Essex Express

[trisonic]

 

302 being proppelled by an 03 shunter on the Mangapps farm light railway essex, im sure he had the first two coach sets for this ?

Dunno the answer but I expect if you search that coach you'll find my DNA......

 

Best, Pete.

[Sasquatch]

Travelling in Essex on trains was a nightmare for me in my youth. Firstly you need a degree in mathmatics to deal with that huge departure board in Liverpool street station, before a jamacan gaurd puts you on the wrong train, a fast Stratford-Shenfield service. Then you get someones smelly armpits in your face for 40 minutes and the train goes through Romford doing 60+  leaving you looking like a complete fool because you fought your way all the way up the crowded center aisle. After getting crushed in the rush to the ticket barrier you miss the bus back to Romford and end up waiting half a b.....y hour for a train. 

Apart from the odd 47 and the 86 push pull Norwich service locos where such a rarity I don't think I ever saw one.

I'd still love to model it during the war years though. Romford during the blackout with all those N7 powered short Gresley teak coach rakes and B12s on the Norwich services.

 

Thanks for reviving the memories......Shaun

[trisonic]

You must have missed the early years of diesels. Type 31's  (as they were to become) were introduced in 1958 the first Class 37's (ditto) were introduced on the same lines in the early sixties - not to mention Type 15's etc.

Everyone knew that the only semi-fast trains to Romford operated outside peak hours.............

 

Just pulling your plonker...............

 

Best, Pete.

Edited September 16, 2013 by trisonic

[Baby Deltic]

Travelling in Essex on trains was a nightmare for me in my youth. Firstly you need a degree in mathmatics to deal with that huge departure board in Liverpool street station, before a jamacan gaurd puts you on the wrong train, a fast Stratford-Shenfield service. Then you get someones smelly armpits in your face for 40 minutes and the train goes through Romford doing 60+  leaving you looking like a complete fool because you fought your way all the way up the crowded center aisle. After getting crushed in the rush to the ticket barrier you miss the bus back to Romford and end up waiting half a b.....y hour for a train. 

Apart from the odd 47 and the 86 push pull Norwich service locos where such a rarity I don't think I ever saw one.

I'd still love to model it during the war years though. Romford during the blackout with all those N7 powered short Gresley teak coach rakes and B12s on the Norwich services.

 

Thanks for reviving the memories......Shaun

You really needed to be out and about before 1985 to see plenty of diesel action at Liverpool Street. Once the juice wires started stretching out to Norwich, diesels started getting rare,

[Rob F]

Tut tut, a topic called Essex Express and the only Clacton in it is in the OPs avatar and even then isn't in Essex Express livery... I don't have any photos of real ones but does this count?

PICT0017.JPG

 

Andi

May be OT as the pic is not in Essex, but I photed this 309 in Liverpool St in the summer of 1985.

 

 

Apologies about the quality but my slide/negative scanner has some issues and the print has discoloured over the years.

 

ROB

[Dagworth]

May be OT as the pic is not in Essex, but I photed this 309 in Liverpool St in the summer of 1985.

 

Untitled-11.JPG

 

Apologies about the quality but my slide/negative scanner has some issues and the print has discoloured over the years.

 

ROB

Pure porn, lovely!

 

Andi

[47137]

86 235 restarts its final passenger working after an unscheduled stop at Hatfield Peverel ... 8 years ago tomorrow, 17th September 2005 at around 18:49. Goodness was it really that long ago?

 

- Richard.

 

[BigBountyHunter]

Excellent input lads thankyou

 

Travelling in Essex on trains was a nightmare for me in my youth. Firstly you need a degree in mathmatics to deal with that huge departure board in Liverpool street station, before a jamacan gaurd puts you on the wrong train, a fast Stratford-Shenfield service. Then you get someones smelly armpits in your face for 40 minutes and the train goes through Romford doing 60+  leaving you looking like a complete fool because you fought your way all the way up the crowded center aisle. After getting crushed in the rush to the ticket barrier you miss the bus back to Romford and end up waiting half a b.....y hour for a train. 

Apart from the odd 47 and the 86 push pull Norwich service locos where such a rarity I don't think I ever saw one.

I'd still love to model it during the war years though. Romford during the blackout with all those N7 powered short Gresley teak coach rakes and B12s on the Norwich services.

 

Thanks for reviving the memories......Shaun

hehee that was a nice little description Shaun!! when i was a nipper the 31's 37's and 47's reigned supreme between Liverpool st and Norwich and the frieght trains double headed by 37's will always be a fond memory indeed, As Baby deltic said though things started changing in mid 80's and the push pull services were something of a novelty to me and my mates, it all looked so precarious a load of mkII's hurtling toward you wobbling and bouncing all over the place! now its second nature with the class 90's i still cant get it out my head though that pushing stock at those speeds is a bit dodgy lol !!! i have to agree about the armpits and destination board at Liverpool st lol, nice one, all the best Glenn

 

Edited September 16, 2013 by BigBountyHunter

[BigBountyHunter]

86 235 restarts its final passenger working after an unscheduled stop at Hatfield Peverel ... 8 years ago tomorrow, 17th September 2005 at around 18:49. Goodness was it really that long ago?

 

- Richard.

 

img018.jpg

Never sure if i liked the Anglia livery myself, it was around this time i spent most weekends hanging out my bedroom window trying to get last fill of the ol 86's the stock was a miss match of Anglia, intercity, and unbranded Virgin and the Traction a mixture of 86's and 90's, do you remember the old flat fronted dvt's? i prefered them i think too lol

[BigBountyHunter]

May be OT as the pic is not in Essex, but I photed this 309 in Liverpool St in the summer of 1985.

 

Untitled-11.JPG

 

Apologies about the quality but my slide/negative scanner has some issues and the print has discoloured over the years.

 

ROB

Excellent shot, most welcome in thread, brings back great memories, cheers Glenn

[Baby Deltic]

......do you remember the old flat fronted dvt's? i prefered them i think too lol

You mean the DBSO's? Driver Brake Second Open. Ex Scottish region MK2 conversions originally used with push-pull fitted class 47/7's and rakes of MK3 stock between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Edited September 16, 2013 by Baby Deltic

[BigBountyHunter]

You mean the DBSO's? Driver Brake Second Open. Ex Scottish region MK2 conversions originally used with push-pull fitted class 47/7's and rakes of MK3 stock between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Yeah thats the ones, sorry im not up on what they were called lol, i wonder happened to them? I remember an article years ago in the 80's in Model Railways magazine how to make your own out of mkII coaches! thanks for the heads up ive learnt something today!!     

[justin1985]

Some pictures from 2004, on or about the date that Anglia and fGE were merged to become "one", and I took my camera out to get some shots of the old liveries before they were gone!

 

150 217 at Marks Tey, March 2004

 

360 121 at Colchester, freshly de-branded of fGE livery elements, March 2004

 

360 105 at Colchester, still with first Group branding, March 2004

 

86 215 "The Round Tabler" at Colchester, same date in March 2004

 

86 260 at Colchester, with a Mk2 still in Intercity livery, just as Anglia becomes "one", March 2004

 

170 203 and 360 177 (de-branded) pass at Colchester, March 2004

 

 

 

[47137]

I remember a glorious 12 months or so around 2004 / 2005 when we had the greatest variety of passenger trains we could wish for: ancient catering vehicles, Mk2 coaches and DBSOs and EMUs (312s), Mk3 coaches (but teamed up with DBSOs, the DVTs were yet to arrive I recall?), 86s, 87s and 90s to move this lot around - and 321s and 170s in between. It was like a living museum rolling past, everything was second-hand or older, and also a demonstration of the limitations of modern locomotive naming practice ("BBC Midlands Today" or whatever). This is a scan of another 35mm slide, this one I wrote "unidentified 90 with pot-pouri train. 1800 Norwich to Liverpool Street. 8 August 2005". This is at Hatfield Peverel, the station clock suggests punctuality, even a little ahead of schedule. I got a Police 'stop' a few minutes later for Reason Code E, with Stop and Search Object Code 1 (or I).

 

[Suzie]

No pictures of freightliner livery 90s or the (before my time I hasten to add) 40s yet.

 

Did all the 309s get Essex Express jaffa? I suspect not because I have seen 12-car 309s with Blue/Grey - Essex Express - NSE formations which would suggest that some went straight from Blue/Grey to NSE. All jaffa pictures here so far are of the former 2-car units.

[trisonic]

I forgot all about the "40's"! The whistling is what I remember most. I can remember laying in bed listening to them approach from the East towards Shenfield  - then they would turn it up as notch as they went through and into the "canyons" up the hill to Brentwood....

 

As evocative a sound as any steam engine.

 

I remember the transition of green into blue the most with fondness. 'Cos I was young?

 

Best, Pete.

Edited September 17, 2013 by trisonic

[47137]

Yeah thats the ones, sorry im not up on what they were called lol, i wonder happened to them? I remember an article years ago in the 80's in Model Railways magazine how to make your own out of mkII coaches! thanks for the heads up ive learnt something today!!     

Here is a DBSO for you, emerging from the tunnel at Ipswich on 10 July 2005.

 

- Richard.

 

[dmustu]

Not in Essex, but a former Essex Express 309 now residing at the Electric Railway Museum near Coventry.

[BigBountyHunter]

Some pictures from 2004, on or about the date that Anglia and fGE were merged to become "one", and I took my camera out to get some shots of the old liveries before they were gone!

 

DSCF0476.JPG

150 217 at Marks Tey, March 2004

 

DSCF0482.JPG

360 121 at Colchester, freshly de-branded of fGE livery elements, March 2004

 

DSCF0488.JPG

360 105 at Colchester, still with first Group branding, March 2004

 

DSCF0631.JPG

86 215 "The Round Tabler" at Colchester, same date in March 2004

 

DSCF0659.JPG

86 260 at Colchester, with a Mk2 still in Intercity livery, just as Anglia becomes "one", March 2004

 

DSCF0667.JPG

170 203 and 360 177 (de-branded) pass at Colchester, March 2004

I really wish id have done that more!!!!! excellent photos mate, thanks for sharing those !!!

[BigBountyHunter]

I remember a glorious 12 months or so around 2004 / 2005 when we had the greatest variety of passenger trains we could wish for: ancient catering vehicles, Mk2 coaches and DBSOs and EMUs (312s), Mk3 coaches (but teamed up with DBSOs, the DVTs were yet to arrive I recall?), 86s, 87s and 90s to move this lot around - and 321s and 170s in between. It was like a living museum rolling past, everything was second-hand or older, and also a demonstration of the limitations of modern locomotive naming practice ("BBC Midlands Today" or whatever). This is a scan of another 35mm slide, this one I wrote "unidentified 90 with pot-pouri train. 1800 Norwich to Liverpool Street. 8 August 2005". This is at Hatfield Peverel, the station clock suggests punctuality, even a little ahead of schedule. I got a Police 'stop' a few minutes later for Reason Code E, with Stop and Search Object Code 1 (or I).

 

img001.jpg

Thats a great shot, exactley what i was talking about! nice one cheers!

[BigBountyHunter]

I forgot all about the "40's"! The whistling is what I remember most. I can remember laying in bed listening to them approach from the East towards Shenfield  - then they would turn it up as notch as they went through and into the "canyons" up the hill to Brentwood....

 

As evocative a sound as any steam engine.

 

I remember the transition of green into blue the most with fondness. 'Cos I was young?

 

Best, Pete.

When the 40's used to approach the gradient toward Witham station they used to open up!! hellfire and clag heaven to a 5 year old!! great memories! sadly missed

[BigBountyHunter]

Here is a DBSO for you, emerging from the tunnel at Ipswich on 10 July 2005.

 

- Richard.

 

DBSO at Ipswich, 14:43 to Norwich.jpg

Excellent Richard!! many thanks, great photo! and also makes me think every time i go to ipswich what a great station to model with that tunnel so close 

[BigBountyHunter]

Not in Essex, but a former Essex Express 309 now residing at the Electric Railway Museum near Coventry.

Lovely jubbly!!! why did they change the connecting doors on these units??? anyone?? and what happened to the 170's round witham way??????????

[NXEA!]

Lovely jubbly!!! why did they change the connecting doors on these units??? anyone?? and what happened to the 170's round witham way??????????

The 170's stopped appearing at Witham for several reasons - For a start, capacity was desperately needed on the Rural routes, especially on Norwich-Cambridge. The Lowestoft/Peterborough-Liverpool Street services were cut back to Ipswich, which freed up three units. These three 170/2 3-car's then transferred to take over the Norwich-Cambridge route giving a carriage extra of capacity on every service. The three 170/2 2-cars diagrammed for Norwich-Cambridge transferred to the Ipswich-Cambridge route to give a better passenger experience. The three Sprinters on this route then transferred to Norwich to give extra capacity on Norwich-Great Yarmouth/Lowestoft/Sheringham services, single 153's doubling up to pairs, 156's replacing single 153's etc etc.  

 

Second of all was passenger capacity, as well as line capacity on the GEML south of Ipswich. The three-car 170's were very often rammed on shoulder-peak services, and with their slower acceleration, their stopping-pattern was generally limited to fast to Shenfield, Chelmsford, Witham, Marks Tey, Colchester and Ipswich to avoid getting in the way of EMU's and the Norwich's. The decision was taken to divert the London-Harwich service to Ipswich, with connections made to/from Harwich at Manningtree on Norwich services, and the Lowestoft/Peterborough services were withdrawn, and using unit's available off-peak, a through service in the same path was made available for an xx.38 Liverpool Street-Colchester Town, the reasoning being an 8/12-car EMU is far more effective at moving passengers than a 3-car 170. Also, the better acceleration of the EMU's and the more robust timetable allowed Kelvedon and Ingatestone to gain half-hourly services. The Hatfield Peverel stop was transferred from the Braintree's to the Ipswich's to speed up the Braintree's by a couple of minutes, with the additional Ingatestone stop inserted into the Clacton's, with the Romford stop previously in the Clacton's inserted into the new xx.38 Colchester Town service, as well as an extra Kelvedon stop.  

 

170's occasionally make their way to Witham, one stood in for a 90 and Mark 3's a few months back at the last minute all the way through to Liverpool Street, and some work through to Ilford to visit the wheel lathe. A couple visit Colchester if you're interested, the last two Peterborough-Ipswich's run through in passenger service to Colchester for stabling. 

 

Hope this helps! 

[BigBountyHunter]

The 170's stopped appearing at Witham for several reasons - For a start, capacity was desperately needed on the Rural routes, especially on Norwich-Cambridge. The Lowestoft/Peterborough-Liverpool Street services were cut back to Ipswich, which freed up three units. These three 170/2 3-car's then transferred to take over the Norwich-Cambridge route giving a carriage extra of capacity on every service. The three 170/2 2-cars diagrammed for Norwich-Cambridge transferred to the Ipswich-Cambridge route to give a better passenger experience. The three Sprinters on this route then transferred to Norwich to give extra capacity on Norwich-Great Yarmouth/Lowestoft/Sheringham services, single 153's doubling up to pairs, 156's replacing single 153's etc etc.  

 

Second of all was passenger capacity, as well as line capacity on the GEML south of Ipswich. The three-car 170's were very often rammed on shoulder-peak services, and with their slower acceleration, their stopping-pattern was generally limited to fast to Shenfield, Chelmsford, Witham, Marks Tey, Colchester and Ipswich to avoid getting in the way of EMU's and the Norwich's. The decision was taken to divert the London-Harwich service to Ipswich, with connections made to/from Harwich at Manningtree on Norwich services, and the Lowestoft/Peterborough services were withdrawn, and using unit's available off-peak, a through service in the same path was made available for an xx.38 Liverpool Street-Colchester Town, the reasoning being an 8/12-car EMU is far more effective at moving passengers than a 3-car 170. Also, the better acceleration of the EMU's and the more robust timetable allowed Kelvedon and Ingatestone to gain half-hourly services. The Hatfield Peverel stop was transferred from the Braintree's to the Ipswich's to speed up the Braintree's by a couple of minutes, with the additional Ingatestone stop inserted into the Clacton's, with the Romford stop previously in the Clacton's inserted into the new xx.38 Colchester Town service, as well as an extra Kelvedon stop.  

 

170's occasionally make their way to Witham, one stood in for a 90 and Mark 3's a few months back at the last minute all the way through to Liverpool Street, and some work through to Ilford to visit the wheel lathe. A couple visit Colchester if you're interested, the last two Peterborough-Ipswich's run through in passenger service to Colchester for stabling. 

 

Hope this helps! 

Wow! excellent mate thankyou, that helps alot indeed, to me living right next to the GEML they just seemed to dissappear over night! but then i seem to spend most of my time at work very much once in a blue moon i see a single 153 heading toward Colchester but i guess this is just a transfer or similar as its empty and has no interior lighting. Thanks for clearing that up for me it makes sense now when i think about because whenever i stepped on one at Witham it was always standing room only!! Cheers for that, All the best Glenn