 100 locomotives of one class were built, of maintaining the second number in the series and re-using older sequences of numbers where necessary. The prevalence of the Large Prairie also resulted in examples numbered 61xx, 31xx and 81xx.<ref>[http://www.greatwestern.org.uk/m_in_262.htm Great Western Archive]</ref>
==4150 in service==
Restoration commenced following arrival in [[Bewdley Down Yard|Bewdley Yard]], but by the mid-80s fund raising and restoration progress had slowed considerably. In 2007 the Fund formed a new committee, and with renewed enthusiasm began a concerted effort to complete the restoration which had by then been in progress for more than 30 years. By 2014 a new bunker had been completed except for riveting and welding, and construction of new tanks was in progress. By December 2016, riveting of the side tanks and bunker was complete, leaving the baffles and other hidden parts to be welded in place after the major assemblies had been lifted on to the frames to minimise the risk of distortion. It was intended that the locomotive would be moved to Bridgnorth for continuation of the overhaul in early 2017.<ref>[http://www.svrlive.com/copy-of-news-160916-2-55577 SVR Live - 4150 - Prairie Tank, Ex GWR]</ref><ref>[http://www.4150.org.uk/news/4150_sept16.html The 4150 Fund - September 2016 Restoration Update]</ref>
In November 2016 the 4150 Fund received confirmation that 4150 has a slot in the Bridgnorth Boiler Shop in the last quarter of 2017.<ref>4150 Fund Newsletter 2017, January 2017</ref> In late March 2017 the locomotive left the 'tent' so that the boiler was could be lifted onto [[GWR 40554 Chaired Sleeper Wagon|wagon 40554]] for preparation work to begin, with a decision to be taken in April 2017 whether this will be carried out at Bewdley or Bridgnorth. Also lifted at At the same time were the newly fabricated tanks and bunker, plus the cab roof, were lifted onto the frames. These were 4150 was then moved back into the tent for more workto continue. The entire operation took three days and entailed a major re-arrangement of the rolling stock in Bewdley yard.
=== Gallery ===
<gallery>
File:4150bunker1.jpg|The bunker under construction.(Nov 2015)File:4150bunker2.jpg|Riveting of the bunker(Nov 2015)File:4150_20170401.jpg|Boiler removed, bunker, tanks and cab roof test fitted (Apr 2017)File:4150_Boiler_20170401.jpg|The boiler after removal (Apr 2017)
</gallery>
==See also==
*[[Steam Locomotives]]
==References==
==Links==
*[http://www.4150.org.uk/index.html 4150 Fund web site] Retrieved 26 February 2015<br>*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GWR_5101_Class GWR 5101 Class on Wikipedia]
{{SteamNavbox}}
[[Category:Rolling stock in Bewdley Down Yard]]
