On Great Eastern Metals From 1991 to Date

Presenter: Geoff Brocket

Physical Meeting at Shenfield Parish Hall

On Monday 16th September South Essex Branch member and RO contributor, Geoff Brockett, presented his latest offering “On Great Eastern Metals from 1991 to date” to 21 members at Shenfield Parish Hall. Geoff has provided many presentations to us over the years, and they never fail to impress with the quality of the photography and variety of locations and subject matter. All his photos were taken on lines previously wholly or jointly owned by the original Great Eastern Railway and he started with showing how the trains used on the Liverpool Street to Norwich service evolved with all the various companies and liveries in the past 30 odd years and then the loco hauled services to Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft, followed by a foray into the old West Anglia franchise plus a number of rail tours.

After the break it was freight trains followed by miscellaneous workings such as unit drags, test trains and RHTTs. Geoff then went on to showing multiple units with an emphasis on the earlier years of the period, mostly all now withdrawn. Finally, it was DLR, the East London Line and the Central Line, finishing on the Ongar branch and the last day service which was 30th September 1994 (30 years ago).

It is amazing that so much has altered in 33 years and it is great to see a record of all the changes over that time. Fortunately, Geoff’s photos show more than the locomotives/ units but also the ever-changing landscape, unfortunately missing in some other photographer’s presentations. So much has changed from small things like the size of  the buddleia to how layouts have altered with many sidings now long gone and stations rebuilt etc. It was also good to see the variety of liveries from 1990 to the current day with of course the different operators who have come and gone. Who remembers ONE? An entertaining evening that was enjoyed by those present.