Production samples of new GWR 7800 Manor arrive

Building on the developments from the Dapol Mogul, including Dapol's slide in PCB in the boiler for tool-free DCC fitting and sugar cube speaker enclosure (for sound models) and conductive drawbar providing tender wheel pick-up and connections for high bass speaker, the new locomotive will feature a diecast chassis, firebox glow, a detailed cab and a sprung front pony truck.  

Proposed models

• 4S-001-009 Granville Manor 7818 GW Green Shirt Button
• 4S-001-010 Cockington Manor 7806 GW Green GWR
• 4S-001-011 Ditcheat Manor 7821 BR Lined Black Early Crest
• 4S-001-012 Foxcote Manor 7822 BR Black Early Crest
• 4S-001-013 Garsington Manor 7817 BR Lined Green Late Crest
• 4S-001-014 Bradley Manor 7802 BR Lined Green Late Crest

Production samples have now been approved by the design team and the models will be shipping any day now, expected to arrive at the start of September 2024.

Priced at £178.99 DCC Ready, £212.33 DCC-Fitted and £330.43 Sound-Fitted, the new models are available to order directly from Dapol or its stockists.

About the prototype

The GWR Manor was a versatile 4-6-0 configured locomotive designed with a lighter axle loading than the existing and popular Grange Class, which enabled the Manor to operate in regions of the GWR where this was not possible with a locomotive of comparable power. In all, 30 Manor class locomotives were manufactured at Swindon in two batches: 20 between 1938 and 1939 and then, a further 10 post-nationalisation in 1950, which were designated 5MT. Although initially the performance of the locomotive was deemed at best mediocre, subtle internal refinements made towards the mid-1950s resulted in a successful and popular locomotive. In all, nine examples of the Manor survived into preservation.

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