Scanned print from the mid-80s: A typical Bluebell scene from the days when Horsted Keynes was the northern limit of operations.
Tags: Horsted Keynes Bluebell Railway
Scanned print from the mid-80s; I was surprised to read on the Bluebell’s website “For reasons which are not entirely clear, Fenchurch was somewhat less popular with the footplate crews than most locos…”- Quite why that would have been I’m not sure, possibly the 14 inch bore Billinton cylinder block fitted at the time (fellow Bluebell Terrier ‘Stepney’ has a 12 inch bore Marsh cylinder block) made ‘Fenchurch’ more powerful yet increased water consumption*. Nevertheless the Terrier was operational for much of the 1980s, returning to traffic in 1980 and remaining in traffic until withdrawn with a cracked hub in 1988.
*See ‘Portrait of the Terriers’ by Handel Kardus for more details
Tags: No 72 Fenchurch Terrier Bluebell Railway
Scanned print from the mid-80s: It is easy to assume from their diminutive size that the Terriers were designed for shunting work, but, of course, they were the passenger locos of their day and much of the branch line work that saw them survive into the 1960s was also on passenger services.
Tags: No 72 Fenchurch Terrier Bluebell Railway
Scanned print from the mid-80s: Built at Swindon in 1954, No. 75027 was originally a WR engine, had a spell at Templecombe and ended its days on the LMR, being withdrawn from Carnforth at the end of BR steam, before arriving at the Bluebell in January 1969 and entering service almost immediately.
Tags: 75027 Bluebell Railway Horsted Keynes 4MT 4-6-0
Scanned print from the mid-80s: Ironically No. 75027 was originally considered too large for the Bluebell’s needs. However, this view changed and the loco operated from arrival in 1969 through to 1975. Overhauled in 1978 it ran for most of the 1980s before a further overhaul saw it back in action from 1997 to 2007. The blue circle on the cab-side denotes the loco’s WR route availability.
Tags: 75027 Bluebell Railway Horsted Keynes 4-6-0 4MT