Wednesday 28 June 2017

A couple of pictures from the Model Weekend

Well, following the great time we had at the model weekend I thought I would share a couple of pictures with you!  We start off with Project 27 supporter and 9F club helper Paul Booth "playing" with Frimley North, a model built by a senior member of the 9F Club.


Paul Booth having fun!


Frimley North Signal Box (Looking a bit like Horsted Keynes North!)



Stuart Bardouleau waiting for the rush!
The main purpose of us being there for the weekend was to raise funds for the Project, which we were reasonably successful at doing.  Stuart Bardouleau and Andrew Waller helped Claire and myself run the stand for the weekend, and all of us managed to get a look round the various exhibits (and spend some money too!)


Restoration News

I am led to believe we are very close to announcing some exciting news, hopefully we will be able to go public soon!  In the mean whilst, I have to report that this year is likely to be fairly expensive for us and we need to make sure we have plenty of funds ready! 


There is plenty of small scale restoration going on at the moment, and some medium sized items are also being worked on.  Ben has to all intents and purposes finished the overhaul of the steam reverser and is chomping at the bit for the next project!


If you would like to help us in any way, please let us know at the E mail address below.




Clive D. Emsley
Chairman - The Fenchurch Fund
Project Manager - PROJECT 27
A Sub-Committee of the Bluebell Railway Preservation Society
www.bluebell-railway.co.uk
 
Why not support us by making a donation at
or

for Text donations Simply text "FENC72 £10" to 70070 to donate £10
    - you can donate £1, £2, £3, £4, £5 or £10;
    - you can also elect to Gift Aid your donation;
    - your operator's standard text charge applies.












Monday 26 June 2017

Thank you

Just a quick note to thank all of our supporters that came to visit our stand at the Bluebell Railway Model Weekend.  We had an exceptional couple of days and the LBSCR War Service Badges went down very well;  over half of these have now been sold or reserved!


We will probably only be at the Saturday of the End of Southern Steam Gala (weather permitting) as I have commitments for the Sunday. Unless, that is, we can get someone else to run the stand.


There is likely to be some exciting news shortly so please keep popping back.

Monday 19 June 2017

Frames and Cylinders

LBSCR Railway Service Badges

We look forward to seeing you at the weekend during the Bluebell Model Railway Weekend where we will be launching the new replica LBSCR Railway Service Badge, see picture below. It is offered in a blue presentation box, then badges are individually numbered and are clearly a replica due to wording on the reverse. This is a strictly limited edition of 100 pieces and when they are gone they will be gone! One will be yours at a cost of £14.50.


The replica LBSCR Service Badge available this weekend!

Frames

I have heard from Matt that the quote for the frames should be with us very shortly.  Once we have the quote the project team will sit down with the Loco Director and agree a way forward with the ordering process and what we actually want to have done for us.  It may be that the frames come "flat packed" and ready to assemble, alternatively they may arrive with the holes centre drilled but left for us to drill and ream.  There seem to be pro's and con's for both.  At the same time we will have the new drag box and some other bits and pieces cut so that we will have a complete "chassis kit", with plenty of donor parts from the old frames too!


Cylinders

The electronic drawings for the cylinder patterns are now with our suppliers for final approval. again once we have this approval, and a firm quote the project team will meet with the Loco Director.  When the order is made, it will be for two sets of cylinders, the second for 178.  This will allow 178 to return to "proper" work, it is also likely that whilst the boiler is out of the loco it will be made good for a further 10 years of service.


Hopefully within the few weeks we will be able to give you more news on this front.  In the meanwhilst, Matt is pressing on with small parts restoration and Ben is finishing off the steam reverser overhaul.







Thursday 8 June 2017

Just Delivered!

LBSCR War Service Badges

They have arrived, and look absolutely magnificent!  They will be officially launched at the Bluebell Model Railway Weekend on the weekend of the 24th and 25th June.  However, you can reserve on before the event by dropping an E Mail to thefenchurchfund@gmail.com with your name and contact details.
The price for the badges is £14.50 and the profit will go directly to the Fenchurch Fund where it will be used to help the restoration of SECR loco No. 27.
The badges are a strictly limited edition of 100 pieces which will not be repeated.  They are supplied  in a splendid blue presentation box, and will come individually numbered.
We look forward to seeing you at the model railway weekend.!


Just a quick tantalising picture!


A sneak glimpse of the replica LBSCR 1st World War Service Badge!
The picture will be getting bigger as we get towards the 24th June!

Tuesday 6 June 2017

Soggy 6th June Update!

A bit more news!

We will be launching the LBSCR First World War Service badges on Saturday 24th June, coinciding with the Bluebell Railway Modellers Weekend.   The badges will be available for a cost of £14.50.  They come in a presentation box and are a numbered limited edition of 100.  They have been made as close to the original as possible, using the same vitreous enamelling process as the original badge. However to ensure that they are totally distinguishable from the original they have "Fenchurch Fund Replica" on the reverse, and of course the clasp will be a modern one.


If you would like to secure your badge before the launch I will reserve one for you to either be collected on the day, or after, or indeed I can mail one to you, although the cost of postage will have to be added I am afraid.


We still have plenty of the 75H - Sheffield Park Loco Shed badges available for £5 each these too will be available on our sales and information stands.


Just as a reminder you will be able to fin d us at the following events, both on and off the railway.  We are hoping that we will have a presence at the event in italics, but this depends on being able to find volunteers to run the stand!


June 24/25th - Model Railway Weekend - Sheffield Park
September 23rd/24th - Steam through the Ages - Sheffield Park
September 23rd/24th - Worthing Model Railway Exhibition - Durrington (http://www.worthingmrc.co.uk/mrc/annual-exhibition/)
October 6th/8th - Deltic Weekend - Sheffield Park
October 14/15th - Shareholders Weekend
November 4/5th - West Sussex N Gauge Model Railway Exhibition - Angmering (The Bluebell Shop will also be attending) (http://www.wsng.co.uk/Show%20details.htm)


I will add a restoration update shortly, but rest assured plenty is going on behind the scenes!  We will almost certainly have some big news for you shortly.