A pair of Manors simmering away
Although just a sub shed of 89C, Machynlleth, the Depot at Aberystwyth boasted a heavy lifting hoist, a feature unique for such a sub shed, but it was the largest sub shed on the Western Region
7814 Fringford Manor had been a Laira engine in the mid 'fifties until its piloting duties over the South Devon banks came to an end, and had come here to Wales from Reading , whilst 7816 Frilsham Manor had been a Cornish engine at St . Blazey in previous times, but as the "Dukedogs" were withdrawn from the Cambrian lines the allocation of "Manors" at Aberystwyth was increased until they were themselves later replaced by BR Standard classes. The poor external condition of the two "Manors" is in marked contrast to earlier years when Mr. Rowlands, Aberystwyth's shedmaster, kept his allocation in fine external condition, even down to having his engines turned out with white painted buffer heads and smokebox door fitments!
Dating back to 1864 the original Cambrian Railway's shed had been replaced by the Great Western Railway in 1938/9 and included a new 55 foot turntable, although that was quickly taken out for use elsewhere and was replaced by an additional line to form a turning triangle around the shed in 1940. When the shed finally closed to main line steam in April 1965 it was taken over by the Vale of Rheidol narrow gauge railway.