Foxcote Manor Update

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Foxy is gearing up for the festive season at Llangollen Railway as a a program of Santa Specials approaches. It promises to be a busy few months for our beloved engine as once the year is over she will be moved inside as work starts on her motion and cylinders.

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A mixture of paid and volunteer work will see the rods come off, a piston and valve exam will take place and some re-metalling of bearings is expected to take up the play in the side rods. 

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For the latest news keep joining us here!

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Foxcote Manor Christmas Cards Now Sold Out!

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We are sorry to disappoint anyone who was hoping to buy the 2016 FMS Christmas Card, unfortunately we had sold out by November 1st! We promise to order more next year.!

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Foxcote Manor Update

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Foxy is gearing up for the festive season at Llangollen Railway as a a program of Santa Specials approaches. It promises to be a busy few months for our beloved engine as once the year is over she will be moved inside as work starts on her motion and cylinders.

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A mixture of paid and volunteer work will see the rods come off, a piston and valve exam will take place and some re-metalling of bearings is expected to take up the play in the side rods. 

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For the latest news keep joining us here!

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Foxcote Manor Now at the North Yorkshire Moors

Foxy is now back at Llangollen after her visits to the North Yorkshire Moors and the Keighley and Worth Valley Railways. We are looking forward to some winter running on Santa Specials and Mince Pies before a busy winter of running maintenance and cosmetic work.

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FMS Christmas Cards on sale now

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We hate to remind you, but its nearly Christmas! Once again we are selling packs of Christmas cards, with the proceeds going to the upkeep of our Foxy! They are sold in packs of 10 costing £4 each. If you require delivery add £1.28 to your order.

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Email wynfordneil@outlook.com or brucemundie@hotmail.co.uk to order yours. The postcard will feature this image of 7822.

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7822 Raffle Announcment

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Thank you to everyone who supported the 2016 FMS raffle by buying or seling tickets. The signs are that we have had a good year. This support will prove crucial to help keep 7822 in steam. We are long way from being out of the woods but the signs are encouraging. We are ever so grateful for all of the support we receive, the FMS is nothing without you. The draw was made by 7822 Trustees, Bruce Mundie and Graham Hoyland.

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The lucky winners were;

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1st - £200 - Mr Blake, Hull.

2nd - £78.22 - Ms Smith, Hull.

3rd - £50 - Mr Prater, Birmingham.

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There were 8 other winners of other prizes and these were;

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• D.Kerrison

• M.Moore

• T.Warburton

• M.Jenkins

• M.Alder

• Mrs Hart

• M.Smith

• Mr Butchard

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Foxy Off On Her Travels This Autumn

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Foxcote is off to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway at the end of the monthand during October. Firstly, she will take part in the Welsh Gala at the NYMR from 31st September to October 2nd, featuring 45428 as 45344, 44806 as 44776, 76079 as 76038 and more.

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7822 Annual Summer Social

 

Thank you to everyone who attended the summer social! The evening raised well over £1000 for 7822 and a good time was had by all, watch this space for a write up and new gallery!

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7822 Update

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Foxcote Manor is due to go on her travels later this year. Dates and venues to be confirmed. She spent the last weekend masquerading as 7807 Compton Manor. Again a write up will appear in the coming days!

 

Foxy McFoxface "A Really Useful Engine"

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7822 was in action last weekend (August 6th & 7th) at the Day Out With Thomas weekend at Llangollen. Completed 3 express round trips per day pulling a load of 6 coaches to Carrog. 7822 will be in steam all week at Llangollen Railway on an "A" timetable. Why not go down for a ride behind our beloved engine.

 

Foxy "Straight Outta Compton"

 

FMS member Iain Ross, joint co-ordinator of the Llangollen Railway 1960's weekend and loco weathering expert requested to weather Foxy for the 60's weekend with an added twist. In years gone by we have just painted some numbers on the side, and took the plates off but this year he had something up his sleeve. 

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LR driver Mickey Compton, owns a full set of replica plates of his Manor namesake and offered them to Iain allowing him to bring 7807 "Compton Manor" back to life for one weekend only. The photographers took to it and readers of Steam Railway Magazine will see Duncan Langtrees epic shot of 7807 and three suburban coaches at Carrog on pages 5 & 6.

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Thanks  to Iain for getting 7822 some publicity when he could have easily given another loco the honour.  I will add some pictures shortly.

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7822 Annual Summer Social

 

Thank you to everyone who attended the summer social! The evening raised well over £1000 for 7822 and a good time was had by all, watch this space for a write up and new gallery!

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7822 Update

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Foxcote Manor is due to go on her travels later this year. Dates and venues to be confirmed. She spent the last weekend masquerading as 7807 Compton Manor. Again a write up will appear in the coming days!

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Foxcote Manor Summer Social 2016

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This years summer social will feature 7822 and a round trip to Corwen where there will be music and BBQ and Stationmaster Bailey's Bar will be open to passengers. It looks like it will  be a good evening out in the valley. Bring your  friends and celebrate 44 years of the Foxcote Manor Society.

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7822 Evening Land Cruise - CANCELLED

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Unfortunately due to a lack of bookings it has been decided that we will cancel the Summer Evening Landcruise on June 15th and instead turn our attention to our annual summer social instead. We may look to revive the Summer Evening Landcruise in the future and we will be sure to let you know.

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Thank you to those who had booked and we wish to send our sincere apololies to you.

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7822 Update

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Foxcote Manor continues to rack up the turns since her return to steam, this weekend she was in steam alongside 5199 and then on Sunday alongside Llangollen Diesel Groups Class 37, 37240. FMS members Graham Hoyland and Robin Matthews were on the footplate over the weekend.

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7822 Update 

Foxy will be out this weekend at Llangollen Railway alongside ex-GWR large prairie No.5199. Hopefully the sun will shine on those of you looking to take in some nostalgia on your Bank Holiday weekend. Come and chat to our footplate crews and take a look at some proper traction! We look forward to seeing you!

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FMS secretary Graham Hoyland and member Tommy Jobson on board 7822 at Llangollen Railway, photo by R.Alan Jones.

 

7822 "The Really Useful Engine"

 

Foxcote Manor featured at the Day Out With Thomas event at Llangollen Railway on the 16th/17th of April, strange looking at 7822 with a face on! She will feature at the the event next weekend, so if you are looking to see Foxcote in steam and combine it with a family day out next weekend might be just what you are looking for!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7822 Reaching a Wider Audience.

 

It is safe to say that since the return of Foxcote Manor there has been a surge in interest in the locomotive, we have been featured by the Bash Mash in an interesting post on their Facebook page, we have featured in the Wrexham Evening Leader and the Shropshire Star and we have received messages from well wishers as far away as Australia and New Zealand. We hope that Foxy continues to flourish. 

 

One way to support is to become part of the club and put £10 per month by direct debit to support 7822's upkeep. Ten people have signed up so far, why not make it eleven?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foxcote Manor Stars at "Along Cambrian Lines"

 

April 8-10 2016 will be remembered by many as the best steam gala ever to be held at the Llangollen Railway. The idea of basing a Cambrian event at Llangollen has been done many times before but there was something special about this one. The accuracy involved not only in the locomotives but the formations of rolling stock was spot on as well as the brochure put together by FMS member Peter Dickenson which was superb. The gala was the brainchild of FMS member Matt Davies so we are grateful to him for the opportunity to be a star attraction.

 

Foxcote Manor was undoubtably one of the stars of the show, performing alongside sister engine 7820 "Dinmore Manor", both in British Railways unlined black livery. Also visiting was small prairie No. 4566 from the Severn Valley Railway. 

 

The event kicked off on Friday morning, the valley was quiet, the sun just breaking through. That was until 7822 and 7820 cam thundering up the bank with a 9 coach train in tow. The noise was biblical, I stood at Berwyn Station with Peter and a cup of coffee and watched the 09:20 in awe! FMS' very own Graham Hoyland was driving 7822 with FMS trustee Martin Fuller firing and FMS members Tommy Jobson and Mike Solloway on board.

 

7822 ran all day and night, hauling the night trains ferrying people to and from Baileys Bar, a must visit for Manor fans as its a 7822 shrine, Bailey being Paul Bailey, treasurer of the FMS. Another effort of note was that of trustee Alasdair Rogers who sold over £200 worth of FMS merchandise on the Friday and just under £700 over the 3 days!

 

The image below shows 7822 piloting 7820 on Friday morning with 9 coaches in tow, picture is copyrighted by Duncan Langtree.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday morning started in a similar fashion, this time the double header would be piloted by 7820 with 7822 banking, Llangollen Railway CME and FMS life member Dave Owen drove, FMS trustee Mat Grindley fired with FMS member and key volunteer Tom Peacock completing the team. The 9 coaches were again in tow and there was definitely a feeling of the old Cambrian at Carrog as 7822 pulled the long rake solo through the station. A real credit to the event is that the trains were full all weekend. It was great to wait for a train to cross and see it pull in headed by a Manor, a western tank engine or 80072, a BR Standard 4 tank engine. 

 

The image below also by Duncan shows Mat Grindley on the footplate of 7822 on Saturday 9th April, 28 years to the day since 7822's comeback train after restoration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday saw the Manor work another long shift, driven throughout the day by Manor members Harry Barber and Martin Fuller, fired by member and future CME Graham Elwood and member Robyn Matthews and supported by Llangollen Railways Mr & Mrs Durant, Simon and Steph are both members and key volunteers of 7822. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The FMS wish to thank all those who have supported us during the weekend and also the work of the volunteers for keeping her looking so good. Also thanks to some of our friends who have taken spectacular images of 7822 for us to use, namely Karl Heath and Duncan Langtree.

 

 

Foxcote Manor Comeback Special 

 

Saturday April 2nd was the day we had all been waiting for, the first time that Foxcote Manor had hauled a train unassisted since November 2013 and the first time a Manor has ventured west of Bonwm Halt since 1964.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7822 passed her boiler ins test on the 22nd March which came as a real boost and the running in took place for the rest of that week. Then came the Comeback Special. Over 100 people bought tickets to ride on our celebratory train, and we provided a meal and offered bottles of our new real ale, Foxcote Manors 89 A-le, the product of Tommy Jobsons efforts and also thanks to Ken for providing the beer, which I know I enjoyed!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7822 performed faultlessly and we enjoyed the atmosphere created by having so many people around happy to see her back in steam. 7822 then hauled the real ale train, the last run of the evening being an absolute romp, Martin Fuller was on the sticks and Tommy Jobson was on the shovel. It was fired excellently by a man who lives in Ellesmere and has the Cambrian in his blood, one of his ancestors being a Cambrian Railways driver!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7822 Update February 21st

 

work continued again this weekend, with a group of volunteers working on the paint and bodywork of 7822. The backhead cladding received it coat of gloss by Martin Fuller and Mat Grindley before the paid staff fit the pipework in the coming week.

 

Tom Peacock and Steph Durant painted the coal space in black, it was looking very worn and a bit of an eyesore so we are grateful for their efforts.

Harry Barber and Simon Durant worked on the cladding sheets that needed repairing while Alasdair Rogers was cleaning up all of the pipework. We are working as fast as we can and are still hopeful of making the Spring Gala.

 

A reminder to those who donated to 7822 in our schemes, the run to Corwen will be on April 2nd. Trips will depart, 14:00 and 16:10 (the 16:10 will go to Corwen), invitations are in the post and will reach you this week.

 

Regards,

The FMS

 

7822 Progress Report 25/01/2016

 

The works continued this weekend as a large group of volunteers descended upon Llangollen MPD to assist with getting 7822 ready for the "Along Cambrian Lines" gala. The running boards were cleaned, sanded and painted and work was done to prepare the cab for finishing. 

 

The boiler passed its out of frame steam test on Friday 22nd January and it is anticipated that the boiler will be reunited with the frames by the 30th of January. Watch this space!

 

 

 

7822 Progress Report 17/01/2016

 

Foxcote Manor members continued to work on 7822 this weekend in some pretty cold conditions at Llangollen Railway MPD. A pesky snapped superheater stud needed to be removed so that Llangollen Railway can refit the superheating equipment to the boiler, Steve Nott, Martin Fuller and Tommy Jobson took care of that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While all that excitement was taking place in the machine shop, the rest of the gang, Roger Hodgkinson, Gary Roberts, Oliver Williams and Mat Grindley were flatting and painting the cladding and exterior components of 7822 for reassembly. Thank god for the stove!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Sunday, Tom Peacock lit another warming fire in 7822's boiler for the staff to bring around to full working pressure on Monday. It is hoped that a boiler inspection will take place this week and then the ball will be well and truly rolling for 7822 to appear at the Spring Gala in April with 7822 and 4566. 

 

Working weekend will be pretty much every weekend so if you want to help get in touch on the contact page or via our Facebook pages.

 

 

Foxcote and Dinmore to Reunite in April

 

BR Manors No.7822 "Foxcote Manor" and No.7820 "Dinmore Manor" are set to be reunited for the first time in steam since Shrewsbury in November 1965.

 

Llangollen Railway events organiser and former FMS Trustee Matt Davies has reached an agreement with Dinmore Manor Locomotive Ltd to hire in 7820 for LR's Spring Steam Gala on 8-10 April 2016.

 

It will be the first time that two "Manors" have appeared in BR unlined black in preservation meaning it will be an occasion to savour on the 10 mile section of the Ruabon to Barmouth line. Also visiting will be small prairie No. 4566 from the Severn Valley Railway after a 25 year absence from Llangollen.

 

To learn more about 7820 visit their website http://www.dinmoremanor.co.uk

 

To find out more about the LR spring gala visit  http://www.llangollen-railway.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

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7822 Passes the Test! 

 

Foxcote Manors boiler underwent hydraulic testing on the 11th December and met the boiler inspectors standard. The next step is the steam test and hopefully that will lead to boiler 6419 being craned back into the freshly painted frames of 7822.

 

Volunteers continue to work on the rebuild and repainting of Foxy.

 

 

7822 Donor Special

 

The Foxcote Manor Society expect to run a private charter on Saturday 2nd April 2016 for those who donated to 7822's repairs. 

 

This special working will be the first time a Manor has reached Corwen since 1964. Invites will be sent out in the coming weeks.