Thursday 29th September 2005 ~ The Ken Nunn Collection Part 2

Graham Stacey ~ summarised by Chris Hurricks

Appeared in Journal 490

Many more photos from the historic Ken Nunn collection have now been made into slide format and it was a pleasure to welcome Graham Stacey of the LCGB to give us a further showing, the first having been 3 years ago at Paul's. This was our first meeting at our new home at the Castle Hill Community Centre and it was pleasing to see a full house of 34 members and friends filling the very pleasant Room 3.

Graham first explained that this collection of 12000 railway photos, some taken over 100 years ago, was in fact the work of 4 photographers which had been purchased by the LCGB on Ken's death in 1965. Only 3000 or so are good enough for public consumption and a proportion of these have been made into slides. Considering the age of the shots and certainly in the early days the available equipment, the sharpness and quality of the images is superb, helped by the fact that virtually every loco shown was spotless. Projection of some of the shots caused a distinct 'gasp' from the audience which says something for both the subject matter and the quality.

Ken Nunn lived at several locations around London and so far as his shots were concerned this was his prime area. However with the influence of the other 3 photographers the geographical spread was very wide but Graham cleverly kept the GE area examples to the middle part of the show. We started with the Great Central and Great Northern, gems being Silver Link on the Silver Jubilee at Wood Green in 1937, a P1 at Kings Cross in 1936 and the Royal B2 1671. Some rare shots of Metropolitan Railway steam followed including a 107 year old 4.4.0T at work at Harrow, followed by the much anticipated GE area. A Claud coming under that famous gantry at Stratford West got the ball rolling followed by a huge range of mouth watering scenes at locations well known to most. Some of these have changed drastically of course as evidenced by a J17 at what appeared to be a very rural Aldersbrook and several at Brentwood before the line was quadrupled. One of our Ipswich 'trams' was featured at the latter trundling slowly homewards after overhaul at Stratford (no road low loaders in those days !) whilst a Claud on the pride of the line, the Eastern Belle, in 1930 was very impressive.

The Stockton & Darlington centenary celebrations in 1925 were followed by similar high jinks for the Liverpool & Manchester in 1930 before some Welsh shots on Cambrian lines. Ken lived at Wembley for a time and a classic here was the Coronation Scot headed by 6222 whilst the only non steam shot of the show was the pioneering LMS diesels, 10000 & 10001 double heading. Onwards for more GW in Devon & Cornwall and then to the one company not featured so far, the Southern, Here was a great contrast between pre war views including the Lynton & Barnstaple with later Bulleid designs. There was time for a brief look at some NER locos before we had to call a halt having seen 200 slides.

Steve Worsley gave the vote of thanks for an outstanding show of incredible variety. We have now seen half the available slides in the collection so a further two meetings could be filled. Are we all agreed to invite Graham along next season ?

Front Cover. Sailing Barge "Hydrogen" returning to Ipswich at the end of a charter. Photo by Fred Ward

Rear Cover Top. Newly named 47813 'John Peel' stands at Ipswich with the 'New Musical Express' railtour from Wolverhampton to Norwich on 8th October 2005. Photo by Graham Hardinge.

Rear Cover Bottom. Cotswold Rail's immaculate 87005 at Norwich on 5th October 2005. Photo by Graham Newham.