Popular Post Portchullin Tatty Posted November 24, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted November 24, 2021 (edited) Sadly, Bob died last night. It will be rare for any railway modeller or historian that is even remotely serious about their hobby not to be aware of Bob and probably have a clutch of his publications in their bookshelves (maybe like me a whole shelf full!) Bob had the interest in and access too a lot of historical information at a time when this was being actively ignored and sometimes disposed of by the 12" to the ft brigade. Based on this, he and a number of other similarly interested people went about both preserving this information and then analysing/publishing it. There are a lot of historical records that are still with us due to his and his contemporary's efforts and, certainly, we would not know what we now do about the prototype without his efforts to then tell us all about them. Bob was not, however, a researcher for researcher's sake. He fundamentally did it because he wanted to create more accurate models for himself and to inspire others to do so too. Finding that no one actually knew what the right prototype answer was, he went out and discovered it. Based on this knowledge, Bob created a number of accurate in concept as well as creation models, both in 4mm and then in 7mm. He was a founding member and first Chairman of the Scalefour Society and a founding member the ScaleSevern Society. He was also a founding member of the LMS Society and (I presume, I am less certain of this) of the Midland Railway Society. We thus all owe a big debt to Bob and his passing is a big loss. Edited November 24, 2021 by Portchullin Tatty Confirms Bob was a founding member of the S4 Soc 6 11 2 83 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Popular Post Roger Sunderland Posted November 24, 2021 RMweb Premium Popular Post Share Posted November 24, 2021 Everyone in the hobby is indebted to Bob Essery in some way or another. He produced so much invaluable historical data and information, often with others. He was an inspirational modeller as well. RIP. 1 24 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post hmrspaul Posted November 24, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted November 24, 2021 Bob must come close to being the most important member of our hobby over the past 60 years. Personally it was his articles in the Railway Modeller in the early 1960s that influenced me. In one he commented on going to a local yard and observing the wagons, so I did just that, as a teenager. I met him soon afterwards as he, and his historian colleagues, began the life long investigation and publication of the Midland, LMS and LMR as well associated modelling. Sad news, and condolensces to his family. Paul 12 13 1 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkC Posted November 24, 2021 Share Posted November 24, 2021 Vale, Bob - and thank you. my condolences to his family & friends. 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davey Posted November 24, 2021 Share Posted November 24, 2021 Very sad news. My thoughts are with his family. Bob was an inspirational figure, both to those who knew him and to all of those who have benefited from his research down the years. RIP Bob. Davey 1 7 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Popular Post Dave Hunt Posted November 24, 2021 RMweb Premium Popular Post Share Posted November 24, 2021 Bob was a great friend and modelling colleague. I first met him when the Midland Railway Society formed at his behest in 1981 and subsequently became involved with his Dewsbury S7 exhibition layout then began along with Bob and Fred James cataloguing the Derby Locomotive Drawing Office collection at the NRM. That led to us starting the Midland Engines and LMS Locomotive Profile series of books and through the association with Wild Swan Bob conceived the Midland Record and LMS Journal series that I helped him with. But that was merely part of the work that Bob put into research and modelling the Midland and the LMS and turning his efforts into publications for the benefit of others. He was also active in promoting both P4 and S7 standards and in forming societies for the benefit of modellers working in those areas; indeed, I don't think it is unrealistic to say that without Bob's efforts neither of them would have become properly established. I will always be proud of the fact that I was associated with a luminary of the modelling and railway historical world such as Bob but more than that he was a friend. The world was richer with Bob Essery in it and is a poorer place for his passing. When Wynne called my wife Jill this morning to tell her the bad news it was a physical blow. Rest set in peace Bob. Dave 1 38 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Barry O Posted November 24, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 24, 2021 This is sad news. Bob was a really nice person to know and we always had a bit of a chat at Warley NEC shows.. about the only time in the year we ever saw each other. Always very helpful and we must thank him and David Jenkinson (plus a lot of othe helpers) for hanging on to important items from teh past which would have ended in a skip. Baz 8 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold beast66606 Posted November 24, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 24, 2021 We (Walton and Anfield, predessors to the WFRM) had the priviledge of being awarded "Best LMS" (for Stockton Heath) by Bob many years ago, at Derby I think, much frivolity followed in the pub later. A nice guy who will be missed by many. 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Wright Posted November 24, 2021 Share Posted November 24, 2021 Such sad news. Bob was a marvellous author to work with, and he just let me get on and take the pictures he needed to illustrate his wonderful writing for the publications he and I (to a much lesser-extent) were responsible for, whether that be for Warners or for magazine articles. From the first time I visited his (then) home in Solihull, many years ago, he issued me with a 'Lineside Photographic Permit' for Dewsbury. Though over-used in some areas of the media today, the term 'great man' applied entirely to Bob Essery. The hobby is unlikely to ever see a fellow of his stature again. Rest in peace my friend. 6 3 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium t-b-g Posted November 24, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 24, 2021 I can't say that I knew Bob well but we had chatted at a couple of shows. He once spent a while watching one of my layouts, before I knew who he was. He approved of the operating, with the way we were passing trains in a loop on a single track line getting a particular mention. After he had moved on, one of my other operators told me who he was and said that if he had enjoyed the operating, we must have been doing something right as he knew how it should be done. There can't be many of us who are not aware of Bob and the huge amount of prototype information that he made available for us to help us build better model railways. Then he showed how to put that knowledge to good use himself with his own modelling. That sort of knowledge and experience is simply irreplaceable. The great model railway club in the sky just got another rather special member. 7 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Popular Post Dave Hunt Posted November 24, 2021 RMweb Premium Popular Post Share Posted November 24, 2021 The response since I first made public Bob's death this morning has been phenomenal. With posts on different RMW forums and other web sites, PMs, emails, phone calls etc. I've received over 150 messages of condolence, praise for his work and legacy and general goodwill. I will let his widow, Wynne, know when I speak to her tomorrow the evidence of how highly Bob was obviously thought of. It can't bring him back but it is worth knowing. Dave 9 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flying Fox 34F Posted November 25, 2021 Share Posted November 25, 2021 The loss of Bob Essery brings an era to a close. I have many of his books and articles, which I still reread every so often and spot something new. I can imagine right now, Bob, Geoff Holt and David Jenkinson watching some 7mm scale trains running whilst enjoying a glass of wine and looking down on our attempts to emulate them. Paul 2 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Bucoops Posted November 25, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 25, 2021 I was trying to think why I knew his name - I don't have an LMS or constituent interest - but I realised he wrote the book I own about operating a model railway to mimic the real railway. It's a very good book, clearly written by someone with a wealth of knowledge behind them. I have no doubt all the other works he has done either by himself or as a collaboration are a fitting legacy. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Dave Hunt Posted November 25, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 25, 2021 2 hours ago, Flying Fox 34F said: I can imagine right now, Bob, Geoff Holt and David Jenkinson watching some 7mm scale trains running whilst enjoying a glass of wine......... I'm one of those very fortunate people who has been with all three of those gentlemen doing exactly that at Geoff's house when he and I both lived in Boston. There are some memories that are precious and indelible. Dave 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted November 25, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 25, 2021 I first came across the name from Railway Modeller in the 1960s. I never knowingly met Bob but as others have said his influence has reached many of us. A towering figure in the fields of railway history and modelling. Rest well Bob and thank you. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denbridge Posted November 25, 2021 Share Posted November 25, 2021 Sad news indeed. My first recollection of Bob (though I didn't know it at the time) was of him appearing at the beginning of a sequence to fill out the loco allocation board alongside Garsdale Rd at the MRC Central Hall show around 1970/71. Both the layout and its trains made a huge impact on this impressionable young lad, I spent hours glued to the barrier and had to be almost dragged away when it was time to go home. I was fortunate to meet and chat with Bob several times in subsequent years and like most I have many of his books. RIP. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MJI Posted November 25, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 25, 2021 I have a few of his books, sad news 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Dragonboy Posted November 25, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 25, 2021 Such sad news and the railway community will be a much lesser place for his passing. Like many on here, I have many of his books and it’s the ones he wrote on realistic operation that I return to regularly, and the knowledge and wisdom he shared has greatly enhanced my pleasure when operating. My sincere condolences to Bob’s family and friends. The world has lost another Giant of the Railway community. Brian 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium kevinlms Posted November 25, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 25, 2021 (edited) It wasn't always the MR/LMS/LMR that Bob wrote about. Not long ago I was reading some Railway Modellers from 1962 and there was a series of articles on Portreath a GWR branch line in EM! - well at least the gauge was good. He wrote, not surprisingly, on how the branch may have operated (admitting he knew little about the GWR). It was part of a plan, for his newly formed club (West Herts), where the initial idea was to get each members existing layout completed. The controversy came over what colour to paint the station buildings, so Bob already being a researcher, wrote to some mysterious place related to a bear, to ask them! They duly wrote back with some notes on the colours used, so the model got painted in those colours. That started a series of letters to the editor, stating that this was wrong. But, Bob being Bob, didn't capitulate and repaint as per his superiors, instead he found more information confirming the colours that he'd used. I never did find out the end of this story, because that's where my run of old RM's ran out! I guess when I subscribe to the digital version of RM and back issues, I'll find out! But by 1963 January, Bob was on much safer ground, writing about building 4mm scale wagon, mostly of LMS prototypes. At least Bob Essery didn't get distracted like Roye England! I never met Bob, but like everyone, I have quite a number of books, magazines and articles written by him. Edit to add. Apparently the article on Portreath was the first article of Bob's that appeared. 1962 February. Edited November 25, 2021 by kevinlms More info 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
5 C Posted November 25, 2021 Share Posted November 25, 2021 I've spent countless hours with my head buried in one of Bob's many works on the LMS and his books outnumber those of any other author (railway or non-railway) in my library. His enormous contribution to those of us who model the LMS cannot be overstated. Essery & Jenkinson for the locos and Jenkinson & Essery for the coaches are our 'go-to' references. Thanks Bob. RIP. 2 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Popular Post Dave Hunt Posted November 25, 2021 RMweb Premium Popular Post Share Posted November 25, 2021 I have just spoken with Bob's widow, Wynne, and told her about the overwhelming response on RMW and elsewhere to Bob's passing. She is deeply touched by it and has asked me to tell everyone who has posted how much she values what has been said and what it means to know how much Bob was appreciated. Dave 7 3 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Dave Hunt Posted December 14, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 14, 2021 (edited) If anyone wishes to view Bob Essery's funeral on Wednesday December 15th at 4.15 pm, it will be available on: https://wesleymedia.co.uk/webcast-view Login/Order ID: 667952 Password: qhgnxtpc The recording should be available for seven days afterwards. In the event of problems logging in, telephone 01536 314890 Dave Edited December 14, 2021 by Dave Hunt 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurenceb Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 Thoughts with Bob's family & friends on this difficult day 1 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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