Essex Branches

DVDs are on pre-order and will be despatched mid-November.

Following our Sunshine Coast Line from London Liverpool Street to Clacton on Sea, we can now travel over 5 of the feeder branches to the former Great Eastern main line. These are Wickford to Southminster (via Burnham on Crouch), Witham to Braintree, Marks Tey to Sudbury (via Chappel & Wakes Colne), Thorpe le Soken to Walton on the Naze (via Frinton on Sea) and Manningtree to Harwich via Harwich International.

Filmed on board modern class 720 electric multiple units (and a class 755 bi-mode train on the Sudbury branch) in mid-summer.

Each of the branches has a new marketing name that relates to the area's history, such as the Mayflower Line referring to the Pilgrim ship Mayflower, which is believed to have been built in Harwich in the 16th century, or the Gainsborough line referring to the famous painter who was born in Sudbury, or the Flitch line named after a medieval custom near Braintree.

Some of the interesting features of the branch lines include two that have been cut back by Beeching, one contains the largest brick viaduct in Britain, another has a long 10 mile an hour curve impacting trains that had hitherto been travelling at 100 mph from Liverpool Street.

One branch had its double track taken up within 10 years of opening and another has a station with just 25 passengers a day yet has an hourly service to the City of London! You will see why trains on the Harwich branch have to stop beyond the platforms and find out why part of the Colne Valley line had to be relaid after having been closed and taken up! Last but not least, listen to the nostalgic sound of jointed track on the Walton on Naze branch, all this and more in Rob Curling's expertly delivered narration.  (the DVD has a commentary-off option).