Not So Much a Hobby, More A Way of Life

Presenter: Jim Connor

Hybrid Meeting both Physically at Shenfield Parish Hall and via Zoom

The title of the talk came from Jim’s wife who, when asked about Jim’s hobby responded that it wasn’t so much a hobby but more a way of life!

Jim’s presentation took a look at railway enthusiasm, from its beginnings in the 1890s’s through much of the first two thirds of the twentieth century when railway enthusiasm was at its peak. The talk featured examples of many of the items which were produced for enthusiasts and budding enthusiasts over the years. These included books, magazines, models, jigsaw puzzles and gramophone records, along with the expensive O-Gauge models offered by Bassett-Lowke tantalisingly displayed in their Holborn showroom.

Along the way Jim recounted many amusing and interesting anecdotes from his life as a railway enthusiast and as a railway employee. A particularly interesting aspect of the talk was a look at many of the railway artists who were employed by both the railway companies and the various publications to take official railway company photos and produce paintings, linocuts and scraper-board artworks which were used on the covers and inside of the numerous publications that existed both pre and post, World War Two.

The result was a very entertaining and enlightening talk which included items that everyone present could remember owning and cherishing. It was a fascinating insight into the history of the railway enthusiast’s world.