Bluebell Railway Atlantic Group
November 2004 progress

Locomotive Frames Ordered

Driving Wheel Patterns sent to Foundry
The driving wheel castings have been ordered. The trailing wheels together with the tender wheels we already have, and the bogie wheels have already been cast. Our volunteer pattern maker has meanwhile been kept busy with various patterns for bogie castings, some of which are already being cast, and is now working on the pattern for the fiendishly complicated central bogie casting.

Atlantic Building Funding Agreed
The need for the erection of a building to house the components for the locomotive has been obvious for some time if we were going to make significant progress. Plans have now been agreed by all interested parties on the Bluebell, and a Planning Application was submitted to Lewes District Council in early October.

The building is estimated to cost up to £60,000, given the uncertainty over the cost of the foundations. The majority of the funding is being provided by the Bluebell Railway Trust, with costs being split 20%: 80% between the project and the Trust. This will also leave the railway with a very useful building at the end of the project.

We are extremely indebted to the Bluebell Trust which has again demonstrated its faith in the construction of the locomotive and the skills development potential within the Railway which it represents. It also demonstrates the enormous value that gifts and legacies to the Trust can have in making a significant difference to projects on Bluebell.

Work progressing on Tender Chassis

Hot riveting of the dragbeam of the tender chassis was used as a training excercise for newer workshop recruits a few weeks ago. The photo on the right shows the hot rivet in place, with the pneumatic expander (used to hold it in place while fixing) behind, ready for attention from the pneumatic hammer.

Photo: Nick Beck

The full news report is available as a newletter to donors to the project.

You can help us in 3 main ways:

1. We need more regular contributors to the £5 a month (£15 a quarter) scheme which is so valuable in bringing in regular funds. So please go and twist your friends' arms to join and support us. Any doubts about the seriousness of the scheme should now have been dispelled!
2. We are starting a new 'SPONSOR A COMPONENT' scheme which we hope you will be able to support. We will need to make or purchase a very large number of individual components in order to build the locomotive. These will range in price and I hope provide something affordable to most pockets. The idea is that each issue we produce a list of component parts available to be sponsored with their prices. If you, your friends or your company would like to sponsor a particular item then contact our Treasurer with a cheque made out to the Bluebell Railway Trust (and of course a Gift Aid form if you have not already filled one in). You will in return receive an attractive Sponsorship Certificate (designed by Matthew Cousins) detailing your particular sponsored item. These will be suitable for framing should you wish. Each item on the list is individual so no one else will be sponsoring the same item. The first component list is here. You may prefer to use the combined Sponsorship and GiftAid form available as a pdf.
3. Sponsor our building. Our new permanent building will absorb about £15,000 of our funds. It will give us about 2100 square feet of covered space. The Trust has generously agreed to provide the funds for 1600 sq.ft. That leaves 500 sq ft available for sponsorship at £30 a square foot. If you can sponsor one or more square feet we would be very grateful. Again you will receive a sponsorship certificate.

We do very much hope you will be able to support us.

Other news:
Christmas Cards.
If you have not already got your Atlantic Christmas Cards (2424 in SR livery on Imberhorne Viaduct) these are available from Matthew Cousins, 1 Sunnycroft Close, Scaynes Hill, West Sussex. RH17 7PT at £10 for 10 including postage. Each pack makes nearly £5 for Atlantic funds. Please make cheques out to Bluebell Railway PLC.

Atlantic Sales.
My thanks again to Mike Wells (and Matthew Cousins) for manning the sales stand in the Exhibition Coach at Horsted Keynes. We do need more saleable items, books, models, railwayana, paperwork etc (but no magazines please. These can be given in at Horsted Keynes when the van is open or left c/o Keith Sturt at the Loco Works Sheffield Park.

Don't forget, the value of donations through the Bluebell Railway Trust (minimum £20, or £15 if Standing Order) is increased through GIFT AID by 28%. The appeal leaflet, enabling GiftAid donations and standing orders to be set up is now available as a pdf document.
Further details from: David Jones, (Treasurer) 3 Nutley Mill Road, Pevensey, East Sussex. BN24 5PD. or e-mail David Jones.

If you wish to leave money to the Atlantic Project (or to Bluebell generally) then this is best done through the Bluebell Trust as this is deducted from you estate before Inheritance Tax calculations are made. Further information here. Please make your wishes clear in your will.

Edited from text provided by Terry Cole

More recent news updates

• Feb 2005 - Bogie frames arrive - site cleared for construction of the shed.
• Dec 2005 - Loco main frames arrive - tender frames nearly completed - start of construction of the shed.
• 2006 - Loco driving wheel castings delivered - drilling of the main frames and hornguides - building of the shed completed.
• 2007 - Main locomotive frames erected.
• Most recent news.

Older news updates

• Background and early progress
• September 2001: Repairs to tender chassis.
• More photos of the project.
• March 2002: Modification of front end of tender.

Project Funding

A fund raising appeal for the estimated £300,000 required to complete the project was launched in 2000, and a combination of gifts made via the Bluebell Railway Trust, and standing orders set up to provide a steady income to the project have now made over a third of the total available. Whilst this has provided funding for the present work, more is going to be needed to complete the project, and the best way in which you can help is by setting up a small, regular, standing order to the Bluebell Railway Trust under Gift Aid, since this enables the Trust to reclaim the basic rate tax you have paid, and (if you are a higher rate tax-payer) enables you to reclaim some tax as well.

A combined Donation, GiftAid and Standing Order form is available as a pdf document.

For further details contact David Jones.

A donation is made to this project when you buy Historical Transport Film videos from Beulah.