All Manor Of Comebacks - Our Gorgeous 78xx's are Back!

Warbonnet · September 9

As teased last week with our Accurascale Exclusive model of "Lydham Manor" in Great Western lined livery, our Manors are back!

We’re delighted to reveal the main range of our Manor locomotives, comprising four new models and featuring some much-requested names that were not included in our first run.

Let’s take a look at what’s coming up, along with a glimpse into their operational histories.

7819 Hinton Manor BR Lined Green (late crest)

The last Manor to be outshopped from Swindon in lined green (February 1960), following a decade in plain black, No. 7819 Hinton Manor spent its entire career in Wales. It later became a stalwart of the former Cambrian lines during the British Railways period.

In its final five years of service, before withdrawal in November 1965, it was allocated to Oswestry, Aberystwyth, and Shrewsbury. A popular choice to haul the Cambrian Coast Express, it was kept in particularly fine condition.

In August 1963, it was one of five Manors prepared to immaculate condition for Royal Train duties ahead of the visit of HM The Queen and HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, to Aberdovey. The following month it was further decorated with white-painted embellishments, including buffer heads, lamp irons, and smokebox door strapping.

Fortunately, No. 7819 was one of eight members of the class to survive a trip to the scrapyard, being rescued from Woodham Brothers, Barry Island, in January 1973. Restored to action in 1977 on the Severn Valley Railway, it returned to the main line in 1985 for the Great Western 150 celebrations, later starring in British Rail’s Cardigan Bay Express services in 1987. It last steamed in 1994 and is now a static exhibit at Highley on the SVR.

7822 Foxcote Manor BR Lined Green (late crest)

The most requested number/livery combination for our second run, No. 7822 Foxcote Manor was the second of the British Railways 78XX locomotives built, entering service at Oswestry in December 1950.

It received lined green exactly seven years later, following a short stint in plain black at Chester, before spending most of its career on the Cambrian lines at Oswestry, Machynlleth, and Shrewsbury.

Another member of the famed Royal Train quintet prepared under Oswestry shed foreman A.E. Swannick in August 1963, it regularly hauled the Cambrian Coast Express to and from Aberystwyth, as well as undertaking passenger, parcels, milk, and freight duties. Withdrawn in November 1965 during the major cull of the class, it was one of ten Manors to go that year, leaving only two in traffic.

Happily, it was saved by the Foxcote Manor Society in January 1975 after nearly a decade at Barry scrapyard. Following a decade at Oswestry, restoration was completed at the Llangollen Railway, with the locomotive returning to traffic in April 1988. Withdrawn from service again in August 2023, it is now at Tyseley undergoing a major overhaul.

7825 Lechlade Manor BR Lined Black (early crest)

Named after a Victorian country house in Gloucestershire near the Oxfordshire border, No. 7825 Lechlade Manor is presented in its original delivery scheme: the infamous lined black “Riddles’ Revenge” livery.

This nickname reflected the irony of a Great Western-designed locomotive wearing a scheme inspired by the London & North Western Railway. Yet the lined black suited the elegantly proportioned 78XXs well and is, in some circles, regarded more highly than the later lined green.

Unlike our first-run release, No. 7820 Dinmore Manor, which carried red-backed plates, No. 7825 is depicted with the more common black-backed name and number plates. Completed at Swindon in December 1950, its first allocation was Croes Newydd, Wrexham. It was the last Manor to remain in lined black, repainted only in April 1956 following a heavy general overhaul at Carmarthen.

After two years at Neyland (1961–63), it spent its final months at Reading before being withdrawn in May 1964, after just 13 and a half years and around 450,000 miles of service. Sent to Birds of Risca for scrapping, it was dismantled just three months later in August 1964, with no chance of preservation.

7828 Odney Manor BR Lined Green (late crest)

Another Manor that spent its BR career exclusively in Wales, No. 7828 Odney Manor is unusual in being one of two named after houses that never actually existed.

While No. 7808 Cookham Manor was named after a historic estate, the supposed Odney Manor in Berkshire was in fact known as Lullebrook Manor. Entering traffic at Neath in December 1950, No. 7828 soon transferred to Shrewsbury. In December 1951, it lost its lined black for plain black following overhaul at Wolverhampton, but in July 1956 it became the very first Manor to receive lined green – a livery reminiscent of the GWR’s classic pre-war style.

Later allocated to Croes Newydd and Aberystwyth, it returned to Shrewsbury in January 1965 for its final ten months before withdrawal that October. Rescued from Barry scrapyard in 1981, it was restored on the Gloucestershire–Warwickshire Railway and steamed again in 1987.

Transferred to the West Somerset Railway in 1995, it briefly carried the name Norton Manor (2011–18) in honour of 40 Commando at Norton Fitzwarren. Now restored to its original name, and paired with newly rebuilt Churchward tender T2061, it continues to operate in lined green as a regular performer on the WSR.

The Model

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

Delivery of the Manors will commence in Q4 2026, priced at £189.99 (DC/DCC Ready) and £289.99 (DCC Sound fitted).

Pre-order your Manor directly via the link below, or through your local stockist.