The WSRA is delighted to announce that it has purchased GWR-designed 4-6-0 Manor class locomotive no 7821 Ditcheat Manor for use on the line.
Ditcheat Manor visited the West Somerset Railway in 1998 and the type is very suitable for the line, designed specifically for heavy traffic on more lightly engineered lines. Nos 7820 Dinmore Manor and 7828 Odney Manor are already based on the line.
Ditcheat Manor was built at Swindon in 1950 and had a short working life with British Railways, shedded at Newton Abbot and Wolverhampton, before being withdrawn in 1965. It then spent 15 years at Barry scrap yard and was rescued by previous owner Ken Ryder in 1980. It has spent time working on various heritage lines.
The locomotive name has strong Somerset connections. Ditcheat Manor is the 'big house' in the village of Ditcheat, 3 miles north of Castle Cary station.
Ditcheat Manor is 'out of ticket' at the moment but a rapid restoration is being examined which it is hoped will see the loco back in traffic by late 2008 or early 2009. We should know if this is possible by the autumn. This would help the railway through the period during which other locomotives may be out of traffic for re-tyreing and wheel-turning. The steam shortage the WSR has experienced through May, June and July 2008 have served to demonstrate just how important it is for the WSR to remain a STEAM heritage railway and Ditcheat Manor will assist with that in future years.
We have been in a position to be able to purchase the locomotive through the wisdom of the Association in the past in building up a locomotive purchase fund of £30,000, ready for such an eventuality. We have also been assisted by a private donation of £30,000. Together, this has allowed the Association to meet the first instalment of the purchase price of £180,000 which is due in three instalments of £60,000 at annual intervals. If we can pay all the remaining price by 2009, a £5,000 reduction is available.
Full details will be available with the next WSR Journal.
Robin White
Chairman, West Somerset Railway Association
20 July 2008
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Ditcheat Manor at Blue Anchor Station in 1998.
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