THE SPLASH BRANCH!

We leave Southend-on-Sea behind and are heading east. We first find a Southend Transport Routemaster in Southchurch. (Richard Huggins photo)

 

Southend's tram used to run out in this direction. No. 41 is seen on reserved track, Thorpe Bay Boulevard.

One of the earliest cars on the Esplanade. 

We've been following the LT&SR line, which terminates at Shoeburyness. 

There was a loco shed here, which survived until electrification.

The LT&SR was taken over and became part of the LMS, which gave the line some new locos. Here, 2519 departs Shoeburyness.

A visit in the very early 1970s found EMU No. 235 in service and some old DMUs for scrap.

Coming forward to 1993 and there's some more withdrawn stock at Shoeburyness.

Since these photos of the signalling in 1993, it has all been replaced and controlled by Upminster.

We could go further, indeed I have been in the MOD depot at Shoeburyness, but they wouldn't let me take photos in there. Therefore, this is as far as we can go without getting very wet. A view of the poppy sculpture Wave at the Barge Pier, once rail served, as can be seen. Thanks to Southend Borough Council for allowing use of this photo.

Now you see what I mean by the "Splash Branch".  This will give you an idea of where things were.

Time for a pint, but maybe not at the Cambridge Hotel, as it's been demolished.

So now we start to turn inland and finish for now at a fine pub (When visited in 2008), the Angel at North Shoebury.

In the next post, you'll see some flying machines and risk a haircut.