The Chappel viaduct 175th anniversary celebrations

Richard Hemington reports on the recent celebrations organised to mark the 175th anniversary of the Chappel viaduct near Colchester.

The impressive Chappel viaduct, on the Marks Tey-Sudbury railway branch line near Colchester, sits just to the south of the East Anglian Railway Museum (EARM). To help mark 175 years since the branch and viaduct were opened in 1849, the East Anglian Traction Engine Society joined forces with EARM to use the railway museum as base for The Great Eastern Steam Road Run, which took place on Saturday, 6th July. The date chosen nicely filled the gap between the local Aldham Rally and the Weeting Rally, which takes place further north.

A number of local engines were unfortunately unable to attend, with Phil Retman’s Foden wagon sadly snapping its rear axle on its way to the anniversary celebrations. Despite this, four engines braved a disappointingly poor weather forecast and took part, together with a Stanley steam car, a 1971 Michelotti-cabbed Scammell and several Ford Model T cars.

Fowler road loco No. 15467 Sir Douglas steamed to Chappel direct from the Aldham Rally, while Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies No. 26995 arrived from Aldham via Colchester, where it took part in Garrison Day (the Army Forage Dept took delivery of No. 26995 in 1916 and disposed of it from Colchester in 1920). The Webb family steamed in with Foden tractor No. 14078 Mighty Atom and their Stanley car, and the ever-immaculate Fowler No. 16235 roller The Highlander made up the numbers.

The Ransomes was well-known in the 1970s as Mendip Lady when based in Somerset, but rarely carried the nameplate since returning to Essex in the mid-1980s. The road run provided a suitable opportunity to attach its new Boudicca nameplate cast several years ago.

Most engines were prepared within the museum before setting off from outside the front of the attractive Chappel & Wakes Colne Station of EARM. Sadly, soggy ground conditions prevented all but the cars from venturing onto the grass recreation ground below the viaduct for the planned photo opportunity.

The start of the 12-mile circular route from Chappel began with a good climb up out of the Colne Valley before swinging round through the attractive north-east Essex scenery to Earls Colne, and a lunch stop at The Lion pub. The ‘powers that be’ had forbidden engines from parking on the road outside The Lion, but the pub kindly reserved its whole car park for road run vehicles. Suitably refreshed, and with sunshine now replacing the rain, the run continued through narrow lanes with several more short, sharp climbs to surprise engine crews and make the engines work before returning to Chappel.

The event concluded with an enjoyable BBQ and beer evening at the museum’s Viaduct Tavern. The organiser wishes to thank all those that took part and contributed to a grand day out, particularly the East Anglian Traction Engine Society for generously providing coal for the run, and the East Anglian Railway Museum for being perfect hosts in accommodating both the engines and their owners in the build-up to the event, and over the weekend itself.

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