RHDR No.8 - Hurricane
Watching the trains, on a very cold , grey gloomy afternoon at Dungeness, when the entire peninsular was covered in a heavy sea mist.
GN outline two-cylinder (formerly three-cylinder)
4-6-2 Pacific locomotive
Designed by Henry Greenly
Built by Davey Paxman & Co., (16044) in 1927
Overall length: 27' 7"
Weight in working order: 8 ton 10cwt
Driving wheel diameter: 2' 1.5"
Bogie and trailing wheel diameter: 1'
Cylinders: 5.25" x 8.5"
Current Livery: Caledonian Blue
Delivered on 20th July 1927, Hurricane was identical to Typhoon — a powerful three cylinder locomotive. She at once became Captain Howey's favourite and was fitted with special features such as stainless steel handrails and, in 1934, a high capacity tender modeled on the corridor tenders of the LNER.
She remained three cylinder until the inside motion failed in July 1937. She fell from favour and the Captain had her painted blue and renamed Bluebottle. In this guise she was used to pull the new blue train until the war, during which time she was used extensively by the Army.
After the war she retained her blue livery, found favour with the Captain once again and was renamed Hurricane. In 1950 she received smoke deflectors.
In 1957, Hurricane hauled a Royal train carrying HM the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles and Princess Anne. To commemorate this event, she now carries a plaque on her cab-side.
She carries a chromium-plated whistle similar to those fitted to the streamlined A4 pacifics of the LNER like Mallard. It was a gift of their designer Nigel Gresley to Captain Howey, who had previously presented a Canadian Pacific whistle to the famous engineer.
In August 1994, Hurricane became another RH&DR locomotive to be a victim of an accident with a motor vehicle, this time on a private crossing near Greatstone. After receiving repairs, she continued to see service, until a full overhaul during 1996 —1997. During this she was given a new tender similar to the previous 1934 model.
Hurricane returned for in time to enter service for the 1998 season and became the 1999 timetable cover star.
Following an accident near Dungeness in July 2005, Hurricane has once again undergone a complete and major overhaul, returned to traffic in February 2008.
In May 2008 she travelled all the way to Cumbria, with Typhoon, to spend some time on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway. Click here to see some photos of the trip »
She remains as popular with visitors today as she did with the railways founder.
RHDR No.8 - Hurricane
Watching the trains, on a very cold , grey gloomy afternoon at Dungeness, when the entire peninsular was covered in a heavy sea mist.
GN outline two-cylinder (formerly three-cylinder)
4-6-2 Pacific locomotive
Designed by Henry Greenly
Built by Davey Paxman & Co., (16044) in 1927
Overall length: 27' 7"
Weight in working order: 8 ton 10cwt
Driving wheel diameter: 2' 1.5"
Bogie and trailing wheel diameter: 1'
Cylinders: 5.25" x 8.5"
Current Livery: Caledonian Blue
Delivered on 20th July 1927, Hurricane was identical to Typhoon — a powerful three cylinder locomotive. She at once became Captain Howey's favourite and was fitted with special features such as stainless steel handrails and, in 1934, a high capacity tender modeled on the corridor tenders of the LNER.
She remained three cylinder until the inside motion failed in July 1937. She fell from favour and the Captain had her painted blue and renamed Bluebottle. In this guise she was used to pull the new blue train until the war, during which time she was used extensively by the Army.
After the war she retained her blue livery, found favour with the Captain once again and was renamed Hurricane. In 1950 she received smoke deflectors.
In 1957, Hurricane hauled a Royal train carrying HM the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles and Princess Anne. To commemorate this event, she now carries a plaque on her cab-side.
She carries a chromium-plated whistle similar to those fitted to the streamlined A4 pacifics of the LNER like Mallard. It was a gift of their designer Nigel Gresley to Captain Howey, who had previously presented a Canadian Pacific whistle to the famous engineer.
In August 1994, Hurricane became another RH&DR locomotive to be a victim of an accident with a motor vehicle, this time on a private crossing near Greatstone. After receiving repairs, she continued to see service, until a full overhaul during 1996 —1997. During this she was given a new tender similar to the previous 1934 model.
Hurricane returned for in time to enter service for the 1998 season and became the 1999 timetable cover star.
Following an accident near Dungeness in July 2005, Hurricane has once again undergone a complete and major overhaul, returned to traffic in February 2008.
In May 2008 she travelled all the way to Cumbria, with Typhoon, to spend some time on the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway. Click here to see some photos of the trip »
She remains as popular with visitors today as she did with the railways founder.