GWR 813 Preservation Fund

The GWR 813 Preservation Fund is an organisation that was founded in 1966 to acquire, restore and preserve Port Talbot Railway No. 26 (GWR 813). It is based on the Severn Valley Railway.

History

The Fund was formed in 1966 to purchase the last-known surviving Port Talbot Railway (No. 26, later GWR 813) steam locomotive from the National Coal Board. They purchased GWR 813 in 1967 and it was moved from Backworth Colliery the same year, later moving to the Severn Valley Railway. They are now currently based at the Severn Valley Railway and have a sales stand at Kidderminster.^[1]

GWR 813

813 GWR 0-6-0ST on static display at Shildon 150

Port Talbot Railway No. 26 was built by Hudswell Clarke in 1901 along with five other locomotives. It was withdrawn in 1933 and then sold to Robert Stephenson & Company in 1934. Later it was sold to Backworth Colliery and re-numbered 12. It then became NCB 11 in 1950. The newly-formed GWR 813 Preservation Fund were looking to purchase this locomotive, it being the last of its kind. Offered for £320, then sold to the Preservation Fund in 1967. It was displayed as a static exhibit at the Rail 150 Celebrations in 1975. Mechanical faults prevented the locomotive from being fully operational for over a decade, although it steamed on a few occasions.

The trust fund got the locomotive fully operational in July 2000, when it was the only one in service at the time,^[where?] at the time that many locomotives were reported to have boiler issues. After it was overhauled, from 2001 to 2009 the locomotive visited several heritage lines including Didcot, Dean Forest, Pontypool & Blaenavon, WSR, South Devon Rly, Vale of Glamorgan, etc. The '813 Fund' became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation on October 11, 2021. Registered Charity Number: 1196114.

Owned stock

The GWR 813 Preservation Fund bought a covered van in 1968 to store parts for their locomotive, this was followed by the fund's interest in purchasing more ex-GWR stock. Today they own four coaches, and over 100 wagons of many types, in the collection is the only surviving ex-Brecon and Merthyr Railway open wagon.

Locomotives

Number	Type	Current Location	Photograph	Notes
Port Talbot Railway No. 26 (GWR No. 813)	Port Talbot Railway 0-6-0ST	Severn Valley Railway		Built in 1901. Acquired in 1967. Operational. Returned to traffic in November 2016. The oldest locomotive in operation on the SVR. (Boiler ticket expires in 2026).[2]

Carriages

Number	Type	Current Location	Photograph	Notes
98	GWR 98 Hawksworth Full Brake 'Snake'	Severn Valley Railway		Purchased direct from BR following withdrawal from service in 1977.[3]
215	GWR 215 Dean 4-Wheeled 1st/2nd Composite	Gwili Railway		Built in 1900. Acquired in 1985.[4]
1146	GWR 1146 Collett Corridor Third	Severn Valley Railway		Built in 1938. Operational. Part of ex-Swindon test train.[5]
4872	GWR 4872 Collett Corridor Third Bow Ended	South Devon Railway		Built in 1927. Acquired in 1984. Moved from the Severn Valley Railway in 2008.[6]

Brown (passenger rated) vehicles

Number	Type	Current Location	Photograph	Notes
55	GWR 55 Breakdown Riding Van	Severn Valley Railway		Built 1908 Lot 571 Acquired 1973 Allocated to Trowbridge - Westbury - Severn Valley Railway photo Gareth Price
66	GWR 66 Breakdown Tool Van	Severn Valley Railway		Built 1921 Lot 864 Acquired 1985 Allocated to Taunton when built Then to Severn Valley Railway photo Gareth Price
594	GWR 594 Monster' Scenery Van	South Devon Railway		Built in 1920. Diagram P18 Lot 1265 Acquired 1999 Enparts Vehicle 975789[7] photo Nick Baxter
2303	GWR 2303 Fruit Van	Severn Valley Railway		[8] Built 1898 Acquired 1973
2424	GWR 2424 Fruit 'C' Fruit Van	Severn Valley Railway		6.[9] Built 1911 Acquired 1986
2671	GWR 2671 'Bloater' Fish Van	Didcot Railway Centre		Built 1925 Acquired 1976
2862	GWR 2862 Fruit 'C' Fruit Van.	Didcot Railway Centre		Built 1939 Acquired 1980
2890	GWR 2890 Siphon 'G' Bogie Milk Van	West Somerset Railway		[10] Built 1945 Acquired 1987
2988	GWR 2988 Siphon 'G' Bogie Milk Van.	Dean Forest Railway		Built 1945 Acquired 1982
58725	Improvised Gunpowder Van	Severn Valley Railway		Built 1896. Acquired 1977.[11]
105493	'Cone' Gunpowder Van	West Somerset Railway		Built 1924. Acquired 1976.[12]

Covered goods vans

Number	Type	Current Location	Photograph	Notes
16307	Mink 'A' Covered Goods Van	West Somerset Railway		Built 1913. Acquired 1991.[13]
42239	Grain Hopper Van	Didcot Railway Centre		Built 1927.[14]
65620	'Vanfit' Covered Goods Wagon	Severn Valley Railway		Built 1947. Acquired 1975.[15]
65801	'Mogo' Motor Car Van	Severn Valley Railway		Built 1946. Acquired 1973.[16]
93016	Mink 'A' Covered Goods Wagon	Severn Valley Railway		Built 1914. Acquired 1972.[17]
93045	Mink 'A' Covered Goods Van	Severn Valley Railway		Built in 1914. Acquired 2008.[18]
95353	Covered Goods Van	Severn Valley Railway		Built in 1916. Ex-Rutland Railway Museum.[19]
101961	Mink 'A' Covered Goods Van	Severn Valley Railway		Built 1923. Acquired 1989.[20]
103592	Mink 'A' Covered Goods Wagon	Severn Valley Railway		Built in 1923. Acquired 1987.[21]
104621	Mink 'A' Covered Goods Van	Severn Valley Railway		Built 1924. Acquired 1971.[22]
112889	Mink 'G' Covered Goods Wagon	Severn Valley Railway		Built 1931. Acquired 1993.[23]
126359	'Mogo' Motor Car Van	South Devon Railway		Built in 1934.[24]
126779	Mink 'A' Covered Goods Van	West Somerset Railway		Built 1936. Acquired in 1981.[25]
139760	Mink 'A' Covered Goods Van	West Somerset Railway		Built 1938. Acquired in 1991.[26]
145428	Covered Goods Van	Didcot Railway Centre		Built 1944. Acquired 1973.[27]

Water & Milk Tanks

Number	Type	Current Location	Photograph	Notes
102	6-Wheeled Water Tank Wagon	West Somerset Railway		Built 1946. Acquired 1996.[28]
2016	6-Wheeled Milk Tank Wagon	South Devon Railway		Built 1931. Acquired 1994. Originally 4-wheeled for United Dairies.[29]
2501	'Rotank' 6-Wheeled Road Milk Tank Flat Wagon	Evesham		Built 1932. First such vehicle built by GWR.[30]
2504	6-Wheeled Milk Tank Wagon	Severn Valley Railway		Built 1932. Acquired 1995.[31]
3018	6-Wheeled Milk Tank Wagon	West Somerset Railway		Built 1946. Acquired 1994.[32]

Fruit Vans

Number	Type	Current Location	Photograph	Notes
82554	Fruit 'B' Banana Van	Severn Valley Railway		Built 1908. Acquired 1991.[33]
105565	Fruit 'B' Banana Van	Evesham.		Built in 1929. Acquired 1990. Body and underframe only.[34]

Meat Vans

Number	Type	Current Location	Photograph	Notes
105860	Mica 'B' Refrigerated Meat Van	Didcot Railway Centre		Built 1925. Acquired 1976.[35] Photo: Edward Bull
105873	Mica 'B' Refrigerated Meat Van	Severn Valley Railway.		Built 1925. Acquired 1973.[36]
105916	Mica 'B' Refrigerated Meat Van	South Devon Railway		Built 1925. Acquired 1978.[37]

Open Goods Wagons

Number	Type	Current Location	Photograph	Notes
10931	Open 'A' 5-Plank Open Goods Wagon	Avon Valley Railway		Built 1913. Acquired 1975.[38]
13154	Open 'A' Open Goods Wagon.	Severn Valley Railway		Built 1913. Acquired 1975.[39]
19818	Open Goods Wagon	Didcot Railway Centre		Built 1917. Acquired 1981.[40]
25190	Open Goods Wagon			Built 1904. Acquired 1988.[41]
41277	4 Plank Open Wagon	Severn Valley Railway		Built 1890. Acquired 1984.[42]
52137	Open Goods Wagon	Evesham		Built 1892. Acquired 1996.[43]
52243	Open Goods Wagon	Avon Valley Railway		Built 1896. Acquired 1996.[44]
75745	Open Goods Wagon	Avon Valley Railway		Built 1902. Acquired 1996.[45]
86582	Open 'A' 5-Plank Open Wagon	Avon Valley Railway		Built 1912. Acquired 1975.[46]
94059	China Clay Open Goods Wagon	Severn Valley Railway		Built 1914. Acquired 1975.[47]
97398	Open 'A' 4-plank Open Goods Wagon	Severn Valley Railway		Built 1921. Acquired 1970.[48]
98480	Open 'A' Open Wagon	Severn Valley Railway		Built 1921. Acquired 1981.[49]
99766	Open 'A' 4 Plank Open Wagon	Severn Valley Railway		Built 1902. Acquired 1990. Ex-Brecon & Merthyr Railway.[50]
99965	Open 'C' Open Goods Wagon	Severn Valley Railway		Built 1927. Acquired 1988.[51]
102691	Open 'B' Open Goods Wagon	Severn Valley Railway		Built 1924. Acquired 1985.[52]
108085	5 plank Open Goods Wagon	Severn Valley Railway		Built 1924.
108207	5-plank Open Goods Wagon	South Devon Railway		Acquired 1982.[53]
117993	Open Goods Wagon	Didcot Railway Centre		Built 1931. Acquired 1981.[54]
135744	Open 'A' 5-plank Open Goods Wagon	West Somerset Railway		Built 1937. Acquired 1993.[55]
137696	5-plank Open Goods Wagon	West Somerset Railway		Built 1938. Acquired 1993.[56]

Brake Vans

Number	Type	Current Location	Photograph	Notes
17464	20 Ton Goods Brake Van	Avon Valley Railway		Built 1940 Diagram AA21 Lot 1370 Acquired 1994
68501	20 Ton Goods Brake Van	Severn Valley Railway		Built 1925 Diagram AA15 Lot 932 Acquired 1971
68765	20 Ton Goods Brake Van	West Somerset Railway		Built 1939 Diagram AA20 Lot 1277 Acquired 1988
68784	20 Ton Goods Brake Van	Avon Valley Railway		Built 1939 Diagram AA20 Lot 1277 Acquired February 2016
114571	20 Ton Goods Brake van	West Somerset Railway		Built 1934 Diagram AA20 Lot 1171 Acquired November 2021

Crated Glass Wagon

Number	Type	Current Location	Photograph	Notes
41723	Coral 'A' Plated Glass Wagon	Didcot Railway Centre		Built 1908. Acquired 1981. Awaiting restoration..

Boiler Truck

Number	Type	Current Location	Photograph	Notes
41945	'Crocodile G' Boiler Trolley	West Somerset Railway		Built 1908. Acquired 1995.[57]

Machinery Trucks

Number	Type	Current Location	Photograph	Notes
41990	Loriot 'Y' Machinery Flat Wagon	Severn Valley Railway		Built 1939. Acquired 1994.
42138	Machinery Flat Wagon	Severn Valley Railway		Built 1909. Acquired 1984.
42272	Loriot 'L' Machinery Flat Wagon	Severn Valley Railway		Acquired 1981.

Ballast Wagons

Number	Type	Current Location	Photograph	Notes
30903	Ballast Wagon	Severn Valley Railway		Built 1939. Acquired 1973.
40841	Ballast Wagon	Severn Valley Railway		Built 1893. Acquired 1990.
60562	Ballast Wagon	Severn Valley Railway		Built 1900. Acquired 1980.
60906	Ballast Wagon	Severn Valley Railway		Built 1915. Acquired 1990.
80646	Ballast Wagon	Dean Forest Railway		Built 1936. Acquired 1981.
80669	Ballast Wagon	West Somerset Railway		Built 1936. Acquired 1988.
80684	Ballast Wagon	Severn Valley Railway		Built 1936. Acquired 1984.

Rail & Timber Wagons

Number	Type	Location	Photograph	Notes
32337/8	Single Bolster Wagons	Didcot Railway Centre		Built 1881 Acquire 1994
32742	Bogie Bolster Wagon	West Somerset Railway		Built 1938 Acquired 1973
32822	Bogie Bolster Wagon	West Somerset Railway		Built 1939 Acquired 1990

Number	Type	Location	Photograph	Notes
60828	Gane A Bogie Bolster Wagon	Dean Forest Railway		Built 1937 Acquired 1982
84685	Bogie Bolster Wagon	West Somerset Railway		Built 1918 Acquired 1993

Hand Cranes

Number	Type	Location	Photograph	Notes
264	Hand Crane	West Somerset Railway		Built 1908 Acquired 1982
446	Hand Crane	Severn Valley Railway		Built 1896 Acquired 1982
601	Hand Crane	Kidderminster Museum		Built 1892 Acquired 1982
603	Hand Crane	Moreton-on-Lugg		Built 1892 Ex Broad Gauge Acquired 1982

Match Trucks

Number	Type	Location	Photograph	Notes
541	Match Truck	West Somerset Railway		Built 1884 Acquired 1982
603	Match Truck	Moerton-on-Lugg		Built 1883 Acquired 1982

Tool Van & Workshop Van

Number	Type	Location	Photograph	Notes
16908	Pooley Van	Honeybourne		Built 1905 Acquired 1995
80982	Workshop Van	Severn Valley Railway		Built 1913 Acquired 1972

Number	Type	Location	Photograph	Notes
83831	Loco Coal Wagon	Severn Valley Railway		Built 1932 Acquired 1985

Cattle Wagon

Number	Type	Location	Photograph	Notes
106557*	Cattle Wagon Frame	West Somerset Railway		Built 1937 Acquire 2021 Number and Diagram under investigation
78	BRW Cattle Wagon Chassis	West Somerset Railway		Acquired 2021 Ex SRPS Bo'ness

Grounded Body

Number	Type	Location	Photograph	Notes
37150	Grounded Body	Severn Valley Railway		Built 1892 Wooden Framed Mink