Longer term thinking

                                            

Vehicles on site, some longer-term thinking

In response to recent events, and part of an ongoing review, a new round of long term planning is being launched. Such planning is about aspiration, the direction to which should proceed. In retrospect earlier proposals for the eastern fields, for which planning permission was granted, was too ambitious. A disadvantage that was overlooked being the effect of taking the Restoration shed out of action for an extended period.

Since then our ambitions have been tempered by what is thought more achievable, a planning proposal championed by Peter and Allan Robinson developed the idea of an Exhibition Hall - this has several advantages. It is now awaiting a decision for the planning officer public consultation has been completed, and we expect results very soon (target date next week 23rd July).

What hopefully is acknowledged by the planning authority, is that a smaller and less costly construction also has merit. An exhibition will more closely meet the museum needs for under cover and display purposes. Retaining the engineering Restoration shed and reducing the problems of earthworks should aid the construction process.

Proposals concerning the future items of rolling stock in the eyes of both enthusiasts and more importantly the public, have been sent to the Board of Trustees. Based on an evaluation of Heads of Department, documents submitted by Mark House are a base to which a new plan can be written, and consideration given to what is restored and displayed where. It will raise questions of relevance/restoration cost and ability/and the practicality of use of vehicles.

 Looking forward, the next steps will be determined by the Trustees, it is expected that consultation will follow, to debate and collectively decide what action is required. Questions to be answered include, what is valuable, what can be restored in what time frame, potential disposals and what may be missing from our vehicle collection.

I Spy with my little eye

                                                            I-spy with my little eye.

Here is a digest of some recent activity at the museum that I have personally noticed, although much more was done out of sight and in lockdown.  Thanks go to all of those who contributed in the list below - literally too many for me to accurately record individual actions, but be assured that “every little helps”. if your project or activity is not mentioned, then a little request, bring it to my attention for inclusion in Chappel News and next time around it can feature in more detail.

 

Front field car parking is improved with a new surfacing we hope resists water ingress and guarantees car park capacity during periods of inclement weather.

 Visitor Reception Centre has recently received some redecoration; some rearrangement of staff work stations, a staff protection screen has been installed.

 Hand sanitiser stations are being installed around the site and social distancing measures in hand for public safety.

 Painting footbridge handrails.

 Works in progress for refurbishment of the Platform 2 café. Refurbishment involving new flooring and counter arrangements.

New Disabled toilet on Platform 2 in service.

 Clearance of weeds and detritus from Platform 2 surfaces, this being required as the café needs an outdoor seating area. New plants placed in planters.

 Unsightly chain linking fencing has been removed from Platform 2 South and along the mainline.

 Team Wednesday’s 27 panels of black plastic picket fencing have been installed from the level Crossing down to the running shed location.

 Repainting in many areas, Crossing gates, signal posts, Goods Shed ramp as well as Viaduct pub, works are in progress at the Cattle Dock.

 Running shed roof panels attached and concreting of east-side walkways in progress.

 Appraisal of vehicles stored on South sidings started as part of longer term planning.

 Platform 3 and North Box have been enhanced by the attachment of signal and Telegraph cables to cable trays.

 Exterior clean of Mark 1 coaches, including the neglected “Network Rail facing – west sides”. Clearance of rust and top level rain channels.

 Action to sort, tidy and relocate Signal and Telegraph stores

 Restacking stores - better storage within containers.

 Painting of South Sidings ground frame, Platform barrows, heritage lamppost.

 Team Wednesday workshop tools and materials upgrade.

 Continued attention to museum administration archive

 

Miniature Railway

Thompson Green station buildings, internal fit out continues, a realistic booking office is now in place and period panelling placed in the interior. Externally Water Column bases are being built, alongside the ballasted track that now extends from the Locomotive Container, past a part painted Signal box, through the station to within sight of Spring Gardens Road.

 

In the workshop

 

Locomotive 69621

“The N7” (which of course is shorthand to railway people) Shunted from south sidings, after freeing seized parts, to reside over locomotive pit for inspection and first removal of fittings.

For more general appeal, layman understanding and labour and fundraising, could usefully be described as the “East London Suburban tank locomotive”? Publically announced decision to start restoration works.

 

Great Western “TOAD” Brake Van

To ensure safe operation work is proceeding on its running gear so to be an effective braking vehicle. A train consisting of stock capable of social distancing stock, that is itself, an open wagon, and a compartment coach.

 

Diesel Railcar Class 101 trailer

This is the best example of an original railcar; it had been previously retrofitted with tungsten lighting and retains its original Formica panels. Welding repairs have been taking place to the structure, replacement door thresholds made an added. To further enhance originality, removal of automatic warning system has taken place; this modification also simplifies wiring, and removes some liability of 60 year old electrical wiring. When repainting restarts it shall be out-shopped in Rail Blue livery to match its Power car.

 

Model Railway rooms

Attention has been given to the layouts in the public exhibition room Halstead has gained many more buildings and is being worked on at pace. 

Other examples of detail that have recently occurred include; provision of micro-lighting within model buildings, adding to the authenticity of night-time running. A Permanent Way possession is taking place on the dockside connection, to avoid derailments! Even small scale track needs attention to gradient and geometry.

Phil Ainsley

16 07 20

Elephants and Eggs

The new family trail leaflet includes photos of an egg transit label and an elephant – here is a little bit more detail about why railways had an association with those items.

 Displayed on the museum’s cattle dock there is a photo showing the loading of the Chipperfield Circus elephants 1961. Incidentally the goods conveyance “Rate Book” in the booking office there is evidence of how much actually cost per mile to transport elephants, and indeed many other wild animal; that’s something always highlighted in during guided tours.

 Illustrated below is a herd of elephants proceeding along Crouch Street Colchester, on this occasion this was a visit from “Buffalo Bill's Wild West show” in September 1903.

Three trains were required to transport the circus which comprised 800 performers Sioux Indians, Plains Cowboys, Russian Cossacks and 500 horses which climaxed in a demonstration of horsemanship and shooting role playing an attack on the Deadwood Stage (coach).

 As a contrast from large objects –  small objects carried by rail include distribution of eggs. This was a commodity often carried by passenger trains in the guard’s compartment, as were live chicks. Eggs were one of the products promoted Great Eastern Railway – for it had prepared a demonstration train to boost the local farming economy and help more self-sufficiency and no doubt a prospect of greater railway profits.

 Found in a hundred year old magazine ( in the Museum Archive -Railway Magazine July 1920) was a description of such a train. After the upheaval of the First World War an ambulance train ( shown in the Heritage Centre on a roll-up display panel) was converted into a “Poultry and  Small Stock Demonstration train”. This was partly because the quantities of poultry and eggs imported to Great Britain were disrupted one of the principal sources had been reportedly cut off by the Revolution in Russia.

 

Three cars were used for demonstrations, plus a dining car for the use of demonstrators in lecturers, and a composite brake van exhibited a collection of livestock and the latest approved agricultural appliances. 

Experts were on hand to give further guidance and information regarding poultry, bees, rabbits, goats, cheese making, bottling and canning in fruits, and allotment gardening. A tour of East Anglia followed calling at many local stations including St Botolph’s Colchester, Sudbury, Clacton, Chelmsford, Braintree and Bishops Stortford together with another 29 others.

Phil Ainsley 26 06 20 

For returning families - a new activity Family Trial.

When families return to visit the museum, they will now have the opportunity to follow a new EARM activity Family Trail. This welcome addition has been produced to self- guide visitors; it is a co-operation between Catherine Harrison the museum’s Marketing Manager, and commercial design illustration photography from Sarah Hayes. 

Catherine is seen here displaying the leaflet in front of this year’s marketing notices in front of a re-vamped Chappel arrival display board. Of course due to the pandemic  most events have been cancelled, but not to be dismayed – this Family Trail has been produced to assist in the first phase of reopening, that is static viewing of the museum. 

Its design is a double sided pictorial diagram, folded into 16 panels; items of interest are highlighted by nine number destinations. It is intended to be an optional extra offered to visitors so engaging whole family. It challenges younger visitors to LOOK, FIND and DO with added FACTS being shown. Actions suggested are taking selfies and to operate signal levers in the original signal box.

The pictorial design is in very a effective child sketch style, interspersed with photographs. It brings to attention some of the smaller features around site which often people overlook.

Being a design that is family and child orientated, there are many references of animals; cats, mice, elephants and rabbits are featured. It asks about telling the time, and where you might buy sweets? If the trail is followed and tick boxes completed – there’s a treat for a child and a hot drink offered for adults by way of a voucher for Platform 2 café.

Visitors will be encouraged to talk to “engineer”, in reality anyone with a reasonable grasp of railway technology can reply – you don’t need a B Tech qualification or a degree to answer a question, so don’t be shy folks. One of our strong points, if not unique selling points is that we do ask people to look inside our Restoration Shed, in this way we share our interest with visitors.

Our commercial partner in this production is Sara Hayes; the link below takes you to her web site.

http://www.thepublicartcompany.co.uk/portfolio/world-war-two-trails/

This link highlights the local World War Trail, a walking trail describing the importance of Wakes Colne as a location in the defence of the realm. It can also be seen in the first photograph on the left hand side of our signboard. Sara has been working with local authorities in Essex publicising the advantages of walking and pointing out local history.

Initially the leaflet has a print run of 1000, the insert photo shows a portion of it – but get hold a real copy to enjoy its full content. In time it can be reviewed and experience will tell us how to develop it, so congratulations again to Catherine and Sara on producing what could be a best seller.

21 06 20

Slave traders, the felling of a statue, and steam railways !

There has been much recent controversy about Edward Colston; he was a slave trader whose statue was torn down in Bristol recently. I propose that there may be a link, based on historical significance, to steam railways. 

It’s a bit contentious, a little bit of time travel, but what you think?

Debate on both sides has been fairly heated what is relevant, history or today’s concerns. Historical people or subjects have been then judged on the standards applying today in the 21st century. What’s more the “conversation” or “debate” about the statues felling has continued on Twitter, or other electronic and unattributed electronic means.  Surely it's a matter of relative rights and wrongs when considering historical events.

So what’s the steam railway connection?  

It’s similar in the sense that burning coal the fossil fuel powering an industrial revolution is nowadays considered a bad thing, as is slave trading. You may be aware that there have been two months of generated electricity without coal. 

Judging Steam railways as outdated, coal as a dirty and unfavourable fuel is using 21st century standards. In a historical perspective coal was right; it would seem that even slave traders boosted trade, and made some charitable donations.

Railways were built to transport coal, now that’s not necessary. However coal is still needed to meet the demand for both the steel industry and heritage railways. We should try not to import supplies, that’s not very green, perhaps there is a need to open a drift coal mine in the forest of Dean, a preserved coal mine ?

You may ask what the relevance this is to the museum?

Steam railways may be an anachronism, but it's one that some of us enjoys, learn skills, socialise and present events for the enjoyment of our visitors. A museum can contrast the past with the present- maybe you can then project your mind into the future guided by the past. Slave Traders to modern icons, steam railways to clean fuels.

Edward Colston’s statue is being fished out of the docks and to be placed in the excellent Bristol Museum, so museums have a purpose, as indeed does our steam railway.