The Armistice Day excursion pulls into Folkestone West Photo: Ray Duff
A newly restored locomotive, saved and rebuilt just miles away in Kent, made its debut on the Armistice Day steam excursion this Tuesday, retracing the steps of wartime troops through the county’s historic coastal towns.
On a crisp Tuesday afternoon, the annual Armistice Day steam-hauled rail excursion provided a powerful sight, linking the past with the present along the Kent coastline. The train, organised by the Railway Touring Company, was proudly pulled by 34028 ‘Eddystone’, a Southern Region ‘West Country’ Class Pacific with an incredible comeback story.
The journey began in London mid-morning, with the magnificent engine making its stately progress through North Kent to a lunchtime stop in Sheerness. Thereafter, it crossed the rolling Kentish landscape via Faversham and Canterbury East before heading down to the coast, destined for Dover Priory.
Eddystone begins her return trip to London Photo: Ray Duff
The most spectacular and poignant part of the run was the route out of Dover. With its twelve carriages and attendant diesel engine, ‘Eddystone’ powered along the dramatic coastal line, running beneath the towering chalk cliffs of Archcliffe and Western Heights, through Folkestone Warren, and across the impressive Cubitt Viaduct high above Folkestone. This section, with the English Channel visible, served as a powerful reminder of the two World Wars, with these very coasts and ports at the forefront of the conflicts.
The train’s scheduled stop at Folkestone West—formerly Shorncliffe station—held significant historical weight. This was the stopping point for thousands of troops stationed at the vast Shorncliffe Barracks during both 20th-century wars. ‘Eddystone’ paused here not only to mark Armistice Day but also for the practical necessity of taking on water for the return journey. Passengers alighted from the mixed rake of maroon West Coast Railways and blue former Intercity carriages to stretch their legs and join the crowd of onlookers and enthusiasts gathered to admire the pristine engine.
34028 Eddystone name plate Photo: Ray Duff
The Kentish Rebirth
Crucially, this particular locomotive’s story has deep local roots. ‘Eddystone’ was largely rebuilt to mainline working standard by a dedicated team at a restoration site in Sellindge, just a short distance from the line it was traversing. Originally built in 1946, it was later rebuilt in 1959 before being scrapped in 1965. After decades of rusting away, it was eventually rescued. Thanks to the skill and dedication of the team at Sellindge, it received its operating certificate very recently and was in pristine condition for this celebratory trip. A true ‘phoenix from the scrapheap’ moment for Kent’s railway history.
After a twenty-five-minute rest and refill, ‘Eddystone’ gave a loud whistle, a nostalgic signal for re-boarding. With a tremendous roar of steam and smoke, evoking the far-off bygone days of the steam age, the engine slowly and powerfully moved off, heading for its return trip to London via Ashford and Maidstone, closing a memorable and meaningful day on the rails.
Article by Ray Duff