ECA was incorporated in May 1997 and to celebrate hosted a 20th anniversary party for staff at the London Water and Steam Museum. The event included transport to the venue by a vintage London routemaster bus, demonstration of the 90-inch pump engine – described by Charles Dickens in 1850 as a “monster!”, a steam train ride around the museum (with some lucky staff taking it in turns to drive the train), plus a celebratory dinner in the museum’s grand steam hall where staff enjoyed an awards ceremony and speeches by Ray Tomkins (chairman), his wife Eliana, plus Fred Beelitz (MD).