East Midlands
Meeting Reports
Tuesday 22nd AprilThe South Yorkshire Joint Railway
Illustrated talk by Bob Gellatly
Tonight's talk concentrated on the railway development that took place in rural South Yorkshire after most of Britain’s railways had already been established for quite some time. This came about due to the mining of the concealed coalfield in the very early part of the twentieth century that took place after the more easily won coal to the west had become more or less exhausted. We heard in detail about the proposed schemes and joint lines, many that were not built and about the passenger train services that never really took off, on this line primarily constructed for the transport of coal to connect with the existing railway network.
This was a very in depth talk by someone who is clearly an authority on this subject.
Tuesday 8th April
The book is available to purchase. To order a copy forward a cheque payable to Stephen Gay for £15 to 63 Clipstone Road, Darnall, Sheffield S9 5ES.
Through Kirton Tunnel
A colour slide presentation by Stephen Gay
For this evenings meeting we welcomed Stephen back to give the slide show version of his book ‘Through Kirton Tunnel’. This tells the history of the railway from Sheffield to Cleethorpes along with the line to New Holland and Barton-upon-Humber, in the form of a journey showing what is still to be seen today. The show included 100 of the 170 colour photos in his book about this former Manchester Sheffield and Lincolnshire line.
Tuesday 18th March
In Retrospect - 1977/1987/1997/2007
Roger Jones
Branch member Roger Jones gave his annual presentation of the railway scene as captured by his camera during 2007 and from the years 1977, 1987 and 1997.
Tuesday 11th March
Football Clubs, an A-Z of locomotives
Colin Briggs
Northampton branch member Colin Briggs surprised us when he said he was not going to give a talk about LNER class B17 locomotives, which as we know had football club names, although he does do such a talk. This talk however was a hypothetical tour of Britain calling in alphabetical order at 26 places with a football team. However to make things interesting none of them were in the premiership, far from it. Each place visited, be it in England, Wales or Scotland had a railway connection. We thank Colin for his different approach to giving a very varied slide show.
Tuesday 26th February
Steam in 2007
Graham Briggs
We welcomed back our local Graham Briggs to give what is becoming to be an annual event. First we saw what had been happening around the preserved lines in 2007. Highlights included the vintage passenger rolling stock on the Bluebell railway. It was pleasing to see footage of so many freight trains too. Also featured were the re-enactments of end of SR steam. Next it was on to the main line to see the many steam hauled rail tours of 2007, filmed from a vide variety of locations. The big one of the year must surely have been the Great Britain rail tour. As always the quality was excellent. Graham now has a web site, which can be viewed at http://www.steamingthroughbritain.co.uk
Tuesday 12th February
The first film “Farewell to the Great Northern” documented a rail tour in 1968 by the Stevenson Locomotive Society on the lines of the Great Northern railway in the East Midlands just prior to closure. The journey of the six-car DMU was captured in cine and still photographs northwards from Burton-on-Trent. Soon we were passing Derby Friargate and then saw rare colour footage of Stanton iron works. From Bulwell the train headed up the Leen valley and we included the branch to Teversall colliery. From Shirebrook North the LDEC line was taken and connection made to the Midland railway near Elmton & Creswell. Southwards on the Midland via Mansfield we reached Nottingham Midland. Then via the viaducts and passing Weekday Cross we skirted the site of Nottingham Victoria on one of the remaining lines. The once impressive station had been demolished and the route we were on would soon be gone too. Then it was back to Burton-on-Trent via the viaduct at Bennerley and Friargate. What would we give to be able to repeat such a trip today.
The second film was about two preserved Unoin Pacific locomotives being transported by road to their new home on the top of a hill in Omaha Nebraska! The locos were about as big as they come, a Big Boy and the 97ft Centenial diesel.
The third film was about the North Staffordshire railway’s line from North Rode near Macclesfield to Utoxeter. The line opened in 1849 passes the scenic Rudyard Lake, Alton Towers and includes the now preserved Churnet Valley line based at Chedleton.
The final film “The Elephant will never forget” documented the last tram in London in 1952 and included shots of the Kingsway Tunnel.
Our thanks to the Matlock Railway Society for another splendid selection.
The North Staffs Railway
Matlock Railway Club
A highlight of the East Midlands branch calendar for many years has been the annual visit of the Matlock Railway Club who specialise in preserving and showing archive railway films. This year was no exception.
Tuesday 22nd January
The Branch Secretary’s Selection
John Hitchens
Due to an unfortunate administrative error within the branch we were not able to see an illustrated talk by David Putt, “100+ not out, visiting steam at Loughborough”. Hopefully this can be rearranged for a future date.
Fortunately branch secretary John Hitchens was able to put together a selection of his own slides for the evening. As always there were many local shots from times long gone to keep us happy.
Tuesday 8th January
We look forward with anticipation to Ken’s next visit to our branch.
In and around Nottingham Victoria
Ken Grainger
On 8th January we welcomed back Ken Grainger for his regular New Year show. This year we were treated to ‘In and around Nottingham Victoria’ much to the delight of the locals. Many scenes were viewed of the construction of the line including the major demolition of a large part of central Nottingham. The earthworks required were also shown in great detail, as was the enormous bowstring bridge over the rival Midland Railway’s station. After showing the construction works we had a detailed survey of just about every loco class that ever worked through the station in its life span. Ken’s attention to detail was as thorough as ever and is always appreciated along with the pioneering photographic work he includes from the likes of Newton, Priestley and Hepburn.
Tuesday 11th December 2007
Our thanks to Bob for reminding us of what it was like in Cornwall just a few decades ago.
Penzance to Plymouth including Branches
Bob Goodman
On 11th December we welcomed Bob Goodman who in a late change of programme gave us his presentation on ‘Penzance to Plymouth including Branches’. Starting at Penzance we worked eastwards and were soon on the scenic branch to St Ives where we were reminded of ten coach specials from the past. As the show progressed we saw all of the expected motive power including the short-lived class 22 diesels, sometimes double and triple headed. All to soon were crossing the Royal Albert Bridge and finished the journey at Laira depot just east of Plymouth. An unusual part of the show was the inclusion of the 1989 solar eclipse at as seen from a dark Plymouth station at 11am.
Tuesday 27th November 2007 Our thanks to Hugh for what for many members was a nostalgic trip into the past.
BR in the late 1950's to mid 1960's
Illustrated talk by Hugh Gould the Society President
RCTS President Hugh Gould was welcomed on his annual visit to the branch and showed us slides he had taken in the 1960's. There was a heavy bias towards the East Coast Main Line but the former LMS, GWR and SR lines were also featured to a lesser extent. Although the show consisted mainly of steam slides, tantalising glimpses of early diesels were also to be seen. Long gone stations such as Glasgow St Enoch were also featured as well as Euston before rebuilding. The Bluebell line was visited in the early days of preservation and paddle steamer enthusiasts were catered for by the 'Medway Queen', which still survives. The Jacobite rail tour on the Glasgow - Fort William / Mallaig line provided a story about a North British type 2 diesel coming to the rescue of steam locos not up to the job, and BRB chairman to be Bob Reid apologising to passengers on their very late return to Glasgow, despite the special having caused havoc on his railway all day long.
Tuesday 13th November 2007 Starting in Chester we worked westwards along the North Wales Coast to Holyhead. We were reminded that this line was once four tracks as far as Colwyn Bay. On the way we included the Conway Valley line, the Festiniog Railway and Llandudno with its Great Orme tramway. Retracing our steps we then travelled north along the west coast main line to see Carnforth at the end of steam and the Windermere branch before reaching Carlisle. Unusual locos included a shot of two Clayton diesels. From there it was down the Maryport & Carlisle line before joining the Furness Railway finally ending up back at Carnforth. Rodney's passion for signal boxes soon became apparent as we saw many different examples.
Our thanks to Rodney for standing in at short notice and for showing us parts of the rail network not often seen.
Coast to Coast
Rodney Allen
Due to our advertised speaker being unable to be present, branch Chairman Rodney Allen stepped in to give us a show which he had called 'Coast to Coast'. Unusually the two coasts were the North Wales Coast and the Cumbrian Coast. During the show Rodney contrasted shots he had taken in the 1970's with the same locations taken recently.
Tuesday 23rd October 2007
After the AGM Brian Staniland from Sheffield branch entertained with colour slides entitled "Railways through the Hope Valley". Members were shown 1960's slides taken in and around Sheffield Victoria and Midland stations and Darnall and Tinsley depots before setting off on a journey along the Hope Valley line to Edale. A mixture of steam hauled freight and passenger trains with LMS 5MT & 8F the mainstay plus B1, Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0 and 9F. Numerous rail tours old and new were also covered. Plus anecdotes of impromptu footplate rides on freight trains.
Our thanks to Brian for treating members to the spectacular scenery of this line through Derbyshire.
Railways through the Hope Valley
Illustrated talk by Brian Staniland
The branch held its AGM on 23 October and re-elected the existing committee of five with a vacancy for the vice-chairman position. The chairman stressed the need for volunteers to help run the branch and organise the national AGM in April 2009.
Tuesday 9th October 2007
A remarkable feature of the show was the number and quality of early colour slides dating as far back as the mid 1930's which really brought to life an era normally only seen in black and white. Numbering schemes and train reporting codes were explained. Trains of six-wheeled stock and teak coaches in various shades were seen. During the wartime we were back to black and white film and unlined black locos. We travelled around the region including the Midland & Great Northern and the Great Eastern lines. 1959 shots included regular A4 turns on the Scotch goods. LMS fans were catered for by examples of locos deep in LNER territory. Familiar to some members was the smoky taxi rank at Liverpool St.
Our thanks to Arthur for sharing his collection with us.
LNER steam around the time of nationalisation
Illustrated talk by Arthur Turner
On 9th October Arthur Turner gave a talk to the branch on "LNER steam around the time of nationalisation". The talk was illustrated by around 150 slides of locomotives, including some he had taken himself, some from Colourail and similar organisations, others from deceased RCTS members' collections. These he used to illustrate his own memories of the LNER including his time spent on national service in Northallerton.
Tuesday 25th September 2007
Early photos included Bournemouth and the Isle of Wight. These were followed by the Liverpool overhead railway, which we were told had the first electric multiple units and colour light signals. We saw Colin's first published picture (of a railway accident) in the Railway Magazine. By 1956 we had crossed the sea to Ireland, closely followed by Belgium. 1958 provided shots of the Isle of Man and a 98 year old freight loco in action in Austria. By 1959 the slides were in colour when visiting Switzerland. In the same year there were North British type 2 diesels at Stratford before their days in Scotland. In an unusual move, to keep the branch awake (as if this were needed…), Colin provided prizes for members spotting loco numbers ending in '000'. The early 1960's shots included the Grimsby and Immingham tramway and the Lincolnshire Coast light railway with a derailment due to the state of the track. Ellerman Lines was seen being prepared for exhibit prior to being moved to York. In Scotland we saw the last colliery steam. 1989 brought the reopening of the Hednesford branch. "Recent" shots included a then new class 325 Royal Mail unit, the first class to get Railtrack group standard certification, with which Colin was involved in setting up. Unusual transport included sugar cane being brought to a train on camel back.
In Asia Colin had travelled in India, Myanmar and China. In these countries he had witnessed first hand the poverty, particularly amongst children who live rough near the railway. With this in mind Colin uses his shows to promote the work of the charity Railway Children, further information on which can be found on their web site http://www.railwaychildren.org.uk .
Colin finished his presentation with a picture of a Nottingham tram which he had taken that very evening - the wonders of digital photography, how things have changed since his earliest pictures. Our thanks to Colin who took us here there and everywhere during the evening and yes we did actually have a picture of a man on a bicycle carrying at least 1000 eggs.
1000 eggs on a bicycle
Colin Boocock
On 25th September former professional railwayman, railway author and photographer Colin Boocock gave an illustrated talk to the branch with the intriguing title "1000 Eggs on a bicycle". The show contained highlights from each of the last 60 years that he has been taking photographs.
Tuesday 11th September 2007 Starting in Chicago, 'the worlds capitol of railways' where semaphore signals are still in use, John explained that it was not an offence to take photographs from a public place.
As we moved on to the more scenic western states we saw mainline preserved steam including a Big Boy. Amtrak diesels were often used behind steam loco on tours and it is usual for one-way tickets to be sold on otherwise empty stock movements. Wisconsin Central was included and mention made that Ed Burkhardt never bought them a new loco.
In the American Rockies the Durango & Silverton Railway was covered and John warned of the sudden changes in temperature out in the desert. Most railroad companies were friendly and helpful in providing information except for Apache Railway who's notices threaten to shoot trespassers!
As expected we saw many freight trains with multiple locos, ranging from five locos pulling 3 wagons over a canyon bridge, to trains with ten locos to redress an imbalance of motive power in the east. In this case all locos were running and controlled by one crew. A pick up freight could start with a single wagon and grow into a very big long distance train. Revenue and traffic are growing fast and takeovers are common, but as they are not always for the common good are now vetted by a rail regulator.
Following Route 66 we came to the huge Barstow Yard. In the southwest we reached San Diego. In the desert photographers have to beware of rattlesnakes, in Canada sightings of bears can outnumber trains. Unusual rolling stock included a track geometry car and a road/rail vehicle to vacuum up spilt grain to prevent the bears getting drunk. Unlike in the UK, long freights can be seen running down the main streets of some towns. The scenery was often superb.
John has previously impressed American audiences who said he knew more about their railways than they did. A good selection of North American rail atlases and loco books was displayed to provide more information on the subject. Our thanks to John for a very informative talk on a much-neglected subject.
American Railroads in the present day, including Western Canada
John Day
On 11th September society Secretary John Day gave an illustrated talk on railroads in America and western Canada in the present day, a subject long overdue for the branch.
July 2008