The Bluebell Railway in Sussex is celebrating the 150th birthday of their ‘Terrier’ Class locomotive no’ 72 Fenchurch.

The celebrations kick-start with a special birthday bash event that celebrates the history of transport across the last 150 years. This will include all kinds of vintage transport from air, sea, land and rail plus special guest visiting locomotives. There will be STEM workshops, children’s authors and other science, technology, engineering, and maths-based activities – plus history of transport trails for children. It will be a real family event.

Little Bluebell engines, like Stepney and Fenchurch have a great appeal to youngsters. Iconic ‘Terrier’ locomotive Stepney is already on display in the SteamWorks! exhibition at Sheffield Park Station where visitors can get on the historic little engine’s footplate. Now the heritage railway in Sussex is looking forward to Fenchurch steaming once more in 2022.

“We are so excited about the overhaul of Fenchurch and that we will get to see it working up and down the Bluebell Railway line once again, and considering the locomotive is now in its 150th year – it’s amazing! The engineers in our workshops do a terrific job. That’s the difference between heritage railways and other museums, they are living museums, where heritage skills are kept alive, and visitors get to interact with their history and really experience the age of steam.”

 

Geoff Mee

Chairman Bluebell Railway PLC

Known for their distinctive ‘bark’ sound when running, this class of engine was very aptly named the ‘Terrier’ class. As part of the event, the Bluebell Railway are making all dogs welcome and are holding a fun dog show for terriers, non-terriers, and terriers in disguise!

Go to https://www.bluebell-railway.com/terrier-150/ or more information and to book tickets.

 

Fabulous Fenchurch Short Animation

To celebrate the monumental event, the Bluebell Railway have commissioned a superb stop-motion animation by up-and-coming film-maker Max Davies. It follows the little locomotive from a cold and lifeless existence in storage, being shunted into the Bluebell Railway’s locomotive workshop at Sheffield Park Station, to emerging as a happy and steaming Brighton ‘Terrier’ once again.

“It was wonderful to work with Max, he has a great understanding of what the Bluebell Railway is all about, a superb eye for detail, plus a great sense of fun in his animation. Watch out Aardman Animations, Max is right behind you!”

 

Ruth Rowatt
Marketing and Communications Manager
The Bluebell Railway

Check out the new film here: https://youtu.be/yFgdrG65qtI

 

A Steam Locomotive by Sea!

During the event, two other ‘Terrier’ locomotives will be visiting the Bluebell Railway. Poplar from The Kent and East Sussex Railway and Newport from the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.