Romford-Upminster centenary 1993

[StephenHunter]

One of my earliest railway memories is attending an event to mark 100 years of this single track line - then NSE Great Eastern, now London Overground.

Does anyone else recall this? I believe some old stock was present and running.

 

[Z12XE]

Don't remember it myself but suspect the heritage stock would have been 306017 which was at the time a fully working preserved electric unit from 1949

 

[StephenHunter]

Don't remember it myself but suspect the heritage stock would have been 306017 which was at the time a fully working preserved electric unit from 1949

I think you're right! Looking at the pictures of a 306 interior, that is how I remember the train!

 

[W-on-Sea]

Vaguely rings a bell. I think I recall the Class 306 being out on the line.

 

[Bishopstone]

I used to cross the Romford-Upminster line on the way to school.

Pre-electrification I remember Stratford's Cravens DMUs, and thereafter the 315s dominated for a couple of decades, until 321s and 317s started to be seen under National Express and Greater Anglia.

However I distinctly remember the first Saturday of electric services (1985?), where a 305 was provided: one of the 'Jazz Train' branded units more commonly seen on the West Anglia patch. Was this a one-off, or did the 305s have a short tenure on the 'push-pull' before the 315s took over?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

did the 305s have a short tenure on the 'push-pull' before the 315s took over?

305s were used for quite a while, although as you say it was not long term before the 315s took over. I've also had 321s on that line but I'm not sure if they were ever formally diagrammed for it.

 

[PeterC]

As a boy, before electrification, it was always exciting to use the line as it was my only opportunity to be able to look through the front window of a train. Every other trip that we made being on EMUs on the GEML.

 

[DidcotDickie]

I used to cross the Romford-Upminster line on the way to school.

Pre-electrification I remember Stratford's Cravens DMUs, and thereafter the 315s dominated for a couple of decades, until 321s and 317s started to be seen under National Express and Greater Anglia.

However I distinctly remember the first Saturday of electric services (1985?), where a 305 was provided: one of the 'Jazz Train' branded units more commonly seen on the West Anglia patch. Was this a one-off, or did the 305s have a short tenure on the 'push-pull' before the 315s took over?

Lived in Upminster in the 1960s and used to line occasionally on trips to Romford.

Met-Camm class 101s were the mainstay of the line post-steam (can't remember the steam shuttles), together with BR Derby DMUs. Cravens came later IIRC and were used up to electrification.

I also recall that the green 306 ran on the line during a commemorative event. My last trip from Romford to Upminster was several years ago but was definitely on a 321, which I thought was a bit unusual.

 

[StephenHunter]

305s were used for quite a while, although as you say it was not long term before the 315s took over. I've also had 321s on that line but I'm not sure if they were ever formally diagrammed for it.

These days it varies between 315s, 317s and 321s.