- Class: A1X
- Wheels: 0-6-0T
- Built: 1875
- Numbers Carried: 55, 655, B655, 2655, 32655
- Last Overhaul Completed: May 2010
- Last Operational: 29 March 2014
- Current Status: Static display, awaiting major overhaul
- Owned By: Bluebell Railway
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Stroudley’s famous Terriers survived for decades after more modern designs had been scrapped, working on lightly laid branch lines. Here these diminutive engines were often the only engines light enough to cross some particular bridge. In later years ‘Stepney’ was particularly associated with the Hayling Island branch, until sold to the Bluebell Railway in May 1960 as our first locomotive.
Repainted into Stroudley’s famous “Improved Engine Green” gamboge livery, it has been a favourite of many children, and some of those children are now introducing their own children to “Stepney the Bluebell Engine”. In spite of its fame, “Stepney” has spent considerable periods out of traffic in its 50 years on the Bluebell, but its popularity always causes it to bounce back to the top of the railway’s priorities.
In the first few months of 2010 the minimum boiler work to get the loco back into steam for our 50th anniversary celebrations was done, and Stepney remained available for limited service until its main steam pipe failed in early 2014. It was repainted into the black (lined with red) livery it carried 55 years ago in the Bluebell Railway’s first season, but on withdrawal from service it was repainted again into its traditional Stroudley Golden Ochre. At its next major overhaul it will require new cylinders, significant work on the frames, and major boiler work.
