On Tuesday 10th September 2013, an A1 class 4-6-2 locomotive ‘Tornado’ headed ‘The Cathedrals Express’ from London Victoria to Sheffield Park, via Riddlesdown and onto the Bluebell Railway. The train is seen below, passing through Riddlesdown Station and then crossing the viaduct over the old Riddlesdown Quarry. The Quarry stopped producing Lime in the 1960’s and is now a protected area containing rare grassland flowers and butterflies.

The last steam hauled train to cross this viaduct was in 1967. Soon it will be impossible to take a similar photograph as the footpath which crosses the line at this point is being re-routed by Network Rail and the local council.

Riddlesdown Station - 10 September 2013

The ‘Tornado’ steam train, is seen passing through Riddlesdown Station.

Photograph below was taken and is kindly supplied and shown with the permission of Muriel Brooks ©

Footnote:

‘Tornado’ was built by the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, a charitable trust founded in 1990 to build a Peppercorn A1 class locomotive. None of the original 49 locomotives of this class survived British Rails decimation of steam traction in the 1960’s.

Tornado was named by HRH The Prince of Wales, accompanied by the Duchess of Cornwall and Dorothy Mather (widow of designer Arthur Peppercorn), at York railway station on 19 February 2009.

‘TORNADO’ STEAM TRAIN PASSES THROUGH RIDDLESDOWN STATION

 ON 10 SEPTEMBER 2013

AND ALSO

 “OLIVER CROMWELL” STEAM TRAIN ON 2 NOVEMBER 2013

The photograph below of the “Tornado” also crossing the viaduct at Riddlesdown Quarry on 10 September 2013 was taken and is kindly supplied and shown with the permission of ©Alan Barnes Photography.

Photograph below, of the “Tornado” crossing the viaduct at Riddlesdown Quarry on 10 September 2013 was taken and is kindly supplied and shown with the permission of John Bradshaw ©

On 2 November 2013, the “Oliver Cromwell” steam train is seen passing through Riddlesdown Station and Tunnel.

The two photographs below of the “Oliver Cromwell were taken and are kindly supplied and shown with the permission of ©Alan Barnes Photography.

Footnote - 70013 “Oliver Cromwell” is a British Railways standard class 7 (also known as the Britannia class) preserved steam locomotive. The locomotive is notable as one of the four steam locomotives which worked the last steam rail tour on British Railways (BR) in 1968 before the introduction of a steam ban. Further information from Wikipedia

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