The Bluebell Railway in Sussex has issued an update on its work to bring locomotive 92240 back to steam, a project it began four years ago.

The team works on the loco throughout the year, and has hosted a stall at several events and galas at the heritage railway. Its plan for 2024 is to make further progress in restoring 92240 and to run the ‘Awake the Giant’ stand at all the Railway’s special events.

To achieve, this, it is inviting supporters to volunteer to work on the stall alongside the stand manager, promoting the project and selling merchandise. Potential volunteers can offer their services by emailing [email protected].

Several societies and model railway clubs have invited the team to give talks about the restoration project on 92240. Any readers who would like to host a talk about 92240 and its overhaul can make a request by emailing [email protected].

Earlier this year, 92240 went into disguise, using Doncaster shed plates that identified it as 92200. Later in the year, at the most recent working party, the tender belonging to 73082 Camelot was split and placed behind 92240, which gave the impression of a double tendered 9F!

Bluebell reports that 92240 “has made amazing progress” since previous updates. The ‘Awake the Giant’ team has focused mainly on the tender, including ordered piping which it will put inside the tender in the new year to allow low level filling from the yard.

Work will then move on to the front end once the loco enters the workshop. The team has loosened the running plates and handrails, and will remove, label and store a number of parts, in preparation for the move .  The motion and cladding currently remain on 92240.

92240’s tender was built new in the 1980s. The water space under the coal space was painted with bitumen, which helped to waterproof the tank and protect the steelwork. Forty years later, the bitumen has mostly come off, exposing the steel.

The restoration team will need to thoroughly clean and repaint the tank, so is considering how to do this. The original plan was to use bitumen again, but there are other options. The team is consulting Specialist Coatings GB Ltd come in, a family-owned firm based nearby in Battel, Kent. The firm had lined Clan Line water space, and has convinced 92240’s team to used the same method.

The coating it will use is specially formulated from chemical compounds that react with each other, and which are weighed precisely to the gramme before mixing. The first step is to apply the primer, ensuring a firm grip on the steelwork; the second is to apply the top coat within twenty-four hours of the primer to ensure a chemical bound.

Unlike bitumen, the product is not based on solvents so does not give off an odour. Once it is dry, the coating forms a flexible waterproof bound. The completed tank will be a light grey colour, and should not need further work for many years.

Bluebell Railway has thanked Peter and the team from Specialist Coating GB Ltd for visiting the railway and conducting a full mixing and product demonstration. Volunteers from the Maunsell Society and project 27 also attended the demonstration as they are considering the product for their projects.

The Railway has also thanked Andy Sabin for helping to set up a storage location for the product and helping to move it.

During 2023, the team removed the water scoop, seeing it as unnecessary. 92240 is now taking a winter rest in the Maintenance Shed.

In the new year, the loco will be split. The tender will stay under cover, allowing the team to finish the paintwork, aiming to have finished the first top coat by the summer.

Bluebell Railway acknowledges that 92240’s restoration would not be possible with the ongoing efforts of its supporters, financial contributors and the team. The railway wishes them all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The team’s working parties, led by Andy and Martin, will take place on the second Saturday of each month, and new volunteers are welcome.

To help raise funds at this year’s beer festival, Harvey’s Brewery Lewes has again agreed to support Awake the Giant, following the success of  2022’s event. The King George the 5th Buffet at Horsted Keynes was used to sell the Ale, which was co-branded as Awake the Giant Ale, and new for 2023, the event had a small bar and fundraising stall in the main shed at Sheffield Park.

An excellent response over the three days of the event generated a large sum of money for the Trust account for 92240’s restoration. The Railway has particularly thanked Miles Jenner and the team at Harvey’s, and also Jim Taylor, Lisa Boyle, Megan Laughlin from the Bluebell, and Paul Free from CAMRA.

Mark has been working hard to produce the next issue of the Giant Gazette, which will be available very soon. If you would like to subscribe, please email [email protected]

Ken has been working on increasing the range of merchandise available from the stall and the Bluebell shop, which includes new designed t-shirts, badges, stationery, rulers and coasters.

Winners of the photography competition will be contacted in the new year and announced in the January Bluebell Times.

Tom N has been building an archive of 92240, from its working days, time at Barry’s before it came to the Bluebell, and its first restoration. If you have any material to add, please contact Tom at [email protected]. The archive will be available to see at the Awake The Giant stand in the new year.

92240 has recently featured in various railway publications, including Bluebell Times, Bluebell News, RailAdvent and Steam Railway magazine. The public response to reading these articles has been very supportive and has boosted the financing of 92240’s overhaul.

If you are interested in joining the team or showing your support to the overhaul and restoration of 92240, please email Andy at [email protected] or [email protected].

If you wish to donate to the fundraising campaign to restore and overhaul 92240, please click here.