5542 - The Planet's Favourite Prairie

5542 is a GWR 4575 Class 2-6-2T "small prairie" tank engine which was built in 1928 and withdrawn by British Railways in December 1961, she spent the next fourteen years in a scrapyard before being acquired for preservation.

After many years of hard work restoring her she entered traffic on the West Somerset Railway in autumn 2002, she has since moved to work on a number of other heritage lines and is currently undergoing her first 10 year boiler overhaul in preservation. While she was on the West Somerset she was dubbed "The Planet's Favourite Prairie" by her dedicated bunch of followers - many of whom have photos of her on this site.

If you've been impressed with the timescale of the overhaul process and our 'blow by blow 'account of what's involved a quick visit to the 'Donations' page might just help us a little.

We have been asked how you can help us with donations so there is now a new page Donations

Site News - A new page of photos of 5542 in action added 12/03/2012 David Gibson Photographs, two press cuttings added to Early 5542 Restoration, photos from her visit to the Battlefield Line added 14/03/2012 and more of her at Bishops Lydeard in 1976/77 added to Early 5542 Restoration - an astonishing contrast with the pics below of her working 35 years later.

News Update 03/03/2012

2012 Contract Confirmed

We are please to report that 5542 will be revisiting the Gloucestershire/Warwickshire railway from early June until New Year 2013 where it will work on the Cheltenham to Winchcombe section along with 2807,7903 Foremark Hall and the Turkish liveried Stanier 8 F 8274. Hopefully the recently started repair work to the 'Chicken Curve' embankment will be completed later in the year which will allow full line services to resume to include the northern extension 2 miles towards Broadway.

Other recent news is on the News Page

5542's owning group are also restoring GWR Autotrailer 169, click on the banner to visit the site with all the news and details of the appeal for this project.

5542 with autocoach near Bishops Lydeard, WSR

With the 15.30 Auto service from Bishops Lydeard to Norton Fitzwarren on 02/10/2011 5542 propels its penultimate service of the first 10 year boiler certificate past Longlands Farm. Photo copyright John Wood

5542 being loaded at Bishops Lydeard for transport to the SDR

Within 90 minutes of the above photo 5542 was loaded and departing for Buckfastleigh Photo copyright John Wood

5542 with an engineers train at Williton

With just 4 days remaining on its 10 year boiler certificate 5542 drifts into Williton at the head of a short engineers train 29/09/11 (copyright John Wood)

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THE PLANET'S FAVOURITE PRAIRIE

We restored this rusted hulk over many years, help us keep her running by Getting Involved

For enquiries about 5542 please e-mail Chairman of 5542 Ltd

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I'm a poet and didn't know it
Said the driver for a fiver.
As he made his cup of tea
with water from the PFP.
Now steam is up, 'tis time to start
a journey along beside the Dart
up and down the Devon line
push and pulling 169
'til at last it's back to shed
and head for home and then to bed.