GWR Large Prairie 5164

No. 5164 is a member of the ‘5101’ class of ‘large Prairie’ tanks, and is identical to 4150. This particular engine was also built at Swindon, and completed in October 1930. It spent the period from new until August 1956 in the Wolverhampton motive power district; depots to which the engine was allocated were, in order, Tyseley, Stafford Road, Wellington, Stafford Road, Tyseley, Stratford-upon-Avon, Tyseley, Stafford Road, Tyseley, Leamington. Spa, Tyseley, Stratford-upon-Avon, Tyseley, Birkenhead, Tyseley, Stratford-upon-Avon, Tyseley, Stratford-upon-Avon, Tyseley, Stafford Road, Tyseley, Stratford-upon-Avon, Leamington, Tyseley and Wellington. From these allocations, it is fairly obvious that 5164 was an active participant in the Birmingham Snow Hill local services until dieselisation.

From August 1956 onwards, 5164 was based at Newton Abbot, performing banking duties over Dainton and Rattery inclines, as well as local passenger duties to Paignton, Kingswear and Exeter. It was put into store in September 1961, but one month later was moved and placed in service at Pontypool Road, from where it was used on the ‘heads of the valleys’ line to Neath, and condemned in April 1963, having run 811,367 miles. It was sold for scrap to Woodham Brothers in October 1963, and arrived there shortly afterwards.

The scheme to preserve the locomotive was launched in 1971; much conservation work was undertaken at Barry before the ‘5164 Group’ were able to raise the purchase price in mid-1972. The locomotive arrived at Bewdley by rail in the company of 4930, 7819 and 4141 on 6th January 1973. The overhaul of the loco, including the replacement of missing fittings, was accomplished at Bewdley, and 5164 entered traffic on the SVR Christmas services in December 1979. It was a frequent performer along the Valley, and last saw service in early January 2014.

It was moved in March 2014 for under-cover display at Barrow Hill Roundhouse Railway Centre until such time as arrangements could be made for its next overhaul.

In 2021, the owners of the loco agreed to transfer ownership to The Erlestoke Manor Fund, who are in a better position to help raise funds for its restoration.