Project 27 & the Fenchurch Fund

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Project 27 & the Fenchurch Fund

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Welcome to the page for the up-to-date Fenchurch Fund News & progress on the current restoration of SE & CR P class 27 (Primrose).

The Fenchurch Fund is part of the Bluebell Railway Preservation Society. We were originally formed as the Chip Wood Fund as a memorial to a young Bluebell Railway locoman (Matthew Wood) who died in 1991 at the age of 24. The fund was used at that time to help restore his favourite locomotive LBSCR No.72 Fenchurch. To facilitate this, we became the Fenchurch Wheel Appeal, later becoming the Fenchurch Fund. We raised enough money to help with casting a new set of driving wheels to replace a cracked wheel and provided funding for much more work to be carried out. Having raised the money and seen the loco return to traffic in 2001 we decided to get SECR locomotive No.27, a First World War veteran which worked in France on dock shunting in Boulogne, working again. For more than ten years now, we have been raising funds to restore the loco to as original condition as possible. This work includes a new boiler and riveted smoke box, at least one new riveted tank, a complete mechanical overhaul and wheel turning. There is also plenty of plate work which needs replacing, such as the cab sheeting and bunker. This is why we are now launching the Project 27 Appeal. We have already managed to raise over £10,000 towards the restoration of the loco to working order, but we now need to raise in the region of £90,000 more for a complete overhaul. The funds raised through the Project 27 Appeal, as the part of the Bluebell Railway's "Fenchurch Fund", will be held for the project by the Bluebell Railway Trust.

23/10/2026

A new volunteer for the Fenchurch Fund sales team! (not really). Fenchurch Fund secretary Claire almost literally bumped into James Corden earlier this week and he asked for a selfie! 😊

18/10/2026

Well, that's drawn the Giants of Steam event to a close. We would like to thank all of our supporters and customers over the weekend who helped us to a record breaking fund raising total for a three day event.
Thanks for the great support you give us, and the other Fund raising groups around the railway.

18/10/2026

The sun is shining on the last day of giants of steam and we are open for you to come and stock up for the winter, remember, our next sales stand after today will be the Steyning model railway show on the first Saturday of March!
We are, as always, on platform 5 at Horsted Keynes!

17/10/2026

As the sun goes down on day 2 of the Giants of Steam event. We look forward to day 3 and the entertainment planned should make it a great day.
Don't forget to visit the small fundraising groups on the Bluebell Railway. The Fenchurch Fund is at Horsted Keynes along with a sub shop of Awake the Giant and the goods division (in the carriage works). There is also a stand from our friends at the B17 group.
At Sheffield Park the main Awake the Giant stand can be found along with some of our other friends that are building new locos.

17/10/2026

Don't forget this weekend is your last chance to stock up your pickles and preserves before March 6th at the Steyning model show!
We are on platform 5 at Horsted Keynes this weekend!

16/10/2026

All set up and ready for your visit!
Why not pop along for a chat, and also support the other small fundraising groups around the railway too!

28/09/2026

Van finally emptied and stock put away, so a short break for a cuppa having given the van back to Enterprise. (note the table number!)

27/09/2026

Looking forward to the second day of the Worthing show, why not pop along and have a look at a great show.

26/09/2026

We had a great day today, looking forward to tomorrow, don't forget to pop along

26/09/2026

All set up and waiting for your visit at the Worthing Model Railway Club exhibition today and tomorrow!
Come along and have a chat.

Address

Project 27 Fenchurch Fund
Uckfield
TN223QL

Website

http://wainrightsfinestsecr27.blogspot.co.uk/, http://www.littlelocogroup.co.uk/

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