Thursday 26th October 2006 ~ The Ken Nunn Collection Part 3

Graham Stagey ~ summarised by Chris Hurricks

Appeared in Journal 503

Graham's visit last year with Part 2 of the collection was outstanding, but would he be able to top it with Part 3? By the end of the show I think most of the audience of 30 members and friends would have said 'yes' and the resounding applause proved the point. This time there were no sections, a very random selection keeping us on our toes as we just did not know what was coming next.

Graham had subtitled this show 'Further afield with the Ken Nunn collection' and so it proved with shots from as far apart as Paris, the Channel Islands, Ireland and the Kyle of Lochalsh. Pictures from virtually every pre grouping company were shown, a remarkable achievement when you consider that these were all pre-1923. The Hopwood negatives are the oldest in the collection and a Metropolitan 4.4.0T at Finchley taken in 1898 was the earliest shown. Ken Nunn continued his interest into the diesel era and the most recent shot was of D202 at Shenfield in 1957. There had certainly been a lot of variety in the intervening 59 years!

Graham's commentary was very informative and we certainly learnt a lot. Did you know, for example, that there was a metre gauge steam worked line at Calais or that a Jersey Railway 3' 6" gauge 2.4.0 still exists in South Africa ? Some locations have changed little over the years but East Croydon 102 years ago was very different. With the standard and interest of the shots being so high it is difficult to pick out 'gems', but for me the highlights were the sparkling LTSR 4.4.2T at Upminster in 1913, GW Mogul 5322 at St. Omer during the First World War (now preserved at Didcot), the Swansea and Mumbles steam hauled double deck stock, a very clean streamlined 'East Anglian' at Liverpool Street in 1937 and steam trams in Paris.

A few examples of locations now brought back to life by the preservation movement were shown including a WHR 0.6.4 Single Fairlie at Dinas in 1909, Bodiam in 1946 and Woody Bay on the Lynton and Barnstaple.

There were a few questions and Steve Worsley gave the vote of thanks after an excellent evening's entertainment. Although there are shots in the collection which we have not seen it was suggested that we give it a rest for next season but Graham (no mean photographer himself) offered us a show of his own work which would no doubt be an admirable substitute.

Front Cover. Maersk Lines Emma Maersk arriving at Felixstowe Port on the maiden voyage of the largest container ship. Photo taken at 16.50 on the 4th November by Martyn Hunt

Rear Cover Top. 37608 at Westerfield on 2nd November on the Willesden to Sizewell Flasks. Photo by Darren Jennings.

Rear Cover Bottom. Damaged pantograph of 90013 at Stowmarket on 9th November. Photo by Darren Jennings.