East Anglian Railway Museum
The East Anglian Railway Museum is located at Chappel and Wakes Colne railway station in Essex, which is situated on the former Great Eastern Railway branch line from Marks Tey to Sudbury. Services on the Sudbury Branch Line are operated by Greater Anglia.
The museum has a wide collection of locomotives and rolling stock, some of which are fully restored, two are conversion into Thomas and Toby replicas while others are undergoing repair and restoration. The Restoration Shed was built in 1983–4, before which most work had to take place in the Goods Shed or in the open. On event days, steam train rides are operated over a short demonstration track.
The museum also plays host to three popular annual events: the Winter Festival held each February the Cider Festival held each June, and the Beer Festival held each September. During the festivals, additional late-evening trains on the Sudbury Branch Line allow festival-goers to return home by train subject to provision by the train operation companies. There are no moving exhibits during festival weekends, although train carrages are usually open to sit in and enjoy a drink, with one wagon doubling up as The Shunters Arms at the mina summer festival.
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[edit] Steam locomotives
The museum has a collection of industrial steam locomotives,[1] in various states of repair.
[edit] Operational
- Returned to traffic in April 2007 after an 18 month overhaul and now used regularly on steam services.
- Painted lined brunswick green and black.
- Back in public service on 21 March 2008 following conversion into a Thomas the Tank Engine look-alike.
- London North Eastern Railway class N7 0-6-2T inside cylinder No. 7999 (BR No. 69621) "A J Hill ".
- Returned to Service in 2005 after many years of sterling work on both preserved railways and the main line, currently in service back at the museum
[edit] Under overhaul
- Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST outside cylinder Works No. 1047 "Storefield".
- Returned to traffic in 1999 after a rebuild, currently undergoing a ten-yearly overhaul.
- Painted unlined dark blue.
[edit] Awaiting overhaul or restoration
- Peckett and Sons 0-4-0ST outside cylinder Works No. 2039 "Jeffrey".
- Awaiting a major restoration including new inner firebox. On static display, with a painted 'Thomas' face.
- Painted red, lined-out in black and white.
- This engine is used as a mascot for the museum's Junior Members' Club.
[edit] Diesel locomotives
The Museum has a collection of industrial diesel locomotives.
[edit] Operational
- British Rail Class 04 0-6-0DM D2279.
- Used regularly on shunting duties and sometimes passenger trains. Painted unlined black carrying fictitious number: 11249.
- Andrew Barclay 0-4-0 Works No. 333 "John Peel".
- A regular on shunting duties. Painted blue, lined-out in black and yellow.
- John Fowler 0-4-0DH Works No. 4220039 7 "Toby".
- Operational and used as a 'Toby' for Thomas the Tank Engine events, has even got a Henrietta coach. Painted brown and grey.
[edit] Under restoration
- Simplex 0-4-0 No. 2029.
- Undergoing a major restoration. Painted blue and orange.
[edit] Diesel multiple units
A number of DMUs are in use and stored at the museum. The units are owned by Diesel Unit Preservation Associates Ltd. DUPA own other railcars which can be found in use at various preserved railways in the UK.
- British Rail Class 101 DMBS No. 51213 Operational.
- British Rail Class 101 DTC No. 56358 Undergoing Internal Restoration.
- British Rail Class 101 DTC No. 56365 Donor/Spares Vehicle.
[edit] Electric multiple units
British Rail Class 306 unit 017 was transferred to the museum in mid-2011 for a five-year loan period.
[edit] Blur
On 13 June 2009, alternative rock band Blur performed a concert at the museum, where they had performed their first concert in 1988. As in 1988, the band played to around 150 people in a goods shed. This concert was their first since 2001 and the first show of their 2009 mini-tour, which was followed by the band head-lining at the Glastonbury Festival and performing two concerts in Hyde Park.
In November 2009, a plaque was erected on the East Anglian Railway Museum by PRS for Music. The Heritage Award was a celebration of Blur and the location of their first live performance.[2]
[edit] References
- ^ Butcher (Ed), Alan C. (2007) [2007] (in en). Railways Restored 2007 (28 ed.). Ian Allen Publishing. ISBN 0711032165.
- ^ http://www.allgigs.co.uk/view/article/2225/PlaqueLife_Blur_Given_Inaugural_PRS_Music_Heritage_Award.html
[edit] External links
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Coordinates: 51°55′33.8″N 0°45′32.6″E / 51.926056°N 0.759056°E
