The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR) has received a substantial financial boost.

Thanks to the generosity of British model railway manufacturer Dapol, both the Dinmore Manor Locomotive Ltd and the GWSR have received cheques totalling £22,000.

The presentation was made on 19th January at Toddington station by Joel Bright, managing director and Richard Webster, head of product development of Dapol Model Railway Company, which has produced a magnificent '00' gauge limited-edition model of locomotive 7820 Dinmore Manor.

The real locomotive is a popular member of the Cotswold railway's steam locomotive fleet and the model has proved its popularity amongst railway modellers too.

Cheques for £12,500 for Dinmore Manor Locomotive Ltd and £10,000 for the GWSR, were presented respectively to Kenneth Sims, chairman of Dinmore Manor Locomotive Ltd and to Richard Winstanley, finance director of GWSR Plc.

Just 500 examples of the model have been produced by the company. The model options include a sound card-equipped version which was recorded on the GWSR of the sounds made by the real locomotive.

The model appears in British Railways lined black (the livery Dinmore Manor first carried when built at Swindon in 1950 and carries today). Other model options include DCC ready and DCC fitted (without sound).

Dinmore Manor came to the GWSR in 2014 and has been a popular and reliable member of the locomotive fleet ever since, enjoyed by both visitors to the railway and the volunteers who maintain and run the engine.

Joel Bright, managing director of Dapol, said: "Dapol has been proud to be involved with this exciting project and we have enjoyed working closely with the GWSR to produce this outstanding model.

"I hope that our donations will contribute to the success of both the locomotive group and the railway. The reputation of our company has certainly been enhanced by this project and I hope that we can co-operate in other projects in future."

Kenneth Sims, in thanking Dapol for their generosity, added: "I'm thrilled that this co-operation has been a commercial success for Dapol and that so many people share our enthusiasm for Dinmore Manor by buying examples of this quite superbly detailed model.

"This generous contribution is likely to go towards completing the restoration of our other locomotive, heavy freight 2-8-0 no. 3850, work on which has been progressing well.

Richard Winstanley added: "I am thrilled to receive this wonderful contribution towards the continuing development of our railway. Dinmore Manor is a wonderful locomotive and I'm deeply grateful for the fruitful way that this imaginative relationship has benefited Dapol, Dinmore Manor and the GWSR."

There are only a few of the limited-edition models remaining and to get one go to the Dapol online shop.

Dinmore Manor was the first of the Manor class 4-6-0 locomotives built at Swindon works by British Railways, to a Great Western Railway design, following interruption of production by the Second World War.

The class was particularly associated with the challenging Cambrian coast route between Shrewsbury and the Welsh west coast, handling express trains such as the Cambrian Coast Express to Welsh resorts.

Since being rescued from a scrapyard and restored to service, the engine has not only worked on the GWSR but has visited a number of other heritage railways across the UK, acting as an ambassador for the GWSR and growing in popularity.

Kenneth Sims added: "That popularity has now been cemented by Dapol's magnificent model which will enhance model railway layouts across the UK."

The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway resumes train services for the 2023 season on Saturday 4th March.