Mangapps Railway Museum

History

John Jolly, his wife June and their son James moved from Halesworth in Suffolk to Mangapps Farm near Burnham-on-Crouch in 1984. He already had a large collection of railwayana, and shortly after moving, was asked if he still wanted Brampton waiting shelter, which he had tried to obtain while in Halesworth. It arrived some months later, was set up in his garden and filled with railway artefacts. He built a wooden platform and installed some station furniture. Visitors started to arrive, and suggested that Jolly should hold open days for the public. With the government suggesting that farmers should diversify to generate additional income, he enquired whether the railwayana could meet their requirements. He then obtained an ex-British Railways class 04 diesel shunter, and decided he needed track and other stock to go with it. The shunter arrived on site in April 1987, and over the next two years he obtained two more buildings from the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway, forming the basis for an operational railway.

In 1989 Richard Moore, who owned a half share in Bagnall 0-6-0 saddle tank No. 3061 was looking for a new home for the locomotive, and it moved to Mangapps. Jolly was then approached by John Wilson, the area manager for British Rail at Liverpool Street station, to take part in celebrations to mark the centenary of the Great Eastern Railway’s New Essex Lines network. Rover tickets from Southend Victoria railway station could be bought for £1, and Wilson wanted him to organise a bus link between and the farm. Jolly obtained two buses, while Wilson supplied three more, and over 3000 visitors used them over the August Bank Holiday weekend. The event highlighted the need to offer train rides, and after consultation with Major Peter Olver from the Railway Inspectorate, the running line was extended and train rides were offered from Easter 1990. Since then the collection of rolling stock and artefacts has continued to expand.

The collection includes many items with an East Anglian connection, as well as railway signalling and goods wagons. In addition to the locomotives, there are several coaches including a pantry car built for the London and North Eastern Railway in 1928 and a 1956-built non-corridor coach from the Western Region. Wagons include a boxvan built in 1881 for the Great Eastern Railway, an SNCF ferry van built in 1932 and a fruit van built for British Railways in 1950. Among the eight brakevans on the site is a caboose van built in 1981 for the Canadian Pacific Railway. There is also a vast array of historical signage, badges, and other memorabilia.

Museum collection

The museum's collection of rolling stock, in common with most preserved railways stock, may be loaned to other railways from time to time.

Steam locomotives

W.G. Bagnall 0-6-0ST Empress, the first steam locomotive to arrive at Mangapps in 1989, moved permanently to the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway in September 2018.

Diesel locomotives

Diesel multiple units

Electric multiple units

Inspection vehicles

In addition to standard gauge stock, the museum also has a service vehicle from Southend Pier Railway. It was built as a passenger car in 1949 by AC Cars of Thames Ditton when the railway was a gauge electric line, but was converted to become a service vehicle subsequently. It carried the number 8 when on the pier.

References

References

1. (4 April 2018). "Success for Essex 'Railroad Man'". Heritage Railway.
2. "Mangapps Railway Museum".
3. (12 August 2021). "Founder of Mangapps Railway Museum hopes its new walking route will encourage locals to visit".
4. Hewitt, Sam. (April 2018). "Success for Essex ‘Railroad Man’". Heritage Railway.
5. (30 August 2022). "Banter, memories and tea on menu at Mangapps". Heritage Railway.
6. IRS. (2012). "Industrial Locomotives Handbook 16EL". Industrial Railway Society.
7. (September 2024). "Brookfield back in action at Mangapps".
8. (2024). "Summer Steam Gala 2024". Mid-Norfolk Railway.
9. "Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway acquire steam locomotive No.3061 Empress". Rail Advent.
10. "Locomotives". Mangapps Railway Museum.
11. Foster, Richard. (January 2024). "Wisbech Wanderer".
12. Shahrabi, Ben. (16 September 2023). "Maldon District: Prog-rock legend Rick Wakeman to unveil 'Radio Caroline' locomotive at Mangapps Railway Museum".
13. (2009). "Railways Restored". Ian Allan.
14. Hewitt, Sam. (22 March 2017). "Big budget film turns to railway museum for World War Two scenes".
15. Hardy, Brian. (2002). "London Underground Rolling Stock". Capital Transport.
16. (2024). "Stock List – Other". Mangapps Railway Museum.
17. "Stock List – Coaching Stock". Mangapps Railway Museum.