Project Axe

Kerr, Stuart & Co Ltd No. 2451 or 'Axe' is owned by the L&BR trust is a really useful and popular engine loved by members, visitors, volunteers and staff.

Axe last steamed at the Remembrance Service in 2024 with the boiler ticket expiring after having been in regular service since 2009. We need to overhaul Axe by lifting and inspecting the bolier, changing the boiler tubes, striiping down and refurbishing the running gear and improving pipework in the cab. As with the overhaul of any steam locomotives it is very difficult to estimate the cost as unexpected work may be need.

Our initial estimate to get Axe steaming again is £50,000, this may change depending upon what is discovered during the process.

Having Axe back in traffic gives us operational resillience and flexibility, provides us with opportuinities to hire the locomotove out to other railways potentially giving us new revenue streams and is ideal for driver experiences and other special events.

You can read more on Axe's history here.

how you can help

We need your help in funding this work - no matter how small or large - every penny helps get Axe steaming again.

For larger donations we are providing the following rewards.

• Gold, donations over £2000, donors will get their name on a plaque on Axe, alongside the names from the last reconstruction, exclusive behind the scenes updates before everyone else, exclusive acess to see progress at the Woody Bay workshop and exclusive travel behind Axe before returning to public service
• Silver, donations over £1000, donors will get exclusive behind the scenes updates before everyone else, and exclusive access to see progress at Woody Bay workshop
• Bronze, donations over £500, donors will get exclusive behind the scenes updates before everyone else

We genuinely appreciate all contributions to this essential project. We've already had some very generious donations and the gauge below illustrates our initial target (in grey) and where the funds raied so far (in red).

HOW TO DONATE

We’d really welcome your financial donations no matter how big or small, every penny helps us pay for the parts and labour required.

You can donate regularly each month (or make a one off payment) via our online platform or you can donate in person at Woody Bay station when you are there next.

Or, you can make a one off donation directly via our online shop or by clicking the button BELOW, where you can declare your interest us claiming Gift Aid when completing your transaction.

You can also donate via a BACS bank transfer (quote reference “Axe” for Project Axe and remember to add a “Gift Aid” reference too if you want us to claim Gift Aid) to;

Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Trust
Lloyds Bank
Sort Code: 30-90-49
Account no.: 00445050

Or, you can send us a cheque (please email the treasurer at [ [email protected] ] for address details and make cheques out to “Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Trust” (again quote reference “Axe” for Project Axe in your covering note of letter and remember to tell us if you want us to claim Gift Aid).

Please remember: If you declare that you’d like the Trust to claim Gift Aid on your donation, we can claim an extra 25p for every £1 you give. Simply, your donation to Project Axe is increased by the HMRC by 25% which completes the return to steam faster!

Please note: If donations to the appeal exceed the final costs associated with returning Axe to traffic funds will be allocated to other rolling stock projects.

Have you any further information?

We will provide periodic updates on the project and list them below, our gold, silver and bronze donors will recieve these before they are posted here.

• November 2025: Steam on the Moor, Episode 28, Launching Project Axe

This page and funding to date last updated: 8h November 2025