Tornado at Benfleet Station

A Piece of History in the Making

On the 6th October 2012 the steam locomotive 60163 Tornado passed through Benfleet Station heading The Cathedrals Express on a journey from Southend Central to Canterbury West.

A Remarkable Feat of Construction

The Tornado is a newly built Peppercorn class ‘A1’ steam locomotive. Following an unsuccessful attempt to save the last ‘A1’ locomotive in 1966 the Peppercorn ‘A1’ class became extinct until, in 1990, the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust was formed with the intention of constructing a brand new Peppercorn A1 Pacific. After 19 years the Tornado moved under its own steam in 2008.

Further information about the Tornado can be found on the website http://www.a1steam.com/

Last Across the Bridge

Whilst passing through Benfleet Station the Tornado had the privilege of being the last steam locomotive to cross the existing rail bridge that carries the Southend to London line over the B1014 road to Canvey Island. This came about due to the planned replacement of the 100 year old bridge in the period between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve 2012.  Following a reader’s comment at the bottom of this page, see update.

 

Tornado passing through Benfleet Station
Ronnie Pigram
Tornado passing through Benfleet Station
Ronnie Pigram
Tornado viewed from St Mary's Road
Jack Pyle
Tornado viewed from St Mary's Road
Jack Pyle

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  • I was travelling on Tornado on 6th October to Canterbury. Great photos taken by Jack Pyle from St Mary`s Road.

    By Susan Lewsey (06/03/2013)
  • I believe another Cathedral Express excursion is due on 8th December when the steam train “Britannia” will be going from Southend to Oxford…

    By Ellen Hume (10/10/2012)

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