Changes

'''5164''' is a '''GWR Collett 5101 class 2-6-2T 'Large Prairie''''. The 5101 Class was an updated version by CB Collett of Churchward's Large prairie tanks were a common sight on the GWR, with more than 300 built between 1903 3100/5100 Classand 1949 to the same basic design. Built from 1929 The locomotives were designed to 1949, these mediumhaul semi-sized tank engines were used all over the GWR network for fast and suburban and local passenger and local freight services. Their increased axle loading of 17 tons 12 cwt was the maximum permitted for [[GWR Power and Weight Classification | 'Blue' route availability]]to tight schedules, while their [[GWR Power and Weight Classification|power class]] was rated D (GWR) and 4MT (BR). A total of 140 were produced; after available numbers in the 51xx range were exhausted were exhausted, later examples were numbered in the 41xx rangealso used on medium distance freight services.

The 5101 Class was an updated version by CB Collett of Churchward's 1903 3100/5100 Class. Built from 1929 to 1949, these medium-sized tank engines were used all over the GWR network for suburban and local passenger and local freight services. Their increased axle loading of 17 tons 12 cwt was the maximum permitted for [[GWR Power and Weight Classification | 'Blue' route availability]], while their [[GWR Power and Weight Classification|power class]] was rated D (GWR) and 4MT (BR).  A total of 140 were produced; after available numbers in the 51xx range were exhausted, later examples were numbered in the 41xx range. 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>This followed 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.  A number of the class were allocated to the sheds at [[Worcester]], [[Kidderminster Shed|Kidderminster]], Stourbridge and [[Shrewsbury#Shrewsbury Shed|Shrewsbury]] from where they were [[Locomotives used on the Severn Valley Branch in commercial service|regularly used on the Severn Valley Branch ]] on both freight and passenger services after the 1950s. Other examples from Wolverhampton Stafford Road and Tyseley were also seen on the Branch from time to time.<ref name=SVR20>SVR News 20</ref> 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 pictures below show classmates 4114 preparing to leave [[Bridgnorth ]] with a passenger service for Shrewsbury in July 1959, 4175 with an Up goods at [[Bewdley ]] in April 1962, and 4153 on the coaling road at Kidderminster Shed (undated). Other class members photographed in use on the branch include 4100 in 1955,<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Mitchell and Smith (2007)]] fig. 98.</ref> and 4129<ref>SVR News 16, photo by Brian Moone)</ref>. The SVR's [[GWR Large Prairie 4150|4150]] is also a member of the class and having entered service at Stourbridge in 1947, may also have worked on the branch although no photographs are known to exist.

Restoration took place at Bewdley, with a team led by Pete Simpson. By September 1974 the engine had been completely stripped down. The tyres all needed reprofiling which, if done, would have left sufficient material for one further turning. However with a loose tyre having brought about the locomotive's withdrawal from service, the decision was taken to replace all the tyres, the work being carried out by the BSC Railway Materials Division at Rotherham. The tanks and bunker were overhauled by Wagon Repairs Ltd of Stoke-on-Trent. The boiler was refitted on 3 May 1976 as part of the [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 1970-1979#1976|'150 ton big lift']] which saw the lifting of 5 boilers and 2 frames in a single day.<ref>SVR News 40</ref> 5164 was not steamed until 20 October 1979, by which time the entire restoration was effectively complete, as by the following week the locomotive had moved to Bridgnorth ready for use on that December's Bridgnorth to [[Hampton Loade ]] [[Christmas services]]. <ref group="note">The [https://www.erlestokemanorfund.co.uk/new-year-2024-news-update/ EMF's 2024 New Year update] included Peter Mudie's recollections of 5164’s original restoration and his photographs of its first steaming and test runs.</ref> It formally entered service in December, performing faultlessly and recording the highest mileage of the three locomotives used.<ref>SVR News 54, 55</ref>

===Current statusStorage and transfer of ownership===Following withdrawal, 5164 resumed its place in the SVR's 'overhaul queue'. In March 2014 it was moved to the Barrow Hill Roundhouse Railway Centre,<ref>[https://forum.svr-online.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=964 SVR-Online forum thread 'GWR 2-6-2T 5164'] (Retrieved 14 February 2017)</ref><ref>[http://www.barrowhill.org/collections.html Barrow Hill Roundhouse] (Retrieved 26 January 2020)</ref> where it could be stored under cover as a static exhibit. While there it was cared for by members of the owning group, The 5164 Preservation Group. However the Group was an unincorporated organisation with a small and diminishing group of shareholders. In 2020 the remaining shareholders agreed to offer the locomotive to the [[The Erlestoke Manor Fund]] for a nominal sum in order to secure the locomotive’s future within an incorporated, charitable organisation strongly affiliated to the SVR.<ref>EMF Newsletter no 75 August 2020</ref>.  After negotiations between the Group, the EMF and the SVR, the transfer of ownership to the EMF for a nominal sum was completed in November 2021.<ref>EMF Newsletter no 78, November 2021</ref> In January 2022 the EMF announced that their members had agreed to a change of the Fund's Articles, allowing fund raising for an overhaul to begin.<ref>[https://www.erlestokemanorfund.co.uk/announcement-emf-shareholders-approve-proposal-to-restore-5164-to-steam / EMF Announcement January 2022]</ref>  ===Overhaul and third boiler ticket===In July 2022 the EMF Shareholders approve proposal announced the launch of an appeal to raise funds to return 5164 to service.<ref>[https://www.erlestokemanorfund.co.uk/the-big-large-prairie-appeal-returning-5164-to restore -service/ EMF: ''The Big "Large Prairie" Appeal – Returning 5164 to service''] (retrieved 1 August 2022)</ref>  The locomotive left Barrow Hill to be the centre-piece attraction at the [[SVR-based locomotives visiting other events#Steam_locomotives_timeline_2020-2029|Warley Model Railway Club Show at Birmingham NEC]] on 25/26 November 2023, before moving to Tyseley Locomotive Works for detailed assessments of the locomotive's condition and further purchases of materials in preparation for overhaul, due to commence once [[GWR 7802 Bradley Manor|7802]] has returned to steam!|and its new build GWR 3500 gallon tender project T2329 is complete. This work 'will occupy a large part of 2024'<ref>EMF Press Release 18 October 2023</ref>.

*[[ GWR Large Prairie 4141]] (classmate resident on the SVR between 1973 and 1988, left before restoration was completed)

*Unofficial 5164 Preservation Group (www.5164.org.uk/): archive of discontinued website on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine [httphttps://5164web.archive.org.uk/ Unofficial 5164 web site, no longer updated]*[/20211123182128/http://www5164.barrowhillorg.orguk/ Barrow Hill Roundhouse web siteLast captured 23 November 2021].