Having retired, I can now devote more time to this blog, so now welcome comments. Is there a potential for a C Hamilton-Ellis Appreciation Society?

Unpublished Oil Painting by C Hamilton Ellis, F.R.S.A "N.B.R. Waverley"

Oil on board, commissioned July 1980. Titled by the artist "Climbing to Stobs".

Notes on reverse signed by the artist: Midland-Scottish Pullman Express on the Waverley route south of Hawick, North British Railway. 1880 Engine Waverley (originally Montrose) designed by Dugald Drummond, built 1878. Original number 487:duplicate number 1361:rebuilt 1903: ran as L.N.E.R No. 10361 until withdrawn in 1926.Vehicles from tender: Midland-Scottish joint stock 12 wheeled composite, 1876:Pullman Car (American pre-fabricated, 1874:Midland eight wheeler, third class, followed by four-wheeled van and assorted six wheelers.


Figures: Driver by CHE (I suspect in his likeness). Boy/girl onlookers based on family portraits: rabbit "Tiggy" family pet.
CHE comment when asked to include the figures he doubted they could get to this advantage point as there was an army camp close by.

Cuthbert Hamilton Ellis ( 1909-1987)- a personal glimpse.

During his long life he was both a notable author of railway literature and an accomplished painter of principally Victorian railway engines in oils and black and white drawings. I met him on various occasions over a period of 7 years from 1980 and he was both charming and knowledgable, with an easy ability to impart this without you ever feeling that you were asking silly questions!

Even though chronologically he was Edwardian, He was very much a Victorian gentleman and always addressed me by surname although as a "rep on the road" I was more used to first name terms, often as not- so, "Mr. Ellis" it always was. His wife Olivia was a delightful lady. A visit to "Monk's Barn" was an experience I will never forget. CHE's studio was always a wonderful clutter of completed oils(unframed and always on board) work in progress, model railway engines, railway artefacts and books. I had the very great pleasure to see "Waverley" in various stages of completion from the initial charcoal sketch to the finished work.

Most correspondence was on CHE's ancient manual typewriter usually with lots of corrections as personal thoughts occurred, although occasionally penned. I don't think he would ever have taken to a word processor!
So how would a Victorian gentleman take to having his work on the web? I would like to think that he wouldn't be too upset....





1980 Christmas card from CHE and Olivia Hamilton Ellis

LL Bean Sale

Casey Jones