Come and celebrate Terrier No. 672 Fenchurch’s 150 birthday with events from 29 – 31 July 2022.

All bark, but no bite!

This event will be an enthusiast and family-friendly affair which celebrates the small, but mighty A1, or ‘Terrier’ Class locomotive. Built at nearby Brighton Works, the Terriers were designed in 1870 to haul commuter trains on the heavily congested lines in South and South-East London. Over the weekend we hope to feature special guest engines, but the big celebration will be to see Fenchurch back out and steaming along the rails where she belongs!

The nickname of ‘Terrier’ referred to the distinctive bark sound the locomotive produced when working. A busy timetable will give plenty of opportunity to see the little engine in action and ride behind her. Hop on and off trains all day with your event ticket. With this ticket you can start your journey at any of our four stations, but don’t forget to refer to the timetable for the day of travel so you can plan where and when you will catch your trains.

The Stars of our Show!

The Bluebell Railway is home to Terrier No. 672, Fenchurch, currently in overhaul and expected to feature in the gala. We can’t wait to see if Fenchurch will be wearing the smart brown livery it last wore and the number 672 when it emerges from the locomotive works or the Stroudley Improved Engine Green livery (a sort of yellow ochre) and the number 72. Fenchurch looked pretty sad in a dark corner of the running shed while he waited for an overhaul – there was even a tree growing out of his coal bunker!

Terrier No. 55, Stepney, is currently in pride of place in SteamWorks! the interactive learning zone in the running shed at Sheffield Park. Here you can step onto his footplate and imagine what it was like to be a fireman or driver back in the Victorian times. Stepney starred his own Thomas the Tank Engine story – Stepney the “Bluebell” Engine written by the Rev. W. Awdry.

Stepney is also the star of The Stepney Club, our club for children up to 9 years old. Members of this club enjoy receiving birthday cards from Stepney and a magazine packed with stories three times a year, plus members benefits too of course!

Family Fun!

Additional hands-on and interactive STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) family activities, trails and challenges will feature during the event.

Toy and Rail Collectors Fair

This will feature at Horsted Keynes Station on Sunday 31 July. Perhaps there, or in the Gift and Model Shop at Sheffield Park Station, you will be able to find a model Terrier for your collection and ride behind a real one too!