The GWR 813 Preservation Fund is an organisation that was founded in 1966 to acquire, restore and preserve Port Talbot Railway No. 26 (GWR 813). It is based on the Severn Valley Railway.

History The Fund was formed in 1966 to purchase the last-known surviving Port Talbot Railway (No. 26, later GWR 813) steam locomotive from the National Coal Board. They purchased GWR 813 in 1967 and it was moved from Backworth Colliery the same year, later moving to the Severn Valley Railway. They are now currently based at the Severn Valley Railway and have a sales stand at Kidderminster.

GWR 813

Port Talbot Railway No. 26 was built by Hudswell Clarke in 1901 along with five other locomotives. It was withdrawn in 1933 and then sold to Robert Stephenson & Company in 1934. Later it was sold to Backworth Colliery and re-numbered 12. It then became NCB 11 in 1950. The newly-formed GWR 813 Preservation Fund were looking to purchase this locomotive, it being the last of its kind. Offered for £320, then sold to the Preservation Fund in 1967. It was displayed as a static exhibit at the Rail 150 Celebrations in 1975. Mechanical faults prevented the locomotive from being fully operational for over a decade, although it steamed on a few occasions.

The trust fund got the locomotive fully operational in July 2000, when it was the only one in service at the time, at the time that many locomotives were reported to have boiler issues. After it was overhauled, from 2001 to 2009 the locomotive visited several heritage lines including Didcot, Dean Forest, Pontypool & Blaenavon, WSR, South Devon Rly, Vale of Glamorgan, etc. The '813 Fund' became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation on October 11, 2021. Registered Charity Number: 1196114.

Owned stock The GWR 813 Preservation Fund bought a covered van in 1968 to store parts for their locomotive, this was followed by the fund's interest in purchasing more ex-GWR stock. Today they own four coaches, and over 100 wagons of many types, in the collection is the only surviving ex-Brecon and Merthyr Railway open wagon.

Locomotives Number Type Current Location Photograph NotesPort Talbot Railway No. 26 (GWR No. 813) Port Talbot Railway 0-6-0ST Severn Valley RailwayBuilt in 1901. Acquired in 1967. Operational. Returned to traffic in November 2016. The oldest locomotive in operation on the SVR. (Boiler ticket expires in 2026).

Carriages Number Type Current Location Photograph Notes98 GWR 98 Hawksworth Full Brake 'Snake'Severn Valley RailwayPurchased direct from BR following withdrawal from service in 1977.215 GWR 215 Dean 4-Wheeled 1st/2nd CompositeGwili RailwayBuilt in 1900. Acquired in 1985.1146 GWR 1146 Collett Corridor ThirdSevern Valley RailwayBuilt in 1938. Operational. Part of ex-Swindon test train.4872 GWR 4872 Collett Corridor Third Bow EndedSouth Devon RailwayBuilt in 1927. Acquired in 1984. Moved from the Severn Valley Railway in 2008.

Brown (passenger rated) vehicles Number Type Current Location Photograph Notes55GWR 55 Breakdown Riding VanSevern Valley RailwayBuilt 1908 Lot 571 Acquired 1973 Allocated to Trowbridge - Westbury - Severn Valley Railway

photo Gareth Price66GWR 66 Breakdown Tool VanSevern Valley RailwayBuilt 1921 Lot 864 Acquired 1985 Allocated to Taunton when built Then to Severn Valley Railway photo Gareth Price594 GWR 594 Monster' Scenery VanSouth Devon Railway Built in 1920. Diagram P18 Lot 1265 Acquired 1999 Enparts Vehicle 975789 photo Nick Baxter2303 GWR 2303 Fruit VanSevern Valley Railway Built 1898 Acquired 19732424 GWR 2424 Fruit 'C' Fruit VanSevern Valley Railway6. Built 1911 Acquired 19862671 GWR 2671 'Bloater' Fish VanDidcot Railway Centre Built 1925 Acquired 19762862GWR 2862 Fruit 'C' Fruit Van.Didcot Railway Centre Built 1939 Acquired 19802890 GWR 2890 Siphon 'G' Bogie Milk VanWest Somerset Railway Built 1945 Acquired 19872988 GWR 2988 Siphon 'G' Bogie Milk Van.Dean Forest Railway Built 1945 Acquired 198258725 Improvised Gunpowder Van Severn Valley Railway Built 1896. Acquired 1977.105493 'Cone' Gunpowder Van West Somerset Railway Built 1924. Acquired 1976.

Covered goods vans Number Type Current Location Photograph Notes16307 Mink 'A' Covered Goods Van West Somerset Railway Built 1913. Acquired 1991.42239 Grain Hopper Van Didcot Railway Centre Built 1927.65620 'Vanfit' Covered Goods Wagon Severn Valley Railway Built 1947. Acquired 1975.65801 'Mogo' Motor Car Van Severn Valley Railway Built 1946. Acquired 1973.93016 Mink 'A' Covered Goods Wagon Severn Valley RailwayBuilt 1914. Acquired 1972.93045 Mink 'A' Covered Goods Van Severn Valley Railway Built in 1914. Acquired 2008.95353 Covered Goods VanSevern Valley Railway Built in 1916. Ex-Rutland Railway Museum.101961 Mink 'A' Covered Goods Van Severn Valley Railway Built 1923. Acquired 1989.103592 Mink 'A' Covered Goods Wagon Severn Valley Railway Built in 1923. Acquired 1987.104621Mink 'A' Covered Goods Van Severn Valley Railway Built 1924. Acquired 1971.112889 Mink 'G' Covered Goods Wagon Severn Valley Railway Built 1931. Acquired 1993.126359'Mogo' Motor Car Van South Devon Railway Built in 1934.126779 Mink 'A' Covered Goods Van West Somerset RailwayBuilt 1936. Acquired in 1981.139760 Mink 'A' Covered Goods Van West Somerset RailwayBuilt 1938. Acquired in 1991.145428 Covered Goods Van Didcot Railway Centre Built 1944. Acquired 1973.

Water & Milk Tanks Number Type Current Location Photograph Notes102 6-Wheeled Water Tank Wagon West Somerset Railway Built 1946. Acquired 1996.2016 6-Wheeled Milk Tank Wagon South Devon Railway Built 1931. Acquired 1994. Originally 4-wheeled for United Dairies.2501 'Rotank' 6-Wheeled Road Milk Tank Flat Wagon Evesham Built 1932. First such vehicle built by GWR.25046-Wheeled Milk Tank Wagon Severn Valley Railway Built 1932. Acquired 1995.3018 6-Wheeled Milk Tank Wagon West Somerset Railway Built 1946. Acquired 1994.

Fruit Vans Number Type Current Location Photograph Notes82554 Fruit 'B' Banana Van Severn Valley Railway Built 1908. Acquired 1991.105565 Fruit 'B' Banana Van Evesham. Built in 1929. Acquired 1990. Body and underframe only.

Meat Vans Number Type Current Location Photograph Notes105860 Mica 'B' Refrigerated Meat Van Didcot Railway Centre Built 1925. Acquired 1976. Photo: Edward Bull105873 Mica 'B' Refrigerated Meat Van Severn Valley Railway. Built 1925. Acquired 1973.105916 Mica 'B' Refrigerated Meat Van South Devon Railway Built 1925. Acquired 1978.

Open Goods Wagons Number Type Current Location Photograph Notes10931 Open 'A' 5-Plank Open Goods Wagon Avon Valley Railway Built 1913. Acquired 1975.13154 Open 'A' Open Goods Wagon. Severn Valley Railway Built 1913. Acquired 1975.19818 Open Goods Wagon Didcot Railway Centre Built 1917. Acquired 1981.25190 Open Goods Wagon Built 1904. Acquired 1988.41277 4 Plank Open Wagon Severn Valley Railway Built 1890. Acquired 1984.gwr813.org/pagew43.html52137 Open Goods Wagon Evesham Built 1892. Acquired 1996.gwr813.org/pagew44.html52243 Open Goods Wagon Avon Valley Railway Built 1896. Acquired 1996.75745 Open Goods Wagon Avon Valley Railway Built 1902. Acquired 1996.86582 Open 'A' 5-Plank Open Wagon Avon Valley Railway Built 1912. Acquired 1975.94059China Clay Open Goods Wagon Severn Valley Railway Built 1914. Acquired 1975.97398 Open 'A' 4-plank Open Goods Wagon Severn Valley Railway Built 1921. Acquired 1970.98480 Open 'A' Open WagonSevern Valley Railway Built 1921. Acquired 1981.gwr813.org/pagew50.html99766 Open 'A' 4 Plank Open Wagon Severn Valley Railway Built 1902. Acquired 1990. Ex-Brecon & Merthyr Railway.99965 Open 'C' Open Goods Wagon Severn Valley Railway Built 1927. Acquired 1988.102691 Open 'B' Open Goods Wagon Severn Valley Railway Built 1924. Acquired 1985.108085 5 plank Open Goods WagonSevern Valley Railway Built 1924. 108207 5-plank Open Goods Wagon South Devon Railway Acquired 1982.117993 Open Goods Wagon Didcot Railway Centre Built 1931. Acquired 1981.135744 Open 'A' 5-plank Open Goods Wagon West Somerset Railway Built 1937. Acquired 1993.137696 5-plank Open Goods Wagon West Somerset Railway Built 1938. Acquired 1993.

Brake Vans Number Type Current Location Photograph Notes17464 20 Ton Goods Brake Van Avon Valley RailwayBuilt 1940 Diagram AA21 Lot 1370 Acquired 199468501 20 Ton Goods Brake Van Severn Valley RailwayBuilt 1925 Diagram AA15 Lot 932

Acquired 197168765 20 Ton Goods Brake Van West Somerset RailwayBuilt 1939 Diagram AA20 Lot 1277

Acquired 19886878420 Ton Goods Brake VanAvon Valley RailwayBuilt 1939 Diagram AA20 Lot 1277

Acquired February 201611457120 Ton Goods Brake vanWest Somerset Railway Built 1934

Diagram AA20 Lot 1171

Acquired November 2021

Crated Glass Wagon Number Type Current Location Photograph Notes41723 Coral 'A' Plated Glass Wagon Didcot Railway Centre Built 1908. Acquired 1981. Awaiting restoration..

Boiler Truck Number Type Current Location Photograph Notes41945'Crocodile G' Boiler Trolley West Somerset RailwayBuilt 1908. Acquired 1995.

Machinery Trucks Number Type Current Location Photograph Notes41990 Loriot 'Y' Machinery Flat Wagon Severn Valley RailwayBuilt 1939. Acquired 1994. 42138 Machinery Flat Wagon Severn Valley Railway Built 1909. Acquired 1984. 42272 Loriot 'L' Machinery Flat Wagon Severn Valley Railway Acquired 1981.

Ballast Wagons Number Type Current Location Photograph Notes30903 Ballast Wagon Severn Valley Railway Built 1939. Acquired 1973. 40841 Ballast Wagon Severn Valley RailwayBuilt 1893. Acquired 1990. 60562 Ballast Wagon Severn Valley Railway Built 1900. Acquired 1980. 60906 Ballast Wagon Severn Valley Railway Built 1915. Acquired 1990. 80646 Ballast Wagon Dean Forest Railway Built 1936. Acquired 1981. 80669 Ballast Wagon West Somerset Railway Built 1936. Acquired 1988. 80684 Ballast Wagon Severn Valley Railway Built 1936. Acquired 1984.

Rail & Timber Wagons +NumberTypeLocationPhotographNotes32337/8Single Bolster WagonsDidcot Railway CentreBuilt 1881 Acquire 199432742Bogie Bolster WagonWest Somerset RailwayBuilt 1938 Acquired 197332822Bogie Bolster WagonWest Somerset RailwayBuilt 1939 Acquired 1990 +NumberTypeLocationPhotograph Notes60828Gane A Bogie Bolster WagonDean Forest RailwayBuilt 1937 Acquired 198284685Bogie Bolster WagonWest Somerset RailwayBuilt 1918 Acquired 1993

Hand Cranes +NumberTypeLocationPhotographNotes264Hand CraneWest Somerset RailwayBuilt 1908 Acquired 1982446Hand CraneSevern Valley RailwayBuilt 1896 Acquired 1982601Hand CraneKidderminster MuseumBuilt 1892 Acquired 1982603Hand CraneMoreton-on-LuggBuilt 1892 Ex Broad Gauge

Acquired 1982

Match Trucks +NumberTypeLocationPhotographNotes541Match TruckWest Somerset RailwayBuilt 1884 Acquired 1982603Match TruckMoerton-on-LuggBuilt 1883 Acquired 1982

Tool Van & Workshop Van +NumberTypeLocationPhotographNotes16908Pooley VanHoneybourneBuilt 1905 Acquired 199580982Workshop VanSevern Valley RailwayBuilt 1913 Acquired 1972 +NumberTypeLocationPhotographNotes83831Loco Coal WagonSevern Valley RailwayBuilt 1932 Acquired 1985 Cattle Wagon +NumberTypeLocationPhotographNotes106557*Cattle Wagon FrameWest Somerset RailwayBuilt 1937

Acquire 2021

Number and Diagram under

investigation78BRW Cattle Wagon ChassisWest Somerset RailwayAcquired 2021 Ex SRPS Bo'ness Grounded Body +NumberTypeLocationPhotograph Notes37150Grounded BodySevern Valley RailwayBuilt 1892 Wooden Framed Mink

References

External links GWR 813 on SVR wiki GWR 813 Preservation Fund on SVR wiki