Welcome to Mainline Scene

Railway photography by Geoffrey King

The annual 'Steam on the Met' jamboree between Harrow, Watford and Amersham each May provided welcome relief from the diet of diesels and multiple units nearer home. Ivatt 2-6-2T 41312 and GWR 0-6-0PT 9466 roll into Rickmansworth with the 10:44 from Amersham to Watford on 29 May 2000
The annual 'Steam on the Met' jamboree between Harrow, Watford and Amersham each May provided welcome relief from the diet of diesels and multiple units nearer home. Ivatt 2-6-2T 41312 and GWR 0-6-0PT 9466 roll into Rickmansworth with the 10:44 from Amersham to Watford on 29 May 2000
A glimpse of the past at Manningtree as Class 86 No. 86246 Royal Anglian Regiment propels the down morning boat train onto the Harwich branch, the whole resplendent in InterCity 'Raspberry Ripple' livery. 14 Aug 1997.
A glimpse of the past at Manningtree as Class 86 No. 86246 Royal Anglian Regiment propels the down morning boat train onto the Harwich branch, the whole resplendent in InterCity 'Raspberry Ripple' livery. 14 Aug 1997.

This website is designed to show a selection of my photographs of the Main Line railway scene in and around North East Essex during the last 15 years. Domestic circumstances have restricted the range and duration of my photographic expeditions so there is a preponderance of shots taken within easy reach of my home near Colchester, with only a few images from further afield.

This is the first part of a larger website project. In due course I hope to be able to add other sections covering the heritage railway scene, again with emphasis on this part of the country.

I am indebted to Steve Allen, Rob Boyce, Mark Rawlinson of Freightmaster and Tony Booth's website Abrail which lists all extant locos, for much valuable information incorporated in the captions.

While the information given in the captions is correct to the best of my knowledge, I would appreciate notice by email of any errors or omissions which come to light.

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  1. Update on liveries in the Colchester area on 13th August 2008
    As predicted, we are now in a period of mixed liveries on the London-Norwich service. At present there appears still to be only one complete passenger set but at least 3 locos in the full NXEA grey/white. All the rest of the stock has acquired the broad white stripe below the windows bearing the branding 'national express' at one end and 'East Anglia' at the other. There still seems to be shortage of NXEA Class 90 locos, as both 90035 and 90036, bearing different versions of EWS livery, were active in mid-August. So far only one 360 unit has the full livery but at least two have been seen with the white stripe etc. A number of 321 units have received the white stripe treatment in place of the former green stripe below the windows. Meanwhile the 170 units continue in 'one' slate grey complete with rainbow end panels.
  2. National Express E.A. replaces 'one' on 13th August 2008
    From February 27th 'one' Railway was re-branded as 'National Express East Anglia' (NXEA). Inevitably this heralds yet another change in livery, so soon after slate blue had become universal on the Norwich line rolling stock. For the launch a complete train set was turned out in grey and white, a combination likely to dazzle bystanders in sunny weather and look drearily dull under under leaden skies. A similarly attired 360 unit has been seen at work, but so far the 170 units remain unchanged. As far as the Norwich stock is concerned, an interim measure has been the removal of the rainbow end panels from most locos & vehicles, and the addition of a broad white stripe bearing the NXEA branding. Trains of mixed liveries are once again appearing.

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