The Erlestoke Manor Fund
The Erlestoke Manor Fund
The Erlestoke Manor Fund
5164 is a Great Western Railway 5101 Class 2-6-2T “Large Prairie”, designed by Charles Collett and built at Swindon Works in 1930. Large Prairie tanks were a familiar and versatile type on the GWR system, used on suburban and local passenger services as well as a range of freight duties.
The class was widely seen across the western network, including on lines in the West Midlands and the Severn Valley area during British Railways days. With their practical tank-engine design, good power and route availability, these locomotives were well suited to the sort of mixed duties for which they became known.
5164 entered traffic in 1930 and spent much of its working life in the former Wolverhampton division, including spells based at Tyseley, Wolverhampton Stafford Road and Wellington. During this period it worked trains from Birmingham towards Kidderminster and beyond, giving it a genuine historical connection with the Severn Valley route.
Later in its BR career the locomotive moved to the West Country, where it worked local services and banking duties. It was withdrawn from service in the early 1960s and, like many Barry survivors, escaped scrapping to begin a second life in preservation.
5164 was purchased for preservation after a fundraising effort and arrived on the Severn Valley Railway in 1973. It became the 30th locomotive to leave Barry Scrapyard and was restored with substantial volunteer effort before entering service on the SVR in preservation.
Over the years, 5164 has given valuable service in heritage operation and has become a well-known and much-valued member of the SVR locomotive fleet. In preservation it has operated both on the Severn Valley Railway and away from home on visits to other heritage lines.
5164 is now owned by the Erlestoke Manor Fund, securing its long-term future within the Fund’s charitable structure alongside 7812 Erlestoke Manor and 7802 Bradley Manor. Its place within the collection reflects both its historical importance and its close connection with the Severn Valley Railway.
The locomotive is intended for return to service in due course, and forms an important part of the Fund’s long-term preservation aims.
Built: 1930
Builder: GWR Swindon Works
Designer: Charles Collett
Class: GWR 5101 Class
Wheel arrangement: 2-6-2T
Power classification: GWR D / BR 4MT
Route colour: Blue
Length: 41 ft
Weight: 78 tons 15 cwt
Boiler pressure: 200 psi
Tractive effort: 24,300 lbf
These photographs show other members of the Large Prairie family at locations closely associated with the Severn Valley line, illustrating the class’s long-standing connection with the area.
Historical information on this page has been compiled using material from the SVR Wiki, the volunteer-maintained knowledge base documenting the history and operations of the Severn Valley Railway.