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Peter Schuyler Bruff made a presentation in Ipswich town hall to discuss his proposals for extending the Eastern Counties Railway from Ipswich to Norwich. This involved tunnelling through Stoke Hill because the original Ipswich station was situated the London side of this geographical obstruction.
After no small amount of subterfuge by rival companies the first sod was turned on 1st. August 1845. The tunnel is unusual in that it was the first ever driven on so sharp a curve throughout its length. Mr Bruff, it should be said, was now the project's Engineer and interestingly Stoke Tunnel was the only one he ever built. Contemporary reports indicate that the tunnel was 'taken through'at its full size before brick lining was commenced.
Photograph (1999) of Stoke Tunnel as seen from Ipswich Station.
The tunnel opened on 26th. November 1846 with a trial train to Bury St.Edmunds, and fully opened to passengers 7th. December1846. Ipswich Station on its present site was opened in1860 and was designed by Sancton Wood 1816-1866.
Britannia Pacific No 70036 BODICIA is pictured about to leave Ipswich Station on an up Norwich to Liverpool Street express in 1957. The tunnel depicted was the first railway tunnel to be built on a curve.
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