london transport museum friends news

Issue No. 106 - July 2011

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tube stock train at Watford, on one of its runs to and from Amersham on Sunday 22nd May in connection with the Rickmansworth Canal Festival. Sarah Siddons was also in service, as were RM1 and RT 3228 (London Bus Company) on the connecting bus service between Rickmansworth station and the Canal Festival site at Batchworth Locks.

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Editorial

Barry Le Jeune - 14 Jireh Court, Perrymount Road, HAYWARDS HEATH, West Sussex RH16 3BH Tel:01444 450822 E-mail: barrylejeune@yahoo.co.uk

Copy date for the October 2011

issue: Friday 2nd September

And Events This editorial is being penned a few weeks after a most constructive all-day dialogue between Friends and Museum management, focussing on future plans by both parties and areas of ongoing support and collaboration.

business and development plans for the period to 2014, which crucially include the celebration in 2013 of the 150th anniversary of Underground railways. We discussed too

Museum for the continuing programme of heritage bus and train maintenance and operations, and for developing the engineering displays at Acton Depot. Issues raised by the Friends for discussion focussed on those arising from the recent membership survey, reported on fully in the April 2011 issue of Friends News, including communications strategy and membership recruitment and retention. A number of these issues are picked up in this issue of Friends News. We record the dispatch of our first emailed newsletter, one of the strongest requests from our membership

received a copy, then please sign up now.

family members) to help us extend our

Twitter and Facebook. (These are not things your Chairman and Editor has personal experience of, being a gentleman of advancing years, but we need to recognise them as a vital part of the social lives of the younger audience which we need to attract for the future strength of the Friends.) In more traditional territory, we are looking too for volunteers to help us with our recruitment efforts. Do please put your name forward if you think you can help in any of these ways. As Friends, we hope (and believe) that volunteers gain personal pleasure and satisfaction from the roles they undertake on

those efforts are marked in a tangible way. So congratulations to all those volunteers who

Transport Museum and the Friends were exceptionally (and justifiably) well represented amongst the award winners.

project in these pages as it progresses. We announced in the Stop Press for the last issue that we had received development funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore the Metropolitan four-wheeler no 353, built in 1892. We have now applied for the full HFL grant to deliver an innovative restoration and public engagement project for what would be the oldest Metropolitan carriage in service. Our application will be decided in early September. Putting the carriage together with Met. No 1, and perhaps L94 and rake of Metropolitan carriages, would make a stunning start to the anniversary

£150,000 is most welcome, providing the match funding for the HLF bid. The Museum completed its third full year as a charity at the end of March. Visitor numbers, at 291,000, were slightly up on last year's 287,000 which, against an admission price rise and difficult consumer background, was a very satisfying achievement. Work will start this summer on the ground floor at 39 Wellington Street on a project to enhance visitor facilities by replacing the sub-standard public toilets (last refurbished in 2003), creating a group entrance and a school room for introductions to the Museum. We are also reworking our entrance facilities to enable season ticket holders and Friends to fast-track past the queue at the front door, and to improve our retail store income by fitting attractive shop windows and signage to draw shoppers and visitors across the Piazza. As I write this, it is half-term and the galleries

good business on the handling desk and holiday activities are based on the design of the New Bus for London. TfL asked us to put on two free evenings in May for the public to see the new bus design and over 1,100 visitors took advantage of the offer. Sam Mullins

Both road and rail vehicle preservation has been very much on the directorial agenda in recent weeks. I enjoyed a sunny trip down to Brighton for the commercial vehicle run on the top of the K-type with your chairman; and the return journey in a little more comfort on T219, complete with conductor, ticket rack and bell punch. Amongst so many wonderful vehicles on the front at Brighton for the 50th anniversary rally, I was very proud to see Bob Bird collect three trophies for our K-type bus. Thanks to Bob, our standards are so high that winning has become a very welcome habit. I was delighted to be out on our trains and buses once more over the Sunday of the Rickmansworth Canal Festival. Technical difficulties had severely curtailed our heritage rail running programme last year, so to see Sarah Siddons ease around the curved platform at Rickmansworth, climb into the cab and then cross with the 1938 tube stock at Chorleywood Bottom was very heartening. The bus service to the canal basin and back was beautifully presented and run to the minute, a good opportunity to ride on RM1 and the green RT in passenger service. After a slow start to ticket sales, the weekend was really well patronised, with 423 tickets sold. Many thanks to colleagues from London Underground and our volunteers for making the day such a success. We have reached agreement with the Quainton Railway Society over a restoration partnership, which will see Met. No 1 restored, hopefully for steam-hauled service on the Underground from Edgware Road to Farringdon in January 2013. The Museum will recoup the costs of restoration from fundraising and steaming contracts at a variety of preserved lines in the years after 2013. This represents the best possible legacy to celebrate 150 years of the world's first underground railway and will take a massive fundraising campaign, which will be launched later this summer. We hope to place the restoration contract for Met. No 1 by the end of June this year and feature the

Monday 3rd October

Cubic Theatre at 18 15 hours. Update on the Crossrail Project By a member of the Crossrail Team. Monday 24th October

See details on page 3. Monday 31st October

Cubic Theatre at 18 15 hours. London Docks Tom Wareham, Museum of London. Monday 28th November

Cubic Theatre at 18 15 hours. Lost London In Photographs Philip Davies, English Heritage.

card to events at the Museum, as this assists in the security arrangements for gaining access to the Cubic Theatre For details of forthcoming heritage train and bus operations, please see separate item on page 13 of April 2011 News. DMS 1 is booked additionally to attend the Redhill Steam and Country Show on Sunday 14th August. Museum Events Ongoing: CBS Outdoor Gallery, London Transport Museum Sense and the City A new exhibition, exploring how people in the past imagined London of the future, and how new technology will influence city living over the next ten years. Saturday 8th/ Sunday 9th October Open Weekend at Acton Depot Acton Miniature Railway operating. Free entry to Friends.

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Visit To The

As we all know, the Thames was used for transport in London well before buses and trains were invented! The Company of Watermen and Lightermen was established in 1555 to control the Watermen responsible for the movement of goods and passengers on the river; it remains the only ancient City Guild to be formed and controlled by Act of Parliament.

and a guided tour of the splendid Georgian Hall has been arranged for the Museum Friends on Monday 24th October at 10.30. Apart from visiting the Hall, the tour, lasting about 1½ hours, will enable us to learn more about the history and work of the Company. The cost is £13, including tea/coffee on arrival. If you would like to come, please apply to Richard Meads, 98 Botley Road, Chesham, Bucks HP5 1XG (Tel: 01494 771078; or e- Please also give a contact phone number, address and e-mail details (if available) for confirmation of joining instructions. If you do not have e-mail, please enclose a stamped addressed envelope (DL size). Applications should be sent to arrive no later than Friday 23rd September. Please note that places are strictly limited and applications will be dealt

organise a repeat visit.

Elsewhere In London Darren Tossell suggests a magical venue for an out-of-the-ordinary day out:

AMR Report Adrian Allum sends his latest report on developments at the Acton Miniature Railway: On 12th Chairman, Barry Le Jeune, lifted the cover off a new model that has spent many years under construction: a 7¼" gauge model of one of the two single-cars that worked the Acton Town to South Acton shuttle. The model, jointly owned by Daniel Hill and myself, was started back in the 1980s by Fred Blois (also builder of the 7¼" gauge 1938 Tube Stock train). Work on the model stopped when the 1938 train became very popular at "portable track" events and less time was available, and then work never resumed. When the entire "Little Red Train" (both train, track and accessories) was purchased from Fred Blois, it was decided to bring that, with its centre-car, back into service, before working on the "Ginny." Time constraints were still an issue, along with the lack of a suitable workshop. Then, two of the AMR volunteers, Stephen Tower and Matt Scrutton, declared an interest in getting the model working and, having a suitable workshop, they were given a virtual free-hand (and funds) to do this work. There are a few modifications still to be attended to. Stephen and Matt are presently working on our "Sarah Siddons" model (and the riding van to go with it), and have agreed then to refurbish the 1938 Tube Stock model. During the Open Weekend, the railway acquired a safety warning sign, typically fitted at the end of platforms, so that is where we have fitted ours (or pretty close). It all adds to the atmosphere. The new point motor worked faultlessly during the weekend, but we have made some modifications to the end-of-throw detection so that the point is more responsive to specific lever positions ('B' and 'D' for those technically minded)! Since the Open Weekend, we have brought out of the storage as much of the panelling for the lever frame as we could find, and this has been loose-fitted pending lots of alterations and other fittings! We have also fitted lights, switches and sockets to all three buildings, ready for installation by a qualified electrician! Although the next Open Weekend is not until early October, we are looking at having a Fun-Run at the end of August, as a chance to operate the railway without the heavy demand of actually providing a service to fare paying passengers! We are intending to invite visiting locomotives, along with their owners and club members. Although it is unlikely that the Depot will be open then, LTM Friends are welcome to come along also. We are planning to operate the railway from 11.00 on Saturday 27th August. News updates (especially relating to this event) will be posted on the AMR's own website: www.ActonMiniatureRailway.co.uk.

In an anonymous street, with a heavily transport-related name, is the headquarters of a rather secret society. In a somewhat bland looking building at 12 Stephenson Way (just two minutes from Euston Station) is The Magic Circle, home of 10,000 secrets, a dazzling helical staircase, meeting place for conjurors from around the globe; a museum filled with magical props; a theatre; and

Houdin to Houdini, Harbin to David Nixon, Tommy Cooper to Paul Daniels, and many more. For the first time in its 106-year history, the Society is opening its

be able to see an array of masters and mistresses of prestidigitation in action in a varied programme of events including: Saturday 9th July - Fay Presto & Piff The Magic Dragon: A favourite with The Royal Family, the legend that is Fay Presto will be at her dazzling best for an evening of illusion and wonder. The award-winning Piff the Magic Dragon clambers onto the stage

you see these two Magic Circle Superstars. Saturday 16th July - Stars of The Magic Circle: Richard Pinner hosts an evening of top-notch talent, including past winner of The Magic Circle Comedy Award, Ian Keable; former Magic Circle Stage Magician of the Year Scott Penrose; comedy genius and current holder of the prestigious Maskelyne Award, Terry Herbert; and magical ventriloquist John Kimmons. Saturday 30th July - The celebrity magician and unusualist, Maximillian Somerset, is the leading, versatile and most broadcast TV magician in the UK. Tickets for all events are £15. Doors open at 7pm for 7.30pm. For a more traditional introduction to the world of illusion, the Society also hosts 'Meet The Magic Circle'. After a welcoming glass of sherry, you are taken on a journey through the history of mystery; see close-up entertainment right under your nose; are given a tour of the museum; and are treated to a full show in The Magic Circle Theatre, featuring leading members from the Club. Places fill very quickly indeed for these special nights and pre-booking is required. Booking is now open for 6th and 13th September and dates through until Christmas. For more information and other ways to see behind the usually closed doors of The Magic Circle, visit: www.themagiccircle.co.uk

Photo: Piff The Magic Dragon.

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Sign up for our online Events newsletter

Send your email address to: friendscontact@ltmuseum.co.uk

Project Update Bob Bird submitted this report to the late

Committee: RM2 - The two front panels for fitting below the cab have been made and, after a slight adjustment, will be fixed to the bodywork. The quality is excellent and bodes well for the look of the remaining panels to be made. Detailing of the radiator badge has been worked out and will be cast in aluminium shortly. Q-stock - Car 4417 has had most of the remaining asbestos panelling removed from its underside, except for two pieces that have been sealed. The Q35 car (08063) has had smaller quantities removed and now requires replacement insulating panels to be made, so that the function can be restored to fuse boxes required for the lighting circuits. These have all been traced and a wiring plan produced, which for this car retains most of the existing cable. However, the challenge is to improve the earthing arrangement for each light fitting to meet currently required standards. A prototype modification has been tried which looks promising. The Friends are indebted to

Trains Division at Acton Works for continuing to work on the Q-stock restoration, as time permits with other workloads. The photo shows Spencer Mc Manus inspecting the fuse boxes.

Other Restorations Work continues on London Trolleybus 1348 at the Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft. It is hoped that the vehicle will attend the planned commemoration of the 50th trolleybus system, at the East Anglia Transport Museum over the Bank Holiday of 5th 7th May 2012; however, restoration progress is dependant in large part on the funds available. You can make donations via the Sandtoft website at www.sandtoft.org.uk/exhibits/1348/index.php The restorers of 1348 are keen to track down items of equipment from K2 trolleybuses, especially those working from Lea Bridge depot. The wanted items include destination blinds, farecharts and vehicle running plates. The Editor will pass on offers of help no questions asked as to how the items might have been acquired! The London Bus Preservation Trust has been leading efforts to repatriate three London RLH buses from Oregon, USA - nos. 53, 69 and 71; the proposal is that one (53) will join the LBPT museum collection and the other two will find other homes in the UK. All three buses were last in service at Dalston garage and were withdrawn in 1970/71. They have remained together in the USA ever since. Donations are being sought towards acquisition and shipping costs. See www.lbpt.org for more details.

Heritage Train Engineering Project Tim Shields describes an important new interpretive engineering project, based around the 1967 Victoria line car. When introduced over 40 years ago, the Victoria line 1967-tube stock was at the forefront of engineering design and development. Based on the technological success of the earlier 1938-tube stock (there was considerable similarity in much of the operating equipment) the trains incorporated ground-breaking automatic train protection (ATP) and operation (ATO) equipment. This enabled the Victoria Line to become the first automatic passenger railway system in the world. As this generation of rolling stock is particularly important in the history of tube train design, the decision was taken by the Museum to acquire driving motor car no. 3052. It had operated in passenger service since the line opened and, although the interior was refurbished in the 1980s, the majority of the equipment is original. Interestingly, it was the leading car of the Royal Train used for the official opening of the line to Victoria in 1969. In addition to acquiring the driving motor car, the Museum has also taken the opportunity to collect a select quantity of other material, including: a sectioned train cab (car no 3110); the traction motors and their control equipment; motor alternator rectifiers and air compressors; door and brake control and operating gear; as well as the original signalling safety and auto-driver units which were fitted under the train seats. The long term aim is to use the equipment as part of a comprehensive interpretative display positioned next to motor car no. 3052. There are many challenges involved in explaining complex electrical systems; however, it is envisaged that the future display will use diagrams, images and text to explain where the equipment is fitted on the car, and how it was controlled either by the auto-driver unit or the train driver. It is hoped that, by providing an air supply and low voltage electrical current, some equipment may be shown operating, further to demonstrate the technology of the time. Whilst the Museum at Covent Garden and the Depot at Acton have a number of different rolling stock

examples, neither sites display and explain the working of train equipment. An important benefit will be to encourage young people visiting the Depot to consider engineering as a future career. This project is being managed by a group of Friends with previous rolling stock design, maintenance and operations experience; it has the full support of the Museum staff and rolling stock engineers in London Underground. In the short term, the sectioned cab will be cleaned and tided before being mounted onto a specially constructed metal base. This will support the structure and enable movement within the Depot store. To increase online access, items such as the auto-Engineering Website browser over the months ahead. The accompanying photograph shows a Victoria Line 1967 train set

th was the first time a 1967-stock train had operated on sections of the Underground away from the Victoria Line. The itinerary took passengers from Seven Sisters, into Northumberland Park Depot sidings, via the Victoria to Piccadilly Line connection at Kings Cross, to Uxbridge (where the photo was taken), Acton Town, Ealing

read this, the 1967 stock should have been fully replaced on the Victoria Line by the new 2009-stock trains.

Brighton Gold

(And Silver)

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The HCVS annual London to

Brighton run for historic

commercial vehicles reached

its 50th anniversary on 1st May

2011. To mark the occasion,

the Museum entered the same

two vehicles as in 1962: the

K-type double-decker and

Green Line T. Both buses made the journey as

if they had never left service

(reports Bob Bird). They were

in the expert hands of Antony

Roskoss, John Warner (late of

the rolling stock inspection

section at Chiswick) and Barry

Weatherhead: owner and

restorer of several pre-war

London buses, including a K

and B-type. Laurie Akehurst

acted as conductor on T219. The K-type caught the judges‟

attention and picked up three

awards, including best in class.

K424 arriving on the sea front in Brighton, thought to

be in 1963 or 1964. (Michael Beamish)

A comparable arrival in 2011. (Barry LeJeune)

T 219 at Brighton.

(Barry LeJeune)

The Museum Director watches

from on high. (Laurie Akehurst) Bob Bird collects the awards from

Michael Banfield (HCVS Chairman) and the

Mayor of Brighton. (Laurie Akehurst)

Just Published

Railway Maps of the World by Mark Ovenden. Following the author‟s highly acclaimed Transit Maps of the World, this volume

features “main line” railway maps from 120 countries, with a supporting text covering railway history, technical information and

travel anecdotes. We hope to feature a full review in the October 2011 issue of Friends’ News. The hard-back edition is

published in the USA by Viking. A British soft-back version is expected in September.

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The Epping – Ongar branch is one of the few parts of the Underground to have suffered the fate of losing its service, with closure taking place on 30th September 1994. But now, it has the greatest chance of a successful revival, with exciting plans to turn it into a heritage railway. When re-opened, it will not only be London‟s nearest heritage line, but will have the advantage of being easily accessible by tube. Simon outlined the history of the line, the works currently under way to secure re-opening and the railway‟s longer-term plans for the future. He is clearly very enthusiastic about the project, having risen from being a volunteer to the full-time role of managing the work to re-open the line. Briefly on the history, the line was opened by the Great Eastern Railway in 1865 and, thankfully, all of the original station buildings are still in place and being restored back to their original layouts and colours. The line owed its existence to the belief that there was the potential for goods traffic to serve the community in this rural part of Essex – particularly agricultural and coal traffic. Milk churns featured in a number of Simon‟s photographs! But initial plans to extend the line to Dunmow were abandoned and passenger traffic never really developed, partly as a result of green belt policies, with the line being destined to remain the tail-end of a long branch. Incorporation of the branch into the Central Line in 1949 initially saw a steam shuttle service, with electrification „on the cheap‟ taking place in 1957. But the area beyond Epping remained rural, and the slow journey time from Ongar meant the line could never compete with faster Great Eastern main line services. So, facilities were gradually reduced and, in 1981, the service was cut to peak times only, with Blake Hall closed. Against this background, it was hardly surprising that the line closed completely 13 years later. After closure, the branch was sold to Pilot Developments and, following a further change of ownership, the line has now been saved for preservation, albeit with the sale of the goods yard at Ongar for housing development, as part of the deal to secure the operational railway. Some initial services were operated but, over the last three years, the aim has been to invest in the infrastructure to give a firm basis for long-term heritage operation over the line. The aim in the immediate future is to concentrate on the North Weald - Ongar section, with a „route 339‟ heritage bus providing a connection to the Central Line at Epping. Work completed or in hand includes:

Track renovation, with additional track and points installed to allow the operation of both diesel and steam trains.

Lowering of the track through both North Weald and Ongar platforms, to allow the use of full size rolling stock, and enabling step-free access to all platforms.

Restoration of the GER latticework footbridge previously recovered from Woodford, for re-use at North Weald.

Provision of new layouts, including run round loops, bay platforms and sidings, at North Weald and Ongar.

New signalling to facilitate the operation of more trains.

Restoration of stations to original colours.

The Epping – Ongar Railway : Its History And Its Future

This is a summary, by Richard Meads, of the talk given to the Friends’ meeting on 31st January 2011, by Simon Hannay, General Manager of the Epping-Ongar Railway.

Ongar station today, with an authentic GER look. (Andrew Cook)

Underground 1962 stock at Ongar. (EOR Museum Collection)

North Weald in steam days. (EOR Museum Collection)

The GER

signal box

at Ongar.

(Simon

Hannay)

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Expansion of the rolling stock fleet to include a heritage DMU, class 205 ‘Thumper’, Mk1/Mk 2 coaches, diesel locos and one steam 0-6-0 saddle-tank. Work to renovate a number of bridges and structures. As far as possible, the aim in the restoration work is to re-create a GER/LNER flavour, particularly in the restoration of the stations and the new signalling. An original GER signalbox has been acquired and has been delivered to Ongar. Signalling will include semaphores, plus some searchlight colour light signals displaced as a result of re-signalling on the main line elsewhere in Essex. As well as the reconstruction of the line, attention has been focussed on the need to market the Epping-Ongar Railway to establish the line, and its locality, within both the heritage and tourism sectors. Simon Hanney has been very conscious of the need to rebuild confidence in the railway and has been active in seeking to secure support from both the local and the heritage press. He is also keen to establish links with other local attractions and businesses. Looking beyond the first phase, with loco-hauled operation between North Weald and Ongar, the hope is to bring the existing line into Epping into use, with a new platform to the north east of the Undrground station to allow the creation of a viable direct interchange. In advance of that, the plan is for a diesel multiple unit shuttle from North Weald towards the outskirts of Epping. In response to questions, Simon Hanney would not be drawn on a likely re-opening date. The priority is to complete the required works and ensure the railway can deliver a reliable service. In part, that will depend on the availability of suitable volunteer resources. At present there are about 50 regular ‘working’ volunteers who undertake most of the restoration work. Could the railway provide a useful local transport service in the future? Possibly, but the priority is to prove the professionalism of the railway first. Simon was also questioned on whether the third and fourth rail could be re-instated to allow the line to become the first preserved electric railway. However, the safety and cost issues surrounding this meant it was really ‘all too difficult’; but possibly the haulage of electric stock might be possible to provide an added attraction. In conclusion, the Chairman thanked Simon Hanney for an excellent talk on the plans for re-opening the Epping - Ongar line, which could lead to the possibility of a closer working relationship with the Museum in the future. In the shorter term, when further progress had been made, Simon offered the Friends a preview visit to the line, so that we can see for ourselves the excellent work that is being done.

A volunteer at work, fixing plywood door panels to a Diesel Multiple Unit car. (Andrew Cook)

Ongar station today, with an authentic GER look. (Andrew Cook)

Friends Win Awards –

Again

The London Transport Museum Friends were

again prominent in the 2011 London Volunteers

in Museums Awards, presented at the Museum

of London on 6th June.

Graham Page was the outright winner, sadly

posthumously, in the Long Service category.

Graham’s certificate, marking his outstanding

contribution to the Museum in so many ways

over so many years, was presented to his

widow Janine, accompanied by Martin, one

of Graham’s sons. Alan Bloomfield was Highly Commended in the

Engineering Innovation category, for his work

on restoring the Manor House electrical

sub-station panel as an interactive display at

Acton Depot. Brian Hawkins was Runner Up in the Developing

in a Role category, for his contribution to the

ephemera team at Acton. Paul Hopper was Runner Up in the Going the

Extra Mile category, for his work as Q-stock

project manager. John Campbell was also a Runner Up in that

category, for his work as a volunteer at Covent

Garden, and also at HMS Belfast. Godwin Asante from the Museum was Highly

Commended in the Special Youth Award

category. Other Museum volunteers were

runners up in four additional categories. Quite an achievement all-round!

The Friends award winners

(except Alan Bloomfield, who could

not be present on the night).

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3846 visitors attended the Acton Depot Open Weekend on 12th/13th March 2011. As is usual for the Spring event, the theme was London’s transport in miniature. The Friends’ sales stall did good business, grossing over £4000. 984 passengers travelled on the Acton Miniature Railway and 1171 on the heritage bus trips.

The accompanying photographs (by Barry Le Jeune except where otherwise credited) tell more of the story.

Acton Weekend

A new carriage was unveiled on the AMR by the Friends’ Chairman (and News’ Editor) Barry LeJeune.

It is known as the“Ginny” and is based on the single G-stock cars operated on the South Acton Branch.

(C.Piasecki)

Shanklin South by Ian Allington Steve Smith’s London Road

Page 9

Sam Clift gets ready to brief the volunteers before the gates open.

young visitors to wear? (Lulu Ash)

The Friends had a major recruitment campaign for new members. Nik Oakley talks to a prospective recruit.

(Lulu Ash)

Christian Wolmar gave talks based on

seen signing copies bought from the

RM1 and RT 3228 from the London Bus Company.

Details from the display by the

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Trolleybuses lasted until final replacement by Corporation diesel buses in October 1954, ahead of a long-awaited Co-ordination Agreement with Eastern National and Westcliff Motor Services. Only memories, and a few artefacts, remain. Richard Delahoy is a life-long transport enthusiast. He has researched the history of transport in his home town of Southend on Sea and, in 1986 published a book on the

for Ian Allan Publishing and has also written articles for various magazines. After 24 years in commercial banking, Richard set up his own transport consultancy in 1997 and now provides training and advisory services for a wide range of bus and coach operators.

collection) show: 1. The last trolleybus: 128, decorated for the occasion,

on 28th October 1954. (Dennis Gill) 2. The Corporation loading pier still had tram tracks

until demolished in September 2007. 3. 4. A typical 1930s view: the Circular Tour loading at

the Kursaal. 5. Towards the end: Tram 58 at Victoria Circus.

The first public transport in Southend was the horse tramway on the pier, opened in 1846. This was taken over by the Southend Local Board in 1875. The Board built a new pier in 1889, on which an electric railway opened a year later. One of the 1890 open- -on public view. The pier railway was modernised in 1949 and again in 1986 (after closure from 1978). Southend was a popular destination for day-trippers, who initially arrived by river steamer, and then by train (with the opening of the London Tilbury & Southend Railway in 1856). Development of the town itself was hampered by a lack of local transport facilities mainly limited, and expensive, horse bus services. This changed with the opening of street tramways, for which Southend Corporation obtained powers in 1899 under the 1896 Light Railways Act. Construction started in February 1900 and the tramway network (built to a 3ft. 6inch gauge) opened on 19th July 1901. From a central terminus at the Middleton Hotel in the Broadway (High Street) by Southend Central station, trams operated northwards on a loop through Prittlewell, westwards to Leigh, east to Southchurch and south to the Kursaal. The Kursaal section was later extended along the Esplanade and Boulevards (on reserved track) through Thorpe Bay to link up with the Southchurch route. By the time this extension was completed in 1914, the first closure had already taken place, with the abandonment of part of the Prittlewell loop in 1912 and a further section in 1921. A freight only line to a jetty on the Thames opened in 1914 to convey coal from river barges to the Corporation generating station. This was served by three special Hopper Trams. Although out of use by 1929, the loading pier was not demolished until 2007. After the First World War the town continued to expand progressively, but the tramway did not. Southend Corporation was slow to modernise the cars, with covered top decks and upholstered upper deck seats being provided only from 1921 and 1929 respectively. The remaining section of the Prittlewell tram route was supplemented by trolleybuses from 1925. Trams on that route were withdrawn in 1928. Trolleybuses were attractive to the Corporation, as they used existing municipal electrical infrastructure and, post 1930, were not subject to the bus

Act. Even so, trams were still the major people movers. On August Bank Holiday Monday 1929 they carried 116,568 passengers, with a fleet of only 65 trams. Trolleybuses carried another 20,641, with nine cars. But, with trolleybuses offering more flexible and cheaper operations, and against private bus competition, the days of the Southend tram were numbered. The Boulevard tracks closed in 1938. The seafront route followed in 1939; and the remainder of the network in 1942.

Southend Trams The meeting on 18th April 2011 was a joint meeting between the London Transport Museum Friends and the Omnibus Society. The speaker was Richard Delahoy. Richard dedicated his talk to the memory of the late Derek Giles: a prominent Omnibus Society member, transport professional, renowned transport historian and a resident of Southend on Sea for almost all of his life.

1.

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Spanish RT Alan Gibbs sent in this photograph of a London RT bus, which now forms the centre-piece of a restaurant called Creperia Bretonne in Valencia, Spain.

5.

4.

3.

2.

Membership Benefits The following venues offer entry concessions to Friends: . Mid Hants Railway . Kent & East Sussex Railway . Buckinghamshire Railway Centre . Bluebell Railway . Brunel Engine House, Rotherhithe

on special events days. At the Bluebell Railway there is a single concessionary rate. These concessions are available to all individual Friends on presentation of their membership cards. It may help to bring a copy of this news item with you.

GS At Hertford

GS 64 taking part in the Hertford Running Day on Sunday 5th June. (Photo: Damon Cross)

Page 12

a researcher from France visited to study the design and operation of the old Underground power stations at Lots Road and Neasden. Sometimes you can uncover for someone a small piece of information, which helps them make sense of a long-standing family mystery. Not long ago, a lady contacted us wanting to find out if a particular bus route operated on a very specific day in Brentford during the First World War. It turned out that

the fire while her mother left her in the care of an older sibling. In court, she had told the judge she had had to walk to Brentford to get food for her family, because there were no buses, and so left her children for longer than normal. We were able to confirm her sad

database. Some questions come up repeatedly and we try to cover those on our website. Where can I find a map that shows me where the Underground lines really go? Why are buses red? Where was the first escalator installed? When did the last steam engine run on the Underground? You can check the answers out by asking our Virtual Assistant. As interest in all aspects of urban transport grows past, present and future - I am keen to recruit more experienced people as volunteer researchers on to our team. If anyone is interested in being added to our friendly group of researchers and helping out on an occasional basis by email, or by doing some research in the Library, I would be delighted to hear from them. If you would like to visit and explore the collection for yourself, just give us a ring on our direct line and we can book you in. Caroline Warhurst, Information Services Manager. Direct line to the Library: 020 7565 7280 Email: enquiry@ltmuseum.co.uk

Hidden Treasures One of the requests from the membership survey was for more information on the Museum Library. Caroline Warhurst, Information Services Manager, rises to the challenge:

I am delighted to have the opportunity through the pages of Friends News to tell you a little bit about our extraordinary Library collection at the Museum. It represents a unique resource for researchers interested in the development of urban transport and, as such, is open to Friends of the Museum and researchers of all kinds who come from all over the world to access it. We are tucked away behind the scenes at 35 Wellington Street, but support the work of the Museum in a number of ways. Visitors who come to the Museum are often inspired by what they see on display and ask all

in the main galleries. So we work with the Customer Service Assistants at the Information Desk to resolve those queries and also help researchers who visit the Library in person. The Information Team also responds to thousands of email enquiries sent to the Museum from all over the world. Queries come too from colleagues across TfL, who need assistance with historical research to inform current work or projects. Between the two Librarians and the small team at the Information Desk, we answer around 10,000 enquiries each year. Of those around 3,400 are more complex queries requiring some degree of detailed research. The Library collection has been painstakingly assembled over time by many different people, acquiring material from a whole range of sources. What everyone involved in building the collection has shared is a concern with acquiring and preserving information and evidence relating to the

That task continues today.

from 1921, when the Underground Group established a library for staff use. Betty Curtayne was the most notable member of staff. She was appointed Librarian in 1941 and stayed until 1975! When the Library at 55 Broadway finally closed in 1984, the stock was dispersed and the Museum Library gained many useful additions. The need to preserve associated documents and research material was recognised as early as 1951, when the report to the British Transport Commission regarding the preservation of relics and records began the chain of events which led to the establishment of the Museum collection now at Covent Garden. By the time the

current Museum opened in 1980, the growing Library collection was located in Bedford Chambers nearby. By 1986, the Library had moved into 39 Wellington Street and, in 1988 ,it finally came to rest in its present location in 35 Wellington Street. We now have a collection of around 14,000

of which 100 are current. Special collections

and the extraordinary ticket and ephemera collection compiled by the Reinohl brothers. These special collections are stored at the Depot at Acton and accessible by appointment. The Friends were instrumental in enabling us to move these important collections out of the increasingly cramped accommodation at Covent Garden. Funds were provided to install rolling stacks, which allow us to store our material safely and securely, in controlled conditions. In providing an information service at the Museum, I am very fortunate to be able to draw on the huge experience of a number of Museum Friends who between them have many years of experience, either working for London Transport or taking a keen interest in transport outside their regular work. Some of them have published excellent books over the years, which form an important part of the collection on our library shelves. Our volunteers are enormously important in helping us to ensure the responses the Museum provides to enquiries are accurate and authoritative. We get tremendous satisfaction from extracting hidden nuggets of information to answer the tricky questions we receive. Recent examples include: a writer wanting to know what time the first train ran on the Metropolitan line on a particular Sunday in 1886; another lady had to be given the unfortunate news that her ancestor was sacked as a horse bus driver in 1904 for being drunk and swearing at the passengers; a department in TfL asked for information about passenger numbers in the 1930s; and

Page 13

E News The first issue of the Friends new emailed newsletter was sent out in early June to

events. While Friends News will remain the principal means of communication with all Friends, the emailed newsletter will provide a complementary means of sending quick updates and reminders. The emailed newsletter will normally appear in between the Friends News publication dates of January, April, July and October.

To subscribe to the email newsletter, please send your email address to friendscontact@ltmuseum.co.uk. Some addresses were rejected in the first mail-address to us.

Met Coach Models

What If? This image of a Green Line coach version of the FRM was created by Ian Bell

into the last issue

many Friends would be taken in.

speculation on

and worth an airing for that reason.

Nick explains: If it is

likely to be of any help to the restorers, I have a rake of three Jubilee coaches in 7mm (1st, 3rd and 3rd brake). This picture (by Mike Peascod) shows the Jubilee 1st behind No 23, with the old Brill coach

Can You Help? The Friends are seeking to expand their membership, to help create a wider interest base and to provide greater support to the Museum. A strong, healthy membership is important if the Friends are to continue to flourish. We are therefore looking in the first instance for a volunteer to help lead a recruitment programme; this will involve implementing ideas already discussed by the Friends' management group and also generating new ideas. In addition, we are looking for a number of other volunteers to form part of a team to help promote the Friends and recruit new members at individual events - eg. Acton Open Weekends, bus running days etc. Is this something you could do? If you are interested, please contact Guy Marriott (contact details on back page) in the first instance, saying whether you are interested in the leadership role, or in forming part of the team. Guy is usually in the Friends' office on Mondays and can be contacted then on 020 7565 7296. Otherwise e-mail him on guy.marriott@ltmuseum.co.uk, or write to him at the Friends' Office, London Transport Museum, 39 Wellington Street, London WC2E 7BB.

communications into the fast-growing social media. Do you have a family member or friend who's out there with Facebook and Twitter? Or maybe you yourself are? The Friends needs someone to help establish and maintain its social media presence. Offers of help, please to nik.oakley@ltmuseum.co.uk And finally, a plea to bus photographers. A Friend is keen to secure photographs

-over advertisement livery for Meccano and Dinky Toys, especially front and rear-end views. If you can help, the Editor will pass on details.

Jubilee coach, Nick Ridge kindly sent in this photo of models he has made of Met. Line rolling stock.

Page 14

John Gent We regret to record the death of John Gent on 3rd May 2011, at the age of 79. John joined London Transport in 1952 after National Service in the RAF. His career started in the Commercial Department and then progressed into the Central Bus Traffic Office, where John had particular responsibility for the location and maintenance of bus stops and shelters, along with bus station design; after 20 years in the bus business, in what was at the time an unusual career move, John became a railwayman. He joined the Underground in 1980 as a senior planner. He was first involved in liaison with the London Transport Passengers' Committee; later he became responsible for seeking ways in which improvements could be made in working with British Railways. John was also a leading participant in the working group set up to look at the prospects for Light Rail in London. Out of their report came the proposal for Tramlink in Croydon. Much of the planning for Tramlink fell to John and he took a special role in the advocacy for the project. His long association with Croydon politicians and officers, as a resident and local historian, became very useful at this time. John retired from London Transport in 1990. For many years he gave much time to the London Transport Museum and was an active member of the Friends. He served on the

John was a well-known author, twice President of the Croydon Natural History and Science Society and a key founder member of the Croydon Society. John was the author, or co- and transport; fittingly, he lived to see the publication of

four days before his death. (John proudly claimed to have the largest collection of historical postcards of Croydon in the world, after 50 years collecting them.)

on 24th May was accompanied by privately preserved

RM 2217. The accompanying picture of the appropriately worded front blind display was taken by Colin Fradd.

Shop News At long last we are able to announce that our new Collectors Club, replacing the old Standing Order scheme, is scheduled to be launched at 14.00 on 1st August. Online customers will be able to view our new model commissions and reserve them (but not pay until shortly before the release of the model). Friends will be able to manage their own account (including discount). Visit ltmuseum.co.uk/shopping and follow the link to Collectors Club. The order book for all previously ordered models will be abolished, and customers invited to re-order on the new system. We have reluctantly decided this is the best course of action, as some of the previously advertised models have not yet been delivered to us; and, as part of the old order book is nearly four years old, the use of such old data is now considered too unreliable to transfer. Details of the scheme will be posted to all current Standing Order club members soon and, for the (now) majority of customers who are on-line, they will manage their own account. Customers without on-line access will still be able to order special models through Sam Harrison. Models - After a period of relatively few new releases, there are some significant new model announcements from manufacturers. Following the success of their Volvo Ailsa two-door London model, Jotus have announced a 1:76 FRM model in a mixture of white metal and resin. Three versions will be available: as originally delivered on Route 76; with a roundel on the Potters Bar local route; and as last used in general service on the Round London Sightseeing Tour. Regrettably, these models will be rather expensive at around £80, but the costs of development of the shape, and the limited potential limited livery options, dictate that, to be produced at all, all costs have to be recouped by the manufacturer on this limited production. The first release is expected sometime in July. Not to be outdone, Exclusive First Editions have announced a model (also in a mixture of resin and white metal) of the unique single-deck Routemaster. Scale is the usual 1:76, retailing for around £50; for the same reasons as the Jotus model, the much higher retail costs reflect the unique nature of the model. Expect this sometime in the autumn. Exclusive First Editions are also now committed to the production of the Bristol VR Mk1 model, as well as the previously announced, but then delayed, Alexander Y-type bus and Y-type Bristol RE variant. It is thought that all three new castings will begin to make their appearance from late autumn. Books - New from Capital Transport is a revised edition of The Spread of

(Tim Demuth) at £8.95. Also new (and a rather eclectic title from Capital) is a lovely work featuring the famous graphic designer Abram Games and his iconic designs for Festival of Britain, which took place 60 years ago this summer. A Symbol for the Festival (£14.95), written his daughter Naomi Games, deserves a place on any bookshelf. Finally from Capital is Midland Red Style (Roger Torode and Malcolm Keeley) and priced at £25. Midland Red had much in common with London Transport: innovative vehicle design, bus manufacture, strong corporate identity and a determination to innovate wherever possible. This wonderful

passion for their subject shines through every page. Ian Allan have produced three interesting recent titles. Vectis Steam is another colour album (this time by Laurie Golden). £16.99 buys well-selected colour views of the self-contained Isle of Wight railway system in the last days of steam. Ireland seems to hold a fascination for many and the past few years have seen a number of books published on the hugely varied railway scene in that land. A colour album (£19.99) by Derek Huntriss uses well-selected (and many probably very rare) colour photographs to illustrate

British Railways First Generation DMUs by Hugh Longworth. Priced at

and railcar, with the aid of technical drawings and photographs. Another oddity, but a lovely book nevertheless, is GPO Design Posters

at £12.50. Now forgotten by many, GPO (now split into Royal Mail and British Telecom) was committed to excellent design, and produced a wide range of beautiful posters, many designed by the same artists employed by London Transport. DVDs - Two interesting new DVDs are in stock. LT after LT (£16.99), featuring ex London Transport railway stock at work, and Island Tube (£16.99), devoted to the 1938 tube stock on the Isle of Wight. Finally, I am most grateful for help from Friends for the title and publisher of new books that you think we should be stocking. Assuming publishers are willing to register with Transport for London as a supplier, we will follow up your information. I am usually freely available all day Saturdays (please ask shop staff to call me) and contactable by e-mail: mike.walton@ltmuseum.co.uk Michael Walton

Page 15

Letters Re-creation of long-ago events

correspondence indefinitely. But I would like to make two points. First, I thought the cover photo of the RT and LT outside St Pauls was just wonderful; stunning no less. Secondly, it is impossible to totally re-create the past. However hard one tries, there is bound to be something in the detail: perhaps merely the look of someone in the 21st century, however authentic the clothes, hair styles, make up etc, the tread on the tyres, the type of road surface, the paint on buildings and fittings, one hundred and one barely detectable details which, someone, somewhere with the aid of modern digital and photographic equipment

it is modern day re-creation that is quite good enough for me. More please. Michael H C Baker - Wareham, Dorset. _____________________________________ FRM Model Last year whilst visiting my daughter in Hong Kong, I met with Joe and Sindy of Jotus models. They are the people who did the fabulous model of the London V3 Ailsa and the quirky little Q-Art Routemasters. Joe was 50:50 about doing any more London models. I said that there is a need for someone who can do the more unusual models that people like EFE would never consider. London has a lot of these, such as the RFW, RTC1, BEA deck-and-a-half, etc. So he has done the unique FRM. It will be in limited numbers and be for the three routes it worked on, the expected price is not much more than a good resin kit. I said that I would spread the word around the model bus and LT enthusiast communities. So you are amongst the first to see the completed exterior model. I think it looks great. If you can give some publicity in the Friends News, I will be most grateful. I emphasise that I have no commercial interest in these models. If Joe can prove that FRM1 is viable, there will be more to come. Colin Les Lawrence - Chichester, West Sussex For further details, visit www.jotus.com See also Shop News. _____________________________________ L8 Model I thought Friends might be interested in the model I have built of L8. The full-size original of this vehicle was created as a mobile stores unit in the First World War, using two former Metropolitan District

Railway battery locomotives. I designed the model from scratch [using 3D software] and then gave the masters to Radley Models, who had them duplicated in resin for use as a limited issue kit. What you see is actually my test build - which seems to have worked out all right. The model of L8 was on display on the Radley Models stand at the Modeller's Weekend at Acton in March. In the photograph alongside, it is shown on a diorama built for me by Aidan Campbell. 0 gauge layouts [as opposed to dioramas] can be a little impractical in many houses due to their size, of course. Additionally, my main interest is in making and/or designing the models, rather than watching them go round and round! The assistance of Bob Bird and the LT Museum staff, in allowing me access to vehicles and rolling stock for my model-making activities, has been of pivotal value - the models could not have been designed without their help and I much appreciate their assistance and time. On another related note, there are, of course, many interesting vehicles which never made it into the LT Museum collection - such as the 1920 F-stock. However, it seems to me that there may well be members of the Friends who have personal knowledge of these vehicles - having been drivers, guards or maintenance staff. I would like to produce a model of an F-stock car, but really need to know more about the cab and underfloor equipment layout. Would it be possible to put

with such information to contact me by e-mail? Email: Arun24109681@aol.com Dr. Arun Sharma _____________________________________ The Toughest Question I failed to answer correctly (with the answer

2011 issue of There is, however, another, much more simple, answer to where a through service existed between stations with Underground names, using the main line: Wood Green to Moorgate. Such a through service operated on the ex-LNER tracks via the City Widened Lines, whilst the comparable journey by Underground, using the Piccadilly and then either the Metropolitan or Northern Lines, required a change. That comparison did not end in 1968 though, but continued for another decade until the Widened Lines service was withdrawn and that Wood Green station was renamed Alexandra Palace. The Wood Green answer is perhaps invalidated by the 1968 cut-off date in the question; but does the Tower Hill answer

timetable, but even the 1965 one does not show any through trains from Waterloo to Tower Hill (Devon). The route beyond Exeter was taken over by the Western Region before that date and the through Southern Region service was demoted in status. Richard Kinnibrugh - Stalbridge, Dorset.

Ruislip Lido Railway I am not currently a member of the Friends, but my attention was drawn to the April 2011 issue of Friends News, since I appear in the picture on page 9, accompanying David

It may be of interest to your members that I have just completed at the railway an overhaul of the petrol-electric locomotive

B-4 rather than a Bo-Bo, the front bogie having a single drive unit and the axles mechanically coupled, and the rear bogie being completely unpowered. The lack of weight so available for adhesion means the locomotive has been sidelined from passenger use for nearly 20 years, being unable to haul the nine car trains (capable of accommodating 120 passengers) currently prevailing. Attached is a photograph taken in May of this year by Matthew Streeton that shows the locomotive at the final stages of repainting. One trivia question David Wadley may be able to answer what was the

Co-David Curwen, died on May 20th; members may know him from his involvement with the Tal-y-llyn Railway in the first year of preservation (60 years ago this year). Robert Shemilt, Rolling Stock Engineer, Asset Engineering, Neasden Depot Upgrade. We asked David Wadley to explain the choice of name. David takes up the story:

When I wrote the spec. for the loco, I was anxious to avoid all those above me becoming involved in deciding its name, calling it "Councillor this" or "Alderman

specifying the size and type of nameplates etc., adding the words "name to be advised later". I duly advised Severn Lamb of the chosen name and, on the day it was due to be delivered, took my then five year old son to the Lido to watch the loco be slowly rolled from the delivery lorry onto the rail-equipped ramp and down onto the track. Then my son Robert turned to me and said: "Daddy, why has the little engine got the same

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absorbed into Eastern Electricity.

front of the building- three have the words "Lighting", "Heating" and "Power" across the sign instead of "Cooking"; the fifth sign has "Northmet" across the centre, with "Power" and "Light" above and below.

Haringey Council for many years,

Jeremy wins the book prize, kindly donated by Ian Allan Publishing.

picture has kindly been supplied by Damon Cross. What location is this? Your entry will have a higher chance of success if you add a little of the history of the site too.

home address (see page 2) by the copy date for the October 2011 issue.

valuable contributions and support that he had given to the Friends over more than 25 years. Ian has agreed to become an Advisor to the Trustees in view of his lengthy

matters, especially relationships with the Charity Commissioners.

Secretary will be assumed by Guy Marriott,

Administration Manager into that expanded role.

Jeremy Buck was one of relatively few Friends who correctly identified the location of the competition picture in the April 2011 issue of Friends News.

picture is, I believe, on the former "Northmet" offices and showrooms in Station Road, Wood Green. "Northmet" was the trading name of the North Metropolitan Electric Power Supply Co., which was formed (I think) to provide electricity to power MET trams. Their main power station was at Brimsdown, near Enfield, which at one time had large cooling towers with similar "bullseye" signs on them.

were opened in September 1934, the showroom selling cookers and other domestic appliances to the public. I can remember going there with my mother to pay the electricity bill in the1960s/1970s, by which time the Company had been

Ian Crane

th June 2011, it was announced that Ian Crane, Honorary General Secretary to the Friends, had decided to relinquish that role from the date of the meeting.

committee in October 1985 as Assistant Secretary responsible for membership. He was appointed Hon. General Secretary in January 1994. The Trustees at their recent meeting recorded their grateful thanks to Ian for the