A SECOND Llangollen Railway-based locomotive will be spending the 2021 season on hire at the West Somerset Railway following the move of‘5101’ 2-6-2T No.5199 on December 17. Thehireagreement between West Somerset Railway plc and The 5199 Project will see the Large Prairie remain in Somerset until the end of the year, joining fellow Llangollen loco –‘Manor’No. 7822 Foxcote Manor -in the Minehead stable.
No.5199 will operate a minimum number of 35 steaming days during the year,being an ideal‘Blue Route’ loco for WSR services, and capable of hauling most trains with ease.
Regular sight
The class was a regular sight on the Minehead branch in GWR and British Railways days, and even in the preservation era the line was host to sister engine No.4160 for more than 25 years.However,the locohas recently been relocated to the South DevonRailway at Buckfastleigh.