WELL-known locomotive Odney Manor helped the West Somerset Railway end the year and start 2019 on the right track.

The former returned GWR 78xx Manor Class No. 7828 loco had been out of action for two years but returned to steam on the WSR just before Christmas.

Its first outings were Santa Specials on December 22, and it also ran during the WSR Winter Steam Festival on December 29 and on days in between.

Odney Manor has been a popular and reliable member of the West Somerset Railway’s home-fleet of steam locos since the 1990s and is an ideal engine for the line.

The locomotive was removed from service earlier than expected in 2017 due to defective boiler stays having to be replaced, but it was also nearing the time when a full boiler and mechanical overhaul was needed anyway.

While carrying out extensive work on the loco, the WSR’s locomotive department staff also kept the fleet running on a day to day basis.

Odney’s boiler was sent to Riley Engineering where the repairs took place, and it was returned to the railway in August for reassembly by the locomotive department ready for a Christmas return.

WSR general manager Paul Conibeare said: “We were delighted that Odney Manor returned to service in time for Christmas and New Year, and it was the star of the first day of our Winter Steam Festival before it was stopped to rectify a fault that had developed.

“I would like to thank our locomotive department staff for all their hard work in returning Odney to health, and we are very fortunate to have such a highly skilled and dedicated team working on the railway.

“With Odney Manor now having the potential to run on the WSR for the next ten years, we are looking forward to the engine being at the core of our home fleet of steam locomotives for 2019 when we re-open at the end of March and the years beyond.”