Gems of the H C Casserley Collection

Our branch meeting on 24 March was Gems of the H C Casserley Collection presented by Robert Freeman of Watford branch.

Henry Casserley (1903-1991)’s took over 90,000 images between 1919 his death. In 1938 he moved to Berkhamsted and built a house overlooking the line to pursue his hobby.  Despite the fact that Henry lived on and was associated with the LMS he documented the railway history of the whole of the British Isles. His son Richard took over the Archive after his passing, but sadly the archive was broken up after Richard died. A collection of the images do remain in the family and from this two books have been published and presentations like ours have been enjoyed.

In tribute to the location of the branch the show began with Paddington to Reading and branches with steam and GW railcars including local services to Uxbridge Vine St and lots of local services including Bourne End to Marlow.  Castles and Kings were seen on the main line and the Royal train at Reading.

The next section covered the Great Eastern with highlights of a pre war Y5 at Stratford and the Wisbech and Upwell tramway. His railside location enabled Henry to take some photographs during the War from his house with Dean Goods, USA S160’s and an ambulance train being recorded on the WCML.

A further section showed electrics on the Woodhead route and the LNER Garratt  69999 on the Worsborough incline, and the final section showed some of the far west Great Western with a Bulldog at Westbury, the Weymouth tramway, last days on Portland, the West Somerset in BR days and the Princetown branch in 1926, china clay and Penzance.

An excellent presentation well received by a good audience in the hall and on line.

John Fitzgerald