Fenchurch is familiar today as the 'second' preserved Terrier on the Bluebell Railway, along with Stepney. She is actually the first A1 Terrier to enter service in September 1872 and a remarkable survivor with over 90 years service to her credit before preservation!
In 1898 few would have thought that Brighton Terrier 72 Fenchurch, then being sold as surplus to the Newhaven Harbour Company, would become British Railways oldest operational mainline steam locomotive and among the last of her class in service.
The Newhaven company took good care of her though, having her rebuilt to A1X specification and Fenchurch returned to Southern Railway ownership in 1926, when the railway company took over shunting around Newhaven harbour. Instead of regaining number 72 Fenchurch was given the first available number in the A1X series, then 636, later 2636 and finally after nationalisation 32636.
Under Southern and British Railway ownership 2636 / 32636 shared the regular duties of the other A1X Terriers and was among the group of engines which found they way onto the last regular Terrier duties and the Hayling Island branch. The last Terriers were withdrawn from service after the branch closed at the end of summer in September 1963 and, along with her sister engines from the end of the Hayling Island line, 32636 was purchased for preservation. Moving to the Bluebell Railway Fenchurch has put in many years of service on Britains' first standard gauge heritage railway.
During her last major overhaul, completed in 2001, Fenchurch was rebuilt cosmetically to closely resemble original appearance as an A1 class engine and is modelled here in preserved condition. After several years out of service the Bluebell Railway is planning another overhaul for Fenchurch, intended to be completed in time for the engines' 150th anniversary in 2022.
Model Features
- Sprung metal buffers and coupling hook with 3-link couplings.
- Diecast running plate for extra strength and weight.
- Firebox glow and flicker effect.
- Etched plates where applicable
- Finely moulded plastic body with many separately added fine details.
- Choice of DCC Ready (21-pin decoder socket) and DCC Sound fitted models.
- Cast, profiled wheels with fine relief and appropriate colouring.
- Tungsten chassis and all wheel pickup.
- Powerful 5 pole skew wound motor with refined slow running control.
- Accessory bag with spares and other added detail.