Restoring No.27 the Bluebell's forgotten P tank
The restoration of SECR No. 27 Primrose marks the next major chapter in the preservation of one of the Bluebell Railway’s historically significant little locomotives. First arriving on the railway in the summer of 1961 as BR No. 31027 & still carrying her unlined British Railways black livery, the locomotive was soon renamed Primrose and restored to her original South Eastern & Chatham Railway identity as No. 27. In 1963 she was repainted into full SECR passenger livery and alongside sister locomotive No. 323 she quickly became one of the cornerstones of the Bluebell Railway’s fledgling operational fleet. Throughout the 1960s and into the early years of the preservation era, No.27 played a vital role in demonstrating the potential of Britain’s first preserved standard gauge railway & helped to inspire a movement that continues to flourish today.
Withdrawn from traffic in 1974, No. 27 became the subject of an ambitious restoration in the early 80s. Although work progressed as far as dismantling the locomotive to its rolling chassis, the scale of the task ultimately exceeded the resources and engineering facilities available at the time, and the project was reluctantly abandoned. Fast forward 32 years & following the launch of Captain Baxter & the completion of Fenchurch the newly formed LLG, support by the Fenchurch Fund adopted No. 27 as their latest restoration project.
Project 27 Begins
A comprehensive engineering survey of the engine soon revealed that decades of exposure to the elements following her working life by the sea at Dover, together with many years stored dismantled in the open had taken a far greater toll on her condition than had first been anticipated. It was soon discovered that apart from just having a tired boiler and historical damage from a shunting incident that No. 27’s frames where severely corroded at the drag-box end and that cracks had started to propagate from around the centre driving axle position on the frames. To add to this much of the running plates, bunker & tanks where found to be life expired as well as the cylinder block which had also corroded through into the top internal passages!
Undeterred by the state of No. 27 the group have pushed on, making steady progress and plan to restore her back to her former 1920’s condition in fully lined out Southern Railway olive green. Every major component renewed represents an investment in the locomotive’s future, ensuring that No. 27 is rebuilt not simply for another overhaul cycle, but for many decades of reliable service.
Why Project 27 matters
More than sixty years after helping to establish the Bluebell Railway’s reputation as a pioneer of railway preservation, No. 27 is once again at the heart of an ambitious project to see her steam once again. Her restoration will secure the future of one of the railway’s earliest resident locomotives and ensures that this remarkable survivor continues to educate, inspire and delight future generations of visitors and volunteers alike. Built in 1910, No. 27 has enjoyed an extraordinary career, from service with the South Eastern & Chatham Railway, wartime duties in France, a mainstay at Dover marine & becoming one of the Bluebell Railway’s earliest and most recognisable little locomotives.
Project 27 is entirely volunteer-led, driven by the dedication of the Little Loco Group and supported solely through donations and fundraising by the Fenchurch Fund. The restoration of SE&CR P Class No. 27 is one of the most ambitious projects ever undertaken on one of the Railway’s small locomotives. With new frames and cylinder block already manufactured, alongside extensive work to the boiler, tanks and motion, the project is not simply repairing the locomotive it is giving it a new lease of life. Once complete, No. 27 will be ready to serve future generations, and with the comparatively light demands of heritage railway operation, the work being carried out today should secure the locomotive’s future well into the next century.
Thanks to the many years of fundraising by the Fenchurch Fund, generous donations and bequests, the restoration has began on a firm foundation, but continued support remains vital to complete the full scope of work ensuring 27 can steam long into the future!
Major Achievements so far...
Restoration Scope
A full engineering survey of 27’s condition & scope of work has been undertaken with the final disassembly of 27’s frames & recovery of serviceable components completed. Additionally, the cataloguing & recovery of around 90% of 27’s scattered parts from across the railway has been undertaken with identified parts being consolidated & stored. From the original Ashford P tank drawings within the railway’s archive & NRM records the group has created modern CAD drawings to help enable life expired components to be replaced as needed to enable the ongoing restoration of 27.
Work continues to date, working towards seeing 27 once again back as a rolling chassis and resetting the clocks back to where we first started out in 2017.
Frames & Platework
The manufacture of new replacement frame plates by TATA Steel, utilising CAD drawings produced by the group & being a first for the Bluebell Railway. The new frame plates have subsequently been erected & fully riveted up utilising the newly manufactured platework as well as salvaged old components. This has also had the added benefit of developing the group’s overall core “volunteer heritage key skills” in the art of hot riveting. The frame assembly has since received new running plates & side valances and has been painting up into early 1920’s Southern Railway livery.
Work has now focused on producing CAD drawings for a replacement Bunker, tanks & cab sheet work with the bunker now out to tender for manufacture with our approved contractor.
Mechanical
Mechanical restoration has advanced substantially, beginning with the casting of a brand‑new cylinder block produced from CAD models using the Poly‑pattern process developed by Premier Patterns and subsequently machined to specification by Statfold Barn. The wheelsets have undergone full tyre and journal re‑profiling, accompanied by repainting into Southern Railway livery. Overhaul of the motion is progressing with the manufacture of new horn wedges, slide bars, piston heads, piston rods, and slide valves, alongside the repair and re‑machining of valve rods and eccentrics. The steam reverser has also been fully overhauled as part of a volunteer development programme focused on traditional machining skills.
Boiler
An initial NDT survey has been completed to assess the boiler’s condition and establish the scope of required restoration work. Replacement boiler platework is now being sourced in coordination with the Bluebell Railway’s overhaul of No. 323, ensuring material consistency and efficient progress toward the boiler’s refurbishment.
Short Term Plan 2026-2027
Project 27
- Off site manufacture of new bunker & side tanks in collaboration with our external contractor.
- Completion of work to horns guides, horn keeps & horn wedges in preparation for cylinder block fitment.
- Aspiration to carry out Cylinder block fitment to frames and final alignment
- Survey of loco axle boxes and subsequent scope of work agreed and carried out ready for re-wheeling .
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