‘Around London, Where Variety is the Spice of Life’, by Geoff Brockett, 4th October 2022
4th October 2022 Meeting
Today we welcomed South Essex Branch Member Geoff Brockett, whose name you will know as a regular supplier of information to the RO, with his presentation of ‘Around London where variety is the spice of life’.
The first photo up was taken at South Woodford Station with a sign encouraging you NOT to travel due to lockdown!
The Central Line Rail Adhesion Train 5 car unit on the west end of the line was seen as were other lines on the Underground network which included the exteriors of Nine Elms Station and Battersea Power Station (Station?). A pair of Class 20s with Inspector’s saloon and stock at West Ruislip, then onto the DLR , the frontage of the Necropolis Station at Waterloo [closed 1942] and also Spa Road Station frontage [closed 1915].
BR Standard No. 71000 Duke of Gloucester was seen at Paddington, then various EMUs Class 387, 455, 458, 700 at Charlton Lane Signal Box, 717, 745 and various locos on the ECML.
In Part 2 we started with Class 59s and 66s on Tonbridge to Doncaster runs and various other stock. A sad sight of four Class 91s going for scrap at Newport along with Class 315 and 317s. 37458 and some Class 455s were seen at Olympia with a Wimbledon to Long Marston working. We saw various locos on RHTT duties and four Class 90s on a Felixstowe Freightliner! Other moves were seen along with 35018 British India Line at South Kenton, 45596 Bahamas at South Acton, 60163 Tornado at Lincoln and the final shot was of a 2-car LT 1938 stock at Ryde Pier Head on the last day of services prior to replacement.
We had an attendance of 21 which although 33% lower than pre-Covid it was our best attendance since March 2020.
Thank you Geoff for another of your fine presentations.
Rob Davidson, Branch Secretary