Following a small ceremony, the Erlestoke Manor Fund (EMF) has announced that the ownership of Great Western (GWR) Railway ‘Large Prairie’ 5101 Class No.5164 has been transferred from the 5164 Preservation Group to the EMF.

Taking place on Sunday 21th of November 2021 at Barrow Hill Roundhouse, Ian Whitlam, Chairman of the 5164 Preservation Group formly transferred ownership of 5164 to EMF represented by the Fund’s Chairman Adrian Hassell.

Also present during the handover was Severn Valley Railway (SVR) Contracts Manager Duncan Ballard.

Thanks went to Barrow Hill Roundhouse for hosting the event, with 5164 currently on display there. In the short-term 5164 will remain on display at Barrow Hill, giving time to fully plan the future for 5164, which hopefully should see the tank return to steam.

Inspections have been carried out to determine the condition of the engine.

Currently the primary focus for the Fund is completing the remaining work on both GWR 7800 ‘Manor’ Class No.7812 “Erlestoke Manor” and No.7802 “Bradley Manor”, with 7812 approaching the later stages of it’s overhaul.

Adrian Hassell, Chairman of Erlestoke Manor Fund, said: “This transfer not only secures 5164 as a long term SVR resident but further strengthens the viability of EMF in the heritage locomotive sector”.

For more information or to support the Erlestoke Manor Fund, please visit their website here.