Northwards from Kings Cross

A presentation by Rob Freeman.

This evening we were treated to part of the photographic collection of the late H.C Casserley (HCC) 1919 – 1983. During his lifetime HCC visited every station on the UK rail network with the exception of two very small railway halts, so these pictures were nationwide. We started with 60022 Mallard about to leave Kings Cross with the Aberdeen Flyer in 1962 and worked our way up the ECML to Newcastle, including viewing several rail tours on route including some RCTS ones. At Newcastle we viewed shots of A4 60015 Quicksilver in its silver livery with matching silver coaching stock. After this we left Paddington for the West Country, stopping at Southall Shed, Reading, Exeter St. David’s where we saw 34029 Landy & City of Truro during the tour here. Many of the loco’s were still in wartime black as HCC continued his photography throughout the war. Our next set of photographs covered the Woodhead route where we saw the electric services to Manchester Piccadilly in 1969, shots around Guide Bridge & the RCTS Cross Central Railtour in August 1966 at Sheffield Victoria. Rob followed this with the NE Garretts on the Warborough Incline. We returned next to Berkhamstead where HCC had his home very close to the WCML with a series of pictures taken from his window including an 8F on a hospital train in the 1940’s and some of his favourite locos the Duchess’s. During the presentation we spent time on the GE, the Southend route from Liverpool Street, scenes at Stratford shed, Sandringhams on Brentwood Bank, Great Yarmouth with the little Toby engines working along the road, race day specials at Newmarket and some hump shunting shots at March. A thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable evening.

Dave Elsdon
Branch Secretary