LB&SCR A1X Class No. 55 "Stepney"

London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LBSCR) No. 55 "Stepney" is a A1x Class ('Terrier') steam locomotive built during 1875.

History[]

Stepney is named after the area of London of the same name (many of the Terrier locomotives were named after similar areas) and served first as a suburban shunter and station pilot in London. All terrier tank engines like Stepney at the time, were built with wooden brakes. However, these were soon replaced with metal brakes due to the hazardous tendency that wooden brakes could ignite into flames if they were overused. The engine was then used for push-pull trains and branch line duties. During its last working days on British Railways, Stepney went to work on the Hayling Island branch, before becoming retired in 1960 in the UK. By this point, Stepney was 85 years old.

He was soon bought by the Bluebell Railway Preservation Society in May 1960 and became the first standard gauge steam locomotive preserved and restored in the UK.

Since being restored, Stepney has proved to be a very popular attraction to the Bluebell Railway, and hauls both passenger and freight services; despite undergoing several overhauls. Stepney is now currently in "Improved Engine Green" livery (yellow ochre with white and green lining and the name 'Stepney' in bold on the tanks). Out of the 50 Terriers built for the LB&SCR and the 9 that survive, Stepney is likely the most famous. The engine has made numerous cameos and fame in other publicity, including the 2013 'Children In Need' event in the UK. The engine even appeared in a book of its own as part of the Railway Series by the Rev. W. Awdry titled "Stepney the Bluebell Engine", where Stepney was portrayed as a visiting engine to the Island of Sodor. The same character even went on to appear in the television series "Thomas and Friends", which were adapted from the Railway Series.

Hence he is well known to many children nationwide. Stepney isn't the oldest surviving terrier in the world, fellow classmate Fenchurch is three years older than Stepney. In other words, Fenchurch is 147 years old, whereas Stepney is 144 years old. However though, his extensive usage especially in his early preservation days in the 1960's, Stepney's running ability in recent years has been restricted due to the massive costs of a future overhaul with special attention being directed on the cylinders, frames and boiler.

Overhauls[]

Stepney started life as a standard A1, but was one of the 17 A1's selected to be converted into A1X's, The changes made him more modern and more powerful. but unlike his A1X classmates, he was not reverted to normal A1's and stays like this to this day.

In early 2014, Stepney's steam pipe failed, and he was in need of an expensive overhaul that would fix broken and worn out parts. Special attention would be his frame, boiler, and cylinders.

In popular culture[]

Stepney appears in the music video for Tracey Ullman's "Move Over Darling" (1983).
Stepney appears in the BBC film "Station Jim" (2001).
Stepney was featured in The Railway Series book Stepney The "Bluebell" Engine by Wilbert Awdry, as well as its television adaptation Thomas & Friends.

Gallery[]

Images

Preserved LB&SCR Locomotives
LB&SCR A1/A1X Class	No. 40 'Brighton' • No. 46 ”Newington” • No. 50 ”Whitechapel” • No. 54 ”Waddon” • No. 55 ”Stepney” • No. 62 ”Martello” • No. 70 ”Poplar”
LB&SCR B1 Class	No. 214 'Gladstone'
LB&SCR E1 Class	No. 110 ”Burgundy”
LB&SCR E4 Class	No. 473 ”Birch Grove”
LB&SCR H2 Class (Replica)	No. 424 'Beachy Head'