Changes

|caption = 4150 in course of restoration at Bewdley(Jul 2012)

|rating = GWR: D, BR: 4MT|axleload = GWR: Blue

|locotype = '''GWR 28xx5101'''

|power = 24,300 lb|pressure = 200 lb/sq in}}'''4150 ''' is a GWR 5101 class 2-6-2T locomotive, commonly referred to as a 'Large Prairie'. It is the only SVR-based locomotive not to have steamed in preservation.

==4150 in service==‘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 Large Prairies 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>

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File:4150 3.jpg|Date & location unknown

Restoration at Parkend proved impossible, and in 1977 the Fund’s shareholders voted to move 4150 to the SVR, with the locomotive arriving at [[Bewdley]] on 19 January 1978.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 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. At the time it was intended that the locomotive would be moved to [[Bridgnorth Loco Works]] 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 March 2017 the boiler was removed and the newly fabricated tanks and bunker, plus the cab roof, were lifted onto the frames. Although the boiler was moved to Bridgnorth in June 2018, in the event it was decided that the rest of the locomotive would remained at Bewdley while work on the bunker, cab fittings, cab floor, and valve and cylinder cladding was completed.<ref>Shareholder update email, 28 July 2018</ref> On 30 March 2021, 4150 and the Fund's stores van [[GWR/BR 92080 Fruit D Van|Fruit D 92080]] were shunted out of Bewdley yard in preparation for a move to Bridgnorth,<ref>[http://www.4150.org.uk/news/4150_mar21.html 4150 Fund March 2021 Update]</ref> more than 43 years after the locomotive arrived there. The chassis moved to [[Bridgnorth Loco Works]] on 30 April 2021. ===The boiler===The locomotive’s present boiler is number '''5895''', a Class B/'Standard 2' boiler built at Swindon in September 1939. It was first installed on another 5101 class locomotive, number 4135, in November 1939 and subsequently at the higher pressure of 225 psi on 6100 class locos 6154 (May 1946), 6122 (August 1949) and 6168 (April 1946) before being fitted to 4150 in October 1963. 4150 had previously used boilers number 5855 on entry to service followed by 5646 (1950), 2278 (1953) and 3378 (1956).<ref>Copy of GWR Engine History card and Boiler History card obtained by the 4150 Fund</ref><ref>[http://www.4150.org.uk/PDFs/The4150Fund-2016W-Newsletter.pdf 4150 Fund 2016 newsletter] (retrieved 23 February 2019)</ref>  A full report in 2008 from the SVR's boiler foreman and a further inspection in 2018 showed the boiler to be in good condition, having been fitted with a new inner firebox at its last overhaul. It was expected to require the standard repairs: new flues, tubes, steel stays replaced, crown stays replaced, foundation ring removed to check for grooving and replaced, welding repairs to front tube plate and possible boiler barrel patch.  A record net total of almost £16,000 from the autumn 2007 [[Severn Valley Railway Association]] raffle proceeds were allocated to 4150 in 2008, which was ring-fenced for spending on the boiler.<ref>[http://www.4150.org.uk/4150_new-beginning.html 4150 Fund website] (Retrieved 20 January 2018)</ref>A further raffle in 2018 raised in excess of £24,500 before expenses.<ref>SVR News 202</ref><ref>[http://www.4150.org.uk/PDFs/The4150Fund-2019-Web-Newsletter.pdf 4150 Fund 2019 newsletter] (retrieved 23 February 2019)</ref>  By November 2016 the Fund had received confirmation that 4150 had a slot in the Bridgnorth Boiler Shop in the last quarter of 2017.<ref>4150 Fund Newsletter 2017, January 2017</ref> The Fund intended it to go to Bridgnorth in November 2017 for overhaul and in March 2017 it was lifted onto [[GWR 40554 Chaired Sleeper Wagon|wagon 40554]] for preparation work to begin.<ref>[http://www.svr.co.uk/pdf/Special%20Events/SVR%20Peep%20Behind%20the%20Scenes%202017.pdf Peep Behind The Scenes leaflet July 2017]</ref> Workload at in the boilershop meant that instead it was decided that boilershop staff would provide assistance to the owning group to accelerate the boiler overhaul at Bewdley.<ref>SVR News 200, Winter 2017</ref>  By January 2018 the boiler and firebox cladding had been completed and then dismantled. The boiler had passed an ultrasonic test on the thickness of the plates and passed a non-destructive test for cracks. Work had commenced on drilling out firebox steel stays and grinding off rivet heads holding the foundation ring before the boiler headed north.<ref>Howard A, 4150 Fund Facebook, 20 January 2018</ref><ref>[http://www.4150.org.uk/news/4150_jan18.html The 4150 Fund - Restoration update January 2018]</ref>

Restoration commenced following arrival in [[Bewdley Down Yard|The boiler was moved from 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 yearsBridgnorth on 18 June 2018. By 2014 a new bunker had been completed except for riveting and welding, and construction {{As of new tanks was |2021}} it is in progressthe boiler shop where work is approaching completion.

<gallerymode=packed heights=150px style="text-align:left">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)

*[[Steam Locomotives]]*[[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]]

*SVR News<br>*Severn Valley Railway Stock Book, seventh edition.<br>*4150 Fund web site

*[http://www.4150.org.uk/index.html 4150 Fund web site] Retrieved 26 February 2015*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GWR_5101_Class GWR 5101 Class on Wikipedia]

[[Category:Rolling stock in Bewdley Down YardSVR fundraising lotteries]][[Category:Locomotives at Bridgnorth]]