Colchester in the Age of Steam

One of our largest attendances of the year came to see Dave Goodyear’s presentation “Colchester in the Age of Steam”. This was a history lesson on the range of locomotives used on the mainline through Colchester and its surrounding Branch lines since 1840’s, including photographs of the station from that time. This followed the introduction with maps of the main East Anglian mainlines and the many branch lines that existed in the area. We saw photographs taken around 1900 not only of the locomotives & rolling stock but also showing the surrounding landscape & adjacent buildings.

Following the viewing of most of these early classes of loco, we moved on the streamlined engines that operated out of Liverpool Street, and the other more familiar classes of engines to us eg, B1, B12, B17 etc. then on to the Britannia’s & the introduction of Dmu’s in 1957. Soon followed by what we now know as Class 31, 37 diesels. In 1959 electrification on the Eastern started to Chelmsford before quickly being installed elsewhere, with completion happening in June 1962.

We also saw a number of photographs taken at St Botolphs station throughout the years.

Dave’s programme also pictured the change in the whole area, with the building of the new Colchester station in 1962, along with a brief history of the Hythe tramway.

Dave Elsdon
Branch Secretary