"TERRIER" LOCO ON WEST QUAY BRANCH

Waiting in the yard

By John Quinton

This loco is one of the famous Stroudley "Terriers", used latterly on the West Quay branch at Newhaven and on the Hayling Island branch.  I took the photo in the summer of 1962, (I believe the branch closed the following year). This loco was built in 1872 and when it was withdrawn by BR it was the oldest working loco on their system. Shown here with its BR number 32636, it was bought by the Bluebell Railway from British Railways in 1964. it is still in use on the Bluebell today as number 672 "Fenchurch" restored and re-painted to its original LB&SCR condition & colour.

The photgraph shows the loco waiting in the small yard at the western end of the swing bridge. Although it appears to have a pole stuck in its chimney - this is actually the adjacent wartime air-raid siren, used at that time for calling out the local retained fire brigade. Also on the top of the chimney can be seen the quaint contraption which was a round wire-mesh arrangement to prevent red hot cinders being ejected with the smoke. The Crown pub is in the background.