The GWR 7800 Manor Class was introduced in 1938 to fill a specific gap in the Great Western Railway’s fleet. The Hall and Grange classes had already established themselves as powerful, reliable mixed-traffic locomotives, but their heavier axle loads prevented them from working over many of the GWR’s lightly laid secondary routes. The Manor was conceived as a lighter 4-6-0, fitted with the new Swindon No. 14 boiler and incorporating reconditioned components from withdrawn 4300 Class Moguls to save both cost and weight.
A total of 30 were built: 20 by the GWR before the Second World War, and a further 10 by British Railways in 1950. With an axle load of just over 17 tons, the Manors were cleared for routes barred to heavier classes, including much of the Cambrian system, parts of Cornwall, and secondary lines in the West Country and South Wales. Early performance reports were mixed, with some crews complaining of indifferent steaming. After front-end modifications in the early 1950s, however, the class matured into dependable, free-steaming engines with a tractive effort of 27,340 lbf — more than adequate for their intended duties.
Despite their small number, the Manors had a wide geographical reach. They were regular performers on named services such as the Cambrian Coast Express and became a familiar sight on the scenic but demanding route west of Shrewsbury. Their ability to operate over restricted routes, including across the Tamar and into Cornwall, made them a versatile and valued asset until the end of steam.
Withdrawals took place between 1963 and 1965, but the class enjoyed remarkable preservation success: nine of the 30 survived. Many have since become mainstays of heritage railways, and several have also worked on the national network in preservation, continuing the reputation for flexibility that defined the Manor Class in service.
Allocations
The following table shows the allocation of the Manor Class in April 1957, a period when the class was well established in both Western Region and former Cambrian duties. The distribution reflects their light axle loading, with locomotives spread across sheds in the West Country, South Wales, the Midlands, and the Cambrian system.
| Shed | Number | Name |
|---|---|---|
| Newton Abbot | 7813 | Freshford Manor |
| 7814 | Fringford Manor | |
| Laira | 7809 | Childrey Manor |
| 7812 | Erlestoke Manor | |
| 7820 | Dinmore Manor | |
| St. Blazey | 7816 | Frilsham Manor |
| Truro | 7823 | Hook Norton Manor |
| Penzance | 7824 | Iford Manor |
| Worcester | 7815 | Fritwell Manor |
| Hereford | 7805 | Broome Manor |
| Cheltenham | 7808 | Cookham Manor |
| 7810 | Draycott Manor | |
| Carmarthen | 7804 | Baydon Manor |
| 7825 | Lechlade Manor | |
| 7826 | Longworth Manor | |
| 7829 | Ramsbury Manor | |
| Tyseley | 7818 | Granville Manor |
| 7821 | Ditcheat Manor | |
| Shrewsbury | 7811 | Dunley Manor |
| 7828 | Odney Manor | |
| Croes Newydd | 7818 | Granville Manor¹ |
| Chester | 7800 | Torquay Manor |
| 7801 | Anthony Manor | |
| 7807 | Compton Manor | |
| 7822 | Foxcote Manor | |
| 7827 | Lydham Manor | |
| Oswestry | 7819 | Hinton Manor |
| Aberystwyth | 7802 | Bradley Manor |
| 7803 | Barcote Manor | |
| 7806 | Cockington Manor |
¹*7818 appears twice in the April 1957 record — once at Tyseley and once at Croes Newydd — likely reflecting either a temporary transfer or a duplication in the original allocation record.
- 7800 Torquay Manor – BR Lined Green, Late Crest
- 7806 Cockington Manor – BR Lined Green, Late Crest
- 7820 Dinmore Manor – BR Black, Small Totem
- 7823 Hook Norton Manor – BR Black, Large Totem
Ixion
- Ixion Models INS7800 Manor Class 4-6-0 7800 “Torquay Manor” in BR Lined Green with late crest
- Ixion Models INS7822 Manor Class 4-6-0 7822 “Foxcote Manor” in BR Lined Green with late crest
- Ixion Models INS7823 Manor Class 4-6-0 7823 “Hook Norton Manor” in BR Black with early totem
- Dapol 2S-001-001 Manor Class 4-6-0 7801 “Anthony Manor” in GWR Green Shirtbutton
[0316-56] - Dapol 2S-001-004 Manor Class 4-6-0 7821 ” Ditcheat Manor” in BR Mixed Traffic Black Early Totem [0825-68]
- Dapol 2S-001-004D Manor Class 4-6-0 7821 ” Ditcheat Manor” in BR Mixed Traffic Black Early Totem. DCC Fitted
- Dapol 2S-001-009 Manor Class 4-6-0 7810 “Draycott Manor” in BR lined green with late crest. [0925-72]
- Dapol 2S-001-009D Manor Class 4-6-0 7810 “Draycott Manor” in BR lined green with late crest. DCC fitted
Modelling
I decided to use the 2mm Scale Association 3-691 solid brass replacement underframe kit because it has far more weight than etched brass alternatives, and I’ve been impressed with the running quality of Nigel Ashton locomotives on his exhibition layouts. This kit replaces the RTR underframe in the Ixion or Dapol Manor with a milled brass one. I built mine for the Manor using the 16 → 22 spur gear combination with the standard 30:1 worm.
Shopping List
Supplied in the Brass Chassis Kit
- 1 × Left side chassis plate
- 1 × Right side chassis block
- 2 × Insulating separator flat plates
- 2 × Insulating bushes
- 2 × 14BA screws
- 2 × 7.5 cm lengths of 0.5 mm brass wire
- 5 × 12BA bolts
- 2 × 12BA nuts
- 1 × Etched sheet
- 1 × Copper-clad board piece
- 2 × Plasticard stepped retainers (1 long, 1 short)
Additional from the 2mm Association Shop
- 3-011 — 11 mm spoked driving wheels (3 pairs)
- 3-020 — 8 mm extended axle spoked driving wheels (3 pairs) for tender
- 3-060 — 6 mm spoked bogie wheels (2 pairs)
- 3-100 — Drive axle muffs (2 from pack of 10)
- 3-101b — Gear muffs (pack of 2)
- 3-110 — Steel axle (1 required, 3 recommended for alignment during build)
- 3-113 — Axle bearings (2 packs, 14 total)
- 3-260 — Flexible wire
- 3-364 — 30:1 gear and worm set
- 3-386 — 16-tooth M0.4 metric gear (layshaft)
- 3-389 — 22-tooth M0.4 metric gear (axle)
Other Items and Consumables
- RTR donor: Dapol Manor
- Etched name and numberplates for chosen Manor (247 Developments / Fox?)
- Motor: Tramfabriek 0816S
- Epoxy glue (e.g. 2-part 10-minute Araldite)
- Cyanoacrylate (superglue)
- Halfords grey primer (spray)
- Halfords matt black (spray) or equivalent brush paint
- Small piece of 20 thou or 30 thou plasticard
- Solder and flux
- Scrap paper and card
- Masking tape
Tools Required
- Scalpel
- Small pliers
- Small side cutters
- Flat needle file
- Tweezers
- Soldering iron
- Plain-blade micro screwdriver (for 12BA and 14BA fasteners)
- MDF offcuts (for making alignment jigs)
- Small reamers (≈1.5 mm and ≈2.5 mm)
- Electric drill with secure bench mounting (lathe optional)
- Small hacksaw or fretsaw
- Foam loco cradle
- Back-to-back gauge
- Optional: 2mm Association quartering tool and press
Stage 1 — Bearings and Chassis Assembly
I started by checking the bearing slots in both chassis sides and reaming them lightly until Association axle bearings dropped in neatly.
The driven axle and gear shaft bearings were soldered in place, kept square using a 1.5 mm drill bit in an MDF jig. One bearing needed filing flush to the block.
The insulating plates and bushes were trial-fitted, with temporary axle steels through each bearing pair to ensure alignment.
Next, I cut shallow solder grooves in the chassis edges and soldered in a loop of tinned wire to act as the tender pickup link.
With the bushes removed (to avoid heat damage), the insulating plates were glued to the block with epoxy, the chassis reassembled loosely, and clamped on a flat surface while curing. Once hardened, the screws were trimmed flush.
Stage 2 — Gear Train and Wheel Prep (16 → 22)
I cut the primary gear muff to length for the layshaft, fitted the 16-tooth gear, and mounted the worm wheel in correct alignment with the 30:1 worm.
The 22-tooth axle gear was bevelled slightly on one side to avoid fouling. I cut the secondary gear muff to length, fitted the 22-tooth gear, and checked for free mesh.
The driving wheels had crankpin wires soldered to their backs, filed flush, and fitted with the etched balance weights after folding them to shape.
Stage 3 — Brake Gear and Bogie
The brake rodding and spring etches were laminated with solder, glued to stepped plasticard, and folded to shape.
I bent the brake shoes into alignment with the wheel treads and set the assembly aside for painting.
The bogie was folded up from its etch, bearings soldered in, the PCB added, and the box section ballasted with lead shot fixed in epoxy.
I bent the pivot arm to shape and reinforced it with solder.
Stage 4 — Tender Axles
The extended tender axles were turned to pinpoints in a drill chuck, aiming for 14.3 mm over points. The first one took the longest; after that, the rest went quickly.
Stage 5 — Painting
I masked the bearings, crankpins, and threaded holes with wire insulation and rolled-up paper.
Halfords grey primer was sprayed first, followed by matt black.
Once the paint dried, I gently reamed the bearings and cleaned all wheel treads.
Stage 6 — Final Chassis Build
The gear muffs were installed first, and alignment checked.
I folded and laminated the coupling rods, reamed the crankpin holes, and quartered the drivers, using temporary insulation on the crankpins during assembly.
Back-to-backs were checked with an Association gauge, and the chassis rolled freely.
Stage 7 — Valve Gear and Motion
The crossheads and connecting rods were laminated on a flat MDF board, with masking tape holding parts square.
Paper shims and crankpin washers were used to maintain smooth running clearances.
The worm was fitted last, using short and long axle steel pieces to make the process easier.
Stage 8 — Body Modifications and Chassis Fit
I removed the RTR chassis and noted the tender pickup type (spring or wire).
The rear splashers inside the footplate were pared back slightly with a scalpel to clear the worm tower — this is invisible once reassembled.
The new chassis was fitted into the body using the etched retaining clips and 12BA screws, with care taken to keep the pickup wires clear.
Stage 9 — Drive Shaft, Tender and Final Assembly
The muff on the worm shaft was slotted to take the tender drive ball.
Tender pickups were reconnected — either by refitting the original springs or soldering the link wires to the chassis wire.
The brake gear, bogie, and pivot arm were fitted, the latter left slightly loose.
The drawbar was reattached and the drive shaft engaged.
Stage 10 — Testing and Running In
I applied a drop of oil to the gears and gave the chassis its first powered run.
On DC, the 16 → 22 gearing gives ~62 mph no-load, but ~40–50 mph under load — ideal once capped with DCC CV5 for a maximum of 50 mph.
The solid brass block made it a little noisy at first, but after some gentle running-in and fresh lubrication, it settled down to a smooth, quiet, and powerful performer, with excellent slow-speed control.
More Information
- Armes, Keith, and Steve Martin. “Building IKB in 2mm Finescale.” Model Railway Journal, no. 278, Wild Swan Publications, 2020, pp. 97–101.
- Bradley, R. P. GWR Two Cylinder 4-6-0s and 2-6-0s. David & Charles, 2014.
- Copsey, John. “‘78xxs’ in Traffic.” Great Western Railway Journal, no. 15, Wild Swan Publications, Summer 1995, pp. 637–648.
- GWR Halls Granges & Manors. Locomotives Illustrated, no. 19, Ian Allan Publishing.
- Haresnape, Brian. Collett & Hawksworth Locomotives. Ian Allan, 1979.
- Hobbs, Roy. Working Steam: Collett Granges & Manors. Ian Allan Publishing, 2003.
- Holden, Bryan, and Kenneth H. Leech. Portraits of Western 4-6-0’s. Moorland Publishing Co., 1983.
- “Impeccable ‘Manors’ – GWR ‘Manors’ in Colour.” BackTrack, vol. 19, no. 1, January 2005, Pendragon Publishing.
- Kirmond, Peter. “N-Gauge RTR Locos to 2mm Finescale – Fast.” Model Railway Journal, no. 230, 2014, pp. 86–87.
- Nock, O. S. The GWR Mixed Traffic 4-6-0 Classes. Ian Allan, 1978.
- Russell, J. H. A Pictorial Record of Great Western Engines. Volume 2: Churchward, Collett & Hawksworth Locomotives. Oxford Publishing Co., 1999.
- Rutherford, Michael. Halls, Granges and Manors at Work. Littlehampton Book Services Ltd, 1985.
- “Steam Days in Colour 77: ‘Manor’ Class 4-6-0s of the GWR & BR (Western Region).” Steam Days, no. 261, May 2011, Mortons Media Group.
Locomotives of the GWR Part 8. (RCTS)
The July 1995 issue of Steam Days magazine also has a good article on the ‘Manors’.