Achieved the highest WSR mileage in 2000, 10775, bringing the total since restoration in 1993 to 59,857. Winter work includes fitting a new cab floor, attention to the vacuum brake cylinder, a valve exam and attention to the left hand crosshead to piston rod joint.
Updated: 11 February 2001
(extracted from the WSR Stock Book 5th Edition and reproduced here with the permission of the author, Keith Smith)
Originally designed by the GWR's Chief Mechanical Engineer, G.J Churchward, and perpetuated by his successor, C.B. Collett, over 300 of the 'large Prairie' tank locomotives were built from 1909 until 1948. No 4160 was the first member of the last batch of twenty locomotives of the '5101' Class, Nos 4160-79, built between 1948 and 1949 by British Railways immediately following nationalisation. It was the first engine of Lot 369 and cost £8,190, which included £1,553 for the boiler (No 8810), and was turned out in unlined green livery and lettered 'BRITISH RAILWAYS' on the tank sides.
All of its working life appears to have been spent in South Wales, being initially allocated to Barry, where it was sent new on October 28 1948. It was frequently seen on the local passenger services to Merthyr and Treherbert. No 4160 received a Heavy Intermediate overhaul at Stafford Road (Wolverhampton) from July 5 1951 for 57 days, returning to Barry shed. This was followed by a Light Intermediate repalr at Caerphilly Works. In January 1954 No 4160 was transferred to Rhymney shed, a sub-shed of Merthyr, principally working local services along the valley to Caerphilly and Cardiff. Further overhauls followed at Swindon in 1954 (Heavy General, boiler No 8824 fitted) and Caerphilly in 1956 (Heavy Intermediate).
The 'Large Prairie' was transferred to Radyr shed on May 20 1958, where it continued on the same kind of work as before. It received a further Heavy General overhaul at Caerphilly in 1958-59 (boiler No 8811 fitted). No 4160 was put into store in September 1962 due to a shortage of work - principally caused by the introduction of diesel multiple units - before returning to Radyr on March 25 1963. Surprisingly, the 2-6-2T then received a further Heavy General repair, its last, at Swindon in September 1962, where boiler No 8819 was fitted. No 4160 finished its BR career working from Severn Tunnel Junction shed, working on the gruelling tunnel banking duties, before its inevitable withdrawal from service on June 3 1965, whereupon it was sold to Woodham Brothers scrapyard at Barry, arriving there in August 1965.
No 4160 was initially purchased by the Birmingham Railway Museum at Tyseley, departing from Barry in August 1974. However, little restoration work was carried out, and a subsequent change in policy resulted in the engine being put up for sale by the BRM in 1981. It was purchased for use on the embryonic Plym Valley Railway by a consortium of shareholders, moving initially to the Plymouth Exhibition Centre at Millbay in May 1981, and then to the PVR's Marsh Mills site in March 1982. Restoration was commenced and the locomotive stripped down.
In 1989 the owning group, 4160 Limited, decided that the interests of the locomotive would be better served by moving it to a new home on an established railway for restoration to be completed. A share scheme was set up enabling the WSR Association to become a major shareholder in the engine. No 4160 arrived as a kit of parts at Minehead on April 12 1990.
Full restoration work commenced in the Autumn of 1990, the driving wheels and axleboxes being sent to Swindon for attention. By June 1991 the chassis had been rewheeled, and by September 1992 a mobile set of frames complete with motion and brake gear was evident. A 'running in' trip to Blue Anchor was made on October 4 1992. Throughout the following Winter, work was concentrated on the boiler. A successful steam test was undertaken on February 2 1993. and the boiler was reunited with the frames ten days later. On May 22-23 1990 a fire was lit in No 4160's firebox and the engine moved under its own power for the first time since 1965. A proving run was made to Blue Anchor and back on May 30. Subsequent running-in trips saw No 4160 venture to Williton, Bishops Lydeard and Norton Fitzwarren.
The locomotive formally entered service on the WSR on August 6 1993, in time to work trains over the 1993 WSRA Steam Fayre & Vintage Vehicle Rally. double-heading with No 4561. Currently restored in BR lined black livery, complete with early BR 'lion and wheel' emblem on the tank sides, after five years in service No 4160 will be repainted green bearing the livery it originally bore when turned out from Swindon in 1948. The 2-6-2T has already proved a reliable and popular performer, capable of working eight~coach service trains with ease. By the end of 1994, after just seventeen months in traffic, No 4160 had already ran over 14,000 miles.