Work to overhaul and restore steam locomotive 92240 ‘9F’ is continuing, with progress made in the three months since the last update.

Recent work has concentrated on the tender, with its outside being rubbed down and filler applied. The filled areas currently appear as mint green patches.

Members of Bluebell Railway’s 9F children’s club have helped with the restoration. At a recent meeting, they helped to rub down the steps to the cab and tender, and to apply filler and primer.

Club members also joined the restoration team at Bluebell on Parade, a popular event at which visitors were able to see the progress of work on 92240 and to visit the footplate.

Restorers have also loosened the running plate bolts, in order to prepare the front end for the loco’s move into the workshop. Over the last few months, 92240 has been moving in and outside of ‘Steamworks!’ and was based in the maintenance shed for ‘Bluebell on Parade’.

Work has also continued on wire brushing and cleaning the rust within the water tank.

92240 had a water scoop under its tender, because when it ran on the mainline, it would collect water from the water troughs that were located along the track. However, the Bluebell line does not have water troughs, so restorers decided to remove the scoop from the locomotive. 92240 will be filled either by the water cranes through the top of the tender or at low level in the yard.

The team’s working parties, led by Andy and Martin are held on the second Saturday of each month. Volunteers are welcome!

The work to restore 92240 has been attracting attention, with the ‘Awake the Giant’ team attending an increasing number of events.

The project has featured in several railway publications, including Bluebell Times, Bluebell News, Rail Advent and Steam Railway magazine. The Railway describes the response from these articles as “amazing and very supportive”, and reports that it has boosted the financing of the overhaul.

Ken has been ordering and creating new ‘Giant’ lines of merchandise that is now available to buy from the stand and the Bluebell shop. Recent additions include rulers and coasters.

Mark is working hard on the next issue of ‘Giant Gazette’, which will be available soon. Enthusiasts can buy a single issue of subscribe by emailing [email protected]

The ‘Awake the Giant’ Photo Competition is still open and runs until the end of the year. This year sees the introduction of new categories for all ages. The categories for this are;

15s and under

• ‘Bluebell at its Best’ (any photo of the Bluebell)
• ‘Visitors and Galas’ (any photo representing Bluebell visiting locomotives and Galas)

16s and over

• ‘Bluebell in Bloom’ (any photo of Bluebell’s home fleet)
• ‘Visitors and Galas’ (any photo representing Bluebell visiting locomotives and Galas)

Both age groups

• ‘Flying Scotsman Flies South’ (Flying Scotsman at the Bluebell Railway 2023)

Details can be found on the ‘Awake the Giant’ page on the Bluebell Railway’s website. Winners will be announced in January 2024.

Finally, Tom N has started planning a new publication about 92240, and is also started building an archive of 92240’s arrival at the Bluebell Railway and working days. If you have any materials that you are willing to add to the archive and publication, please contact Tom N at [email protected].

Donations to the fundraising campaign to restore and overhaul 92240 are gratefully received and can be made here.