A Great Western branch-line engine
The Small Prairies were designed under George Jackson Churchward, the Great Western Railway’s Chief Mechanical Engineer, for country branch lines and local trains. Their 2-6-2 wheel arrangement, nicknamed ‘Prairie’, gave them a good turn of speed and the ability to run well in either direction.
4561 is one of the 45XX class, with the original flat-topped side tanks, and was completed at Swindon Works in 1924. Later Small Prairies, the 4575 class, had larger sloping-topped tanks. Only three 45XX engines survive in preservation, so 4561 is a rare survivor. The new side tanks being built at Minehead faithfully copy her original flat-topped design.
Engines like her were a familiar sight on lines such as the Minehead branch, which makes the West Somerset Railway a perfect home for her.
Rescued from Barry
After withdrawal by British Railways, 4561 was sold for scrap to Woodham Brothers at Barry in South Wales, where hundreds of steam locomotives waited, slowly rusting. She was rescued in 1975 and came to the West Somerset Railway, passing into the ownership of the West Somerset Railway Association in 1982.
Restoration began in 1985, carried out mainly by volunteers and paid for by voluntary donations. On 15 August 1989 she steamed for the first time in preservation.
Nine years in service
For the next nine years 4561 hauled passenger trains between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead, running some 43,000 miles. In 1998 she was withdrawn needing a major overhaul.
A second restoration
The overhaul was sidelined for several years. In 2019 work began again with new cylinder castings, and since then a great deal has been achieved. The chassis is being rebuilt at Williton by the West Somerset Railway’s team, a volunteer team at Minehead is building new side tanks, and the boiler is being overhauled by Riley and Son in Lancashire.
Read the story of the restoration ›
The people
The restoration has been led day to day at Williton by Ryan Pope, with Matt Healey and the West Somerset Railway’s team, and experienced advice from Bob Meanley and others. The late Mike Johns guided the work for many years and wrote the early restoration diary. The new side tanks are the work of Paul Orrells and the ‘Tank Team’ at Minehead. The WSRA’s trustees and members, and everyone who has donated, have made it all possible.