RH&DR No. 8 Hurricane

No.8 Hurricane
No.8 'Hurricane' at Dungeness Station in August of 2016.
Overview -
Propulsion:	Steam
Loco Type:	Tender Engine
Gauge:	15 in
History -
Name:	Hurricane
Former Names:	Bluebottle
Designer:	Henry Greenly
Livery:	LNER Garter Blue/Caledonian Blue
Sibling Locomotives:	No.7 Typhoon
Manufacturing Details:
Builder:	Davey Paxman & Co.
(b/n) Builder's No.	16044
Build Date:	1927
Service:
Operator:	Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway Co.
Railway:	Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway (RH&DR)
No.	8
Years in Operation:	1927 - 2019
Disposition:	Under Overhaul
Wheel Arrangement:
Whyte Notation:	4-6-2+T
Axle No.	6
Cylinders:
Cylinders (Bore & Stroke):	5.25 in x 8.5 in
Operation:
Total Weight:	8 Tons.
Dimensions:
Total Length:	5.25 in x 8.5 in

Hurricane is a blue 4-6-2 tender steam locomotive.

History

Hurricane was built in 1927 by the Davey Paxman company for the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch railway originally with three-cylinders to provide more power and speed. These cylinders were converted to more conventional two-cylinders due to performance issues in 1937. In 1957, Hurricane hauled the train carrying Queen Elizabeth II, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles and Princess Anne.

On the 10th of July in 2005, Hurricane was involved in a collision at Battery crossing in which the driver Suzanne Martin was killed, she was the wife of the General Manager. Several passengers on the train had to undergo therapy due to shock with Hurricane needing heavy repairs only returning to service the next year. The driver of the car had ignored/not seen the warning lights at the crossing and was arrested by Kent Police at the scene, he later pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention. Hurricane continued in service until around 2019, being stored in the shed until 2022. She is under overhaul currently at New Romney works, and is nearing completion.

Trivia

• Hurricane's 1997 overhaul was supported by the RH&DR Association.
• Hurricane visited the Ravenglass and Eskdale railway in 2008.
• Hurricane was Capt. J. E. P. Howey's favourite locomotive, Captain Howey being the founder of the railway.
• When Hurricane's inside motion failed in July 1937, Capt. Howey was so disappointed in Hurricane that he had it renamed "Bluebottle". Until after the war when it regained the name Hurricane due to it's flawless performance with the army. The name "Bluebottle" would be reused by another locomotive.

Gallery

Hurricane as seen with a face