The Most Impeccable Manors! - Preserved Lydham Manor Accurascale Exclusive Leads Run 2

Warbonnet · September 5

What’s the model we’re most asked about at shows when it comes to reruns?

Is it the Class 37? No.
Is it the Deltics? Again, no!

It’s actually the Caledonian Sleepers (more on those very soon!)—but just behind them, it’s our much-loved 78xx Manors!

We’re delighted to confirm that they’re back! Our main range of Manors will be revealed next week, but first we can announce our latest “Accurascale Exclusives” model, available only direct from our website: 7827 Lydham Manor in Great Western lined livery!

Locomotive History

Described as the ‘flagship’ of the Dartmouth Steam Railway, ‘Manor’ 4-6-0 No. 7827 Lydham Manor was one of five members of the class to be prepared to work the Royal Train and associated empty stock duties in August 1963 as well as being the first of the ex-Barry Island 78XXs to return to steam, having only been preceded by No. 7808 Cookham Manor, which was sold to preservationists in full working order.

Withdrawn in October 1965, it was just the fifth locomotive to leave Woodham Brothers’ scrapyard in South Wales. On 13 June 1970 it was moved to Newton Abbot for restoration, hauled first by Class 37 No. 6879 and then ‘Warship’ No. 856 Trojan. The British Railways-built Manor returned to steam in March 1973, making its first solo runs on the Dartmouth’s newly acquired Torbay Steam Railway (later renamed the DSR) between Paignton and Kingswear on 27 April 1973.

Despite being delivered almost two years after the Great Western Railway was nationalised, No. 7827 entered preservation in the iconic pre-1934 fully lined green livery with “GREAT WESTERN” on the tender—despite the class never officially carrying this scheme. The pre-war batch had been turned out in plain green with no lining and the ‘shirtbutton’ monogram. Nevertheless, the sight delighted hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers who enjoyed haulage behind the locomotive for four decades, until it was repainted into its as-delivered lined black in 2011.

Withdrawn again in 2020, it underwent a lengthy overhaul at Churston and triumphantly returned to service in 2024, resplendent in lined British Railways green as the pride of the DSR fleet.

The Model

Building on the success of our first run of these wonderful locomotives—our very first steam-outline models—we’ve listened closely to feedback from modellers and made further improvements. One key upgrade is the redesigned speaker system on sound-fitted versions. Thanks to a completely reengineered sound chamber, performance and clarity are now better than ever.

As with all Accurascale Exclusive releases, 7827 will come with special presentation packaging and certificate.

Price: £189.99 (DC/DCC Ready) or £289.99 (DCC Sound fitted)
Arrival: Q4 2026
Limited production run

You can pre-order today with no deposit until arrival in stock, or spread the cost over up to 12 months using our part-payment service—at no extra cost!