THE BLUEBELL RAILWAY TRUST

The principal objects of the Bluebell Railway Trust (Registered Charity No.292497) are the encouragement of research into railway equipment and safety, the maintenance and support of museums for the preservation of railway equipment, the provision of facilities for recreation activities connected with railways and the assistance of persons in need connected with railways. Subject to these objects the Trustees may bear specially in mind charitable purposes connected with the Bluebell Railway.

The Trust is the owner of several historic carriages: LBSCR Stroudley Carriages Nos. 661, 949 and 676 (and others that will make up a Stroudley train), LSWR No.25, LCDR carriage No.668 and Horsebox No.1. It also owns SECR H-class Locomotive No.263, and Crossley Regis car ABY 590.

The Bluebell Railway Trust is also the governing body for the Bluebell Railway Museum, which is now a registered museum.

The Bluebell Railway Trust is able to accept legacies, covenants, gift-aid donations or CAF vouchers, either for the Trust's general funds or for specific projects which fall within its remit.

Photo right: The trust funded the cost of materials for the restoration of both of the carriages seen here, LBSCR 661 and LCDR 114. LBSCR Terrier "Stepney" is hauling the coaches on the day that 114 returned to service, 4 November 2006 (Jon Bowers).

Full details of the way the trust works, and is able to handle donations and legacies, are available on a separate web page.

At present the Trust is actively seeking funding for Operation Undercover, the Bluebell Atlantic Project, as well as general dontations towards many other worthwhile Bluebell Railway projects, such as the overhaul of the Maunsell S15 Loco No.847 and the Standard class 2 project.

You can give to the Bluebell Railway Trust on-line using your credit or debit card, through GiveNow.org. If you wish to donate through this to specific project or appeal, please also write separately with this information to the address below, or e-mail Richard Salmon.

If you are giving to Operation Undercover then please print out and complete this Operation Undercover Donation and Gift Aid form, since this appeal is being administered separately from general Trust funds.

If you are a UK tax payer and you complete a Gift Aid Form, this enables us to increase the value of your donation by 28%. Higher rate tax payers are also able to claim additional relief from the tax they have paid via their tax return. A Gift Aid Form for general donations and all other projects is available here to print out.

Send this, or any other donation or a CAF cheque voucher to:

Bluebell Railway Trust,
c/o Graham Flight,
22 Christopher Road,
East Grinstead,
RH19 3BT

• The Bluebell's Museum. The Trust provides co-funding along-side external grants obtained, and a small annual budget for general running costs. The Trust will also be assisting in the funding of the design of the museum portion of the Woodpax project as it moves towards stage 2 of the Heritage Lottery Fund application process.
• The NRM Drawings Project - being undertaken by Bluebell volunteers, assisting in the cataloguing of the NRM's extensive collection of SR engineering drawings. The Trust is funding accommodation and travel costs.
• Funding has been agreed for apprentice training schemes in our workshops.
• Materials for the overhaul of LBSC Milk/Fruit Van 270.
• Funding of the Northern Extension project from one of the Trust's restricted funds (from bequests specifically left for the purpose).
• The replacement of Peckham building (which is life-expired) at Horsted Keynes, used to store items such as seats and doors as part of carriage restoration projects.
• Materials for the restoration of two SECR Open Wagons - restoration report.
• Funding for projects being undertaken by the Bulleid and Maunsell Locomotive Societies.
• Funding of items required in overhaul of locomotive No.3 Baxter.
• The rebuilding from scratch of an LBSCR Atlantic locomotive, which is being largely funded through the Trust.

The completed Loco Shed wall, largely funded by the Trust (David Chappell, 2 February 2006)

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Past Projects

• Funding of the materials used in the restoration of the body of LCDR Brake 3rd carriage No.114 (seen in photo, Right). The carriage body had been used as a bungalow from 1926, and was rescued by the Bluebell in 1977. It is now running on an adapted SR van underframe, after 8 years restoration.
• Purchase of tarpaulins to protect historic railway carriages.
• Funding the repurchase of SECR P-class Locomotive No.178
• Funding to bring one of the railway's historic ticket printing machines into operational order.
• Transport costs and tarpaulins for LCDR and LSWR coach bodies, and replacement tarpaulin for LBSCR coach 676.
• Provision of the majority of the funds required to complete the Loco Running Shed East wall (photo above).
• Providing 80% of the costs of construction for a shed for the Brighton Atlantic project.
• Funding for decorative posters in Brighton style for the exterior of the new Shop building.
• Phase 3 of the Horsted Keynes Canopy project; the new buildings on Platform 1 and 2, plus the electrical installation for the building.
• Materials to complete the restoration of the unusual SR 10-ft wheelbase Open Wagon.
• Replacement of the paint-shop roof in the carriage works with a modern insulated roof.
• The restoration of LBSCR Box Van No.8196, for which an almost completely new underframe has been constructed.
• The restoration of the body of LBSCR Stroudley coach No.661, which is owned by the Trust.
• Funding for a signwritten tarpaulin for the Bluebell's LBSCR tarpaulin wagon.
• Funding of the artwork and production of LBSCR Carriage transfers.
• Complete funding of new overhead cranes for the Locomotive Workshop.
• Funding part of the cost of the completion of north end of the Locomotive running shed.
• Provided the majority of the funding for the acquisition of rail and sleepers for the last two miles of the Northern Extension.
• Funding of a proportion of the costs of the construction of the Carriage Works extension.
  
• Provision of materials for the restoration of SECR 7-plank wagon No.5542 and SECR 7-plank wagon No.16194 (Photo right).
• Substantial support of the Bluebell Railway's Northern Extension.
• Part funding of materials for the construction of phases 1 & 2 of the New Canopy on Platform 1 and 2 at Horsted Keynes.
• Provision of Luggage Racks and costs of some other work on LBSCR Bogie First Carriage No.7598.
• Transport and some restoration costs for moving the Horsted Keynes goods shed to Kingscote.
• Funding a replica stained glass window at Horsted Keynes Station.
• Organised manufacture of reproduction LBSCR carriage carpets, both for sale and to provide carpets for our LBSCR carriages.
• Signwriting and part-funding the re-tyring of some wheelsets for Metropolitan Railway Carriage No.394, mechanical work on the bogies of No.368, and casting of new luggage rack brackets for No.412.
• Purchase of LBSCR Stroudley brake coaches Nos 676 and 949.
• Transport costs for the recovery of SER Gilbert Car No.33.
• Funding towards the purchase of locomotive No.3 Baxter.
• Support of restoration work at Kingscote station.
• Assistance with restoration of seats, lamps and the footbridge at Sheffield Park Station.

Horsted Keynes Platform 1/2 canopy, during the course of construction.

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Trustees

The current BRPS representatives, who are invited to attend Trust meetings, are:
  Jan Kozminski
  Richard Salmon

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The Bluebell Railway Trust - Legacies, Funding opportunities and mechanism - Donation and Gift Aid form

To the Bluebell Railway Home Page,
the Bluebell's Timetable or details of Special Events

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