The 4566 Preservation Group

22/05/2026

We’ve got a large variety of O gauge for sale on the sales stand as well as our own O gauge layout to display or even test run any purchases you may have m. See you there!

Looking forward to October at the Severn Valley Railway and our 6th Annual 'O Gauge Get Together' held in The Engine House, Highley over the weekend of 17-18 October 2026.
Layouts booked so far include two from our regulars in the Luton Model Railway Club; "Docklands" by Andrew Jones and "Swansea Riverside" by the late Alistair George, both layouts make excellent use of space and go to demonstrate that you don't need oodles of room to accommodate effective O Gauge at home. On the other end of the scale is Blowers Green, based on a relatively local wagon repairs yard in the 1980s. Kirtley Bridge offers a look into the LMS of nearly 100 years ago, Grafty Green on the other hand delves into the world of the Colonel Stephens light railways. A scrapyard layout/diorama has been created by Jack Boskett making one of its first public appearances, and we've got an 0-16.5 layout in "The Basin" from our friends at the Cradley Heath Club. Two other layouts from our regulars are also booked in, what those are is yet to be revealed.
Traders expect our usual wonderful raffle prize giving Dapol Ltd, Ellis Clark Trains and Yellow Shed Designs. sharing our show with the just as brilliant Connoisseur Models, Buzz Models, Finney 7, Joe Lock Model Railways, Ragstone Models, Northumbrian Painting Services and newcomers CSP Models, and Ennis.
We've got SVR based loco groups the Erlestoke Manor Fund, The 4566 Preservation Group and The 2857 Society bringing sizable sales stands and expect appearances from The Stanier 8F Locomotive Society Limited and the Stanier Mogul Fund too.
The Show Exclusive 2026 wagon is in progress and we're awaiting some artwork samples before revealing what we have in mind!
Our popular SVR Resilience fund raffle will give you the chance to win some excellent prizes from the traders mentioned above plus much much more, including some lovely items and experiences from the SVR itself!
As usual the Bridgnorth Station team will be bringing their diorama along with an excellent selection of their own O gauge models.
The Model Electronics Railway Group (MERG) will be offering demonstrations of their products and recommendations.
And of course the Gauge O Guild stand will be on hand for membership and Guild enquiries.
If anybody has any more to offer or wishes to get involved or even has a thought or layout for the 2027 show then please get in touch via our page; www.facebook.com/SVRGaugeOShow

The SVR will be running a full service to bring our adoring public to the show, details and tickets https://svr.co.uk/event/o-gauge-get-together/

28/04/2026

"Are we late?"
"Of course not, give chase Priory, we must flag them down somehow!"

Jodie Foster, Helen Hayes and David Niven were able to catch up with 4566 although they'd initially missed the 12.20 to London, and so can you, as you can never be too late to become one of our regular donors in The 4566 Preservation Group!

For as little or as much as you like, join our ever expanding gang of wonderful people who are enabling our project to gather momentum, just download and fill out one of the forms on our website at www.4566.org.uk and send it to Tom our Treasurer who will do the rest.

For the last 3 years we have built up a good security base for the locomotive, and we want to keep that momentum going, which will eventually see 4566 being a candidate for a return to service.

Thank you to those that do donate, to our friends that help us out with sales stands, to those wonderful visitors to the SVR Spring Gala that nearly cleared us out of stock, and to our followers on social media, please, spread the word!

16/04/2026

📣ITS SPRING GALA TIME📣
Day one of the Severn Valley Railway spring steam gala, and the ever popular 4566 Preservation Group sales stand has been doing a roaring trade, we have had some superb donations recently and we’ve also been able to pick up some excellent models and railwayana thanks to some lovely people!
Honorable mentions to Derek and Sue from Footplate models, Guy Harrison, the Stinton family and Ron Chandler for their help.
Have a look at the pictures, come and visit, and pick up something from us all in aid of our locomotive!

01/04/2026

No April fools from us this year, just a reminder of one we attempted a couple of years ago. We even got some “are you serious” and “is that allowed” messages!
4566 remains tucked up safely in the Engine House for the time being, visit our website www.4566.org.uk or visit our sales stand at Kidderminster during the Severn Valley Railway Spring Steam Gala in a couple of weeks to find out how you can make the above photo a reality (well, the steam bit, not the doing it in the Engine House on a dodgy ticket!)

If you go down to the Engine House today you may find it a bit smokey! For 4566's 100th Birthday in 2024 we have been granted a resurrection from the boiler inspector to allow the locomotive to steam and operate services on the Severn Valley Railway for the 2024 summer season! Yesterday evening after the Engine House had closed to the public a group of committee members inspected the locomotive and lit a fire (with all available doors and windows open) and bought 4566 slowly back to life for the first time since 2017, we were even allowed to drive the locomotive up and down the museum using 47383 and 80079 as a trailing load before the inspector arrived and the new boiler ticket granted at 0430 this morning. The loco is now cooling down and the other exhibits in the Engine House are being wiped clean of soot and smuts before the doors open to the public again. The loco is due to be shunted out during the next week in order to go to Bridgnorth for a repaint in GWR lined green with shirtbutton logo (to make a matching stablemate for 4930 Hagley Hall) and should be ready for the Spring Steam Gala next month.
"For a loco that has sat around for 7 years it is in remarkably good condition, testament to the regular care and attention 4566 has received in the Engine House, I am happy to put my name on the paperwork and don't foresee any problems" said a very tired looking boiler inspector this morning. Keep an eye out on this page for operating dates throughout the summer.
www.4566.org.uk

25/03/2026

It’s Wednesday evening so why not post a lovely period shot from our friend Joe, taken during a photo charter, doesn’t 4566 look great in green on the “toplights” complete with “lazy local” lamp code?!
📸Joe Connell

16/03/2026

A massive THANK YOU to all of our regular donors and contributors to the 4566 Preservation group as our reserves in the bank account continue to grow at a lovely steady rate, if you wish to join in on the action please visit www.4566.org.uk and download a form.

We are planning to bring our popular sales stand to the Severn Valley Railway Spring Steam Gala 16-19 April at Kidderminster, where we will have the usual eclectic mix of railwayana, books and models etc.

On the same subject if anybody has any unused railway books, memorabilia or models that they would like to donate to a good cause then please drop us a message, and thank you to those that have recently reached out to us!

4566 has a new familiar looking stablemate in the Engine house, 9017 is visiting thanks to a 3 way deal with the SVR, Vale of Rheidol Railway and the Bluebell Railway, the two locos worked together in October 2008 on the GW(SVR)A 40th anniversary special, at the time they were both in green livery, today they both wear BR black with Early crest.

20/02/2026

813 has emerged from Bridgnorth Paint Shop today resplendent in its fresh Great Western Green livery, what relevance to 4566 you may ask?
We are pleased to announce a collaboration with the Severn Valley Railway and GWR 813 Preservation Fund seeing The 4566 Preservation Groups Dean era tapered buffers in use on 813 for this stint in traffic, replacing a mismatched set carried by that engine for some time now, don’t they look smart?!
Picture thanks to Ronan the painter 😊

02/01/2026

8 years ago today, doesn’t time fly?! We’re looking forward to making more progress in the next 8 years. Please visit www.4566.org.uk to see how you can help.

On her last day in traffic in 2017, GWR Small Prairie No. 4566 departs Hampton Loade for Kidderminster. 02/01/17

25/12/2025

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas from The 4566 Preservation Group ❤️🎄🧑‍🎄🛷🎁

28/11/2025

Reels you wouldn’t expect to stumble across 4566 in…