Bluebell Motive Power

Looking good there. It's going to take some getting used Fenchurch to in gamboge.

 

Just what I was thinking

Peter

 

Lovely:

 

Great to see 672 back in service!

 

Fenchurch has been out again today, with the GNR Directors Saloon. There's a picture on the Bluebell's Facebook for those who use it.

 

For those who don’t do Facebook:

 

Nice picture on the Bluebell Facebook of Fenchurch paired up with Stepney. Also a good game of spot the difference can be played with the differences.

 

The biggest difference is that one works and the other will need a great deal of money spent on it before it can

 

You could nuance that as “one needs a great deal of money spent on it, and one has just had a great deal of money spent on it!”

Tom

 

Cracking!! Cannot wait to see this in action!!

 

Although it sounds costly, it's a credit to the teams at Statfold and Bluebell for how quickly the overhaul has taken, especially during Covid.

 

Just out of interest, it seems that the numbers on Fenchurch's bunker are either painted on or possibly brass numbers, but there is an image of the locomotive in original livery with the rounded numberplates on the bunkers that Stepney, Boxhill, Waddon and Poplar all have. Was that an older photo taken later on and thus Fenchurch is currently in as close to the loco's appearance when first entering service prior to the fitting of those numberplates?

 

I wondered about that.

There are two very early photos I'm aware of, but both show the oval number plate.

This one is the oldest. Note the three link couplings; lack of air pump; and the balance pipe for steam across the front of the cab. I believe that it is generally felt that this photo dates from when the loco first emerged from the paint shop in 1872, before entering traffic.



There is also this photo, still in Stroudley livery but now with air pump, screw link couplings and the balance pipe removed, so somewhat later.



I'll ask next time I see someone in the know, since the current appearance is a bit of a mystery to me.

Tom

 

I note the 2nd photo is still showing wooden brake blocks. Does help date it?

 

Nothing is cheap on Standard gauge John! Is not the heaviest thing the pay packet?

 

Well, before 1898 for the second photo. But the key photo for me is the first one, which is very early and shows the normal number plate. But maybe there is some reason.

Tom

 

I hadn't seen the first photo you posted, but the 2nd one was the one I was referring to in my post. I've seen pictures of Terriers (including Stepney) where they have painted numbers on the bunkers matching the font used for the names, but I'm guessing as the 6 prefix has been added (so Stepney appears as 655) , I'm guessing those date from the end of Stroudley's time and into Robert Billinton's?

I'm not sure if it's lighting or just the photo or not, but the colouring looks lighter on the numberplate in the first picture compared to the second?