Designed as a lightweight equivalent of the ‘Hall’ 4-6-0s, the Great Western’s ‘Manors’ did their best work on the Cambrian lines of mid and north Wales. EVAN GREEN-HUGHES explains why these versatile locomotives were so successful.
In the 1950s and 1960s many enthusiasts made the trek to Wales to try and capture the sight and sound of the ‘Manors’ at work. Particularly at holiday weekends, these rugged locomotives would be filmed thrashing up to summits such as Talerddig, near Machynlleth, with their lengthy trains full of holidaymakers, or winding their way along the sinuous Dee Valley on their way to the coast. Some of the trains had evocative names such as the ‘Cambrian Coast Express’, which made the spotting even more special.
Despite their then well-known status, the ‘Manors’ were neither the biggest nor the fastest engines in the Great Western’s fleet. They were a relatively new design of mixed traffic 4-6-0 specifically intended for secondary routes such as the Cambrian where the heavier and more powerful ‘Halls’ and ‘Granges’ were barred. When originally built they were not particularly successful but design modifications unleashed their potential.
Above: The signalman observes GWR ‘Manor’ 4-6-0 7811 Dunley Manor …
