OWNERS OF SIX ‘TERRIERS’ BACK 2022 BONANZA BID
Boxhill, Fenchurch, Stepney and Martello all in line for proposed Barrow Hill gathering.
Habitually overlooked National Collection ‘A1’ No. 82 Boxhill is one of four more LBSCR ‘Terriers’ that have been provisionally added to the proposed major gathering of the class in 2022.
The ochre-liveried engine, which has been all but inaccessible at the National Railway Museum for decades, is now in line for a return to fame for Steam Railway’s proposed assembly of William Stroudley’s celebrated design at Barrow Hill Roundhouse (SR506).
NRM Assistant Director and Head Curator Andrew McLean told SR: “In principle, we would be delighted to involve Boxhill in such a gathering. It will be an amazing sight and one I’d very much look forward to seeing.”
Boxhill has been largely out of public view this century and its storage in the museum’s educational activity building in the South Yard is an unintended legacy from its former role as a display piece in the 1990s ‘Magician’s Road’ interactive exhibit. However, the 2022 plan should be the start of a return to prominence for No. 82.
“Timings may work quite well as the intention is for Boxhill to go into Great Hall as part of the [‘Vision 2025’] redevelopment there,” Mr McLean added. “That means we need to extricate it from the Learning Platform at some stage in the next two to three years… It will be a real joy to shine the spotlight on her again.”
The Bluebell Railway has also confirmed its “in principle” pledge to make its own ‘A1’ – and 1872 class pioneer – No. 72 Fenchurch and ‘A1X’ No. 55 Stepney available for the roundhouse gala.
Prior to lockdown, Fenchurch’s boiler had been stripped as the first stage of its overhaul to return to working order in time for its 150th birthday in September 2022. Bluebell plc chairman Chris Hunford told the magazine that examination has revealed that the “firebox is condemned”, while the wrapper, backplate, throatplate and front tubeplate all require renewal. He added that for the locomotive to stand a realistic chance of remaining on date target, work would have to resume within the next six weeks.
Bressingham Steam Museum has also thrown its weight behind the 2022 by agreeing for its ‘A1X’ No. B662 (nee Martello) to join.
The Maunsell green 0-6-0T has been a regular on the hire circuit since its first overhaul in 2006 and is the only ‘Terrier’ to have already visited Barrow Hill since its reopening in 1998. That was for its ‘Rail Power’ event in 2008.
The addition of Boxhill, Fenchurch, Stepney and Martello brings the current ‘agreed’ total to six; the Terrier Trust, the Kent & East Sussex Railway-based owner of Knowle and Poplar, having pledged its support last issue.
As reported in SR506, contact has been established with the Isle of Wight Steam Railway (Brighton/Newport and Newington/ Freshwater), the Canadian Railway Museum (Waddon) and the Spa Valley Railway (Whitechapel/‘Sutton’).
●● Fenchurch overhaul donations can be made via the Bluebell Trust. See: https://tinyurl.com/y9owdjvx