AGM/Members’ Presentations

March was to be the AGM of the Branch which was well attended by a good number of members.  However, due to the pending retirements of both the Secretary and Treasurer, for which no nominations were forthcoming, the future of the branch is therefore now somewhat uncertain.  Nevertheless, monthly meetings are programmed to continue through into the Autumn.  All other matters were rapidly dealt with and, for the entertainment, presentations were then forthcoming from several of the attending members.  Chairman Bill Jagger opened the show when he described a recent tour of Alaska.  This featured the Yukon and White Pass Railway visiting both Fairbanks and Anchorage whilst the narrow-gauge railroad at Skagway and the cable car system at Juno expanded the variation and interest.

Vic Drake then followed with an excellent showing of steam tours within North Yorkshire, principally over the Settle and Carlisle lines featuring just a few examples of “Gresley”, “Galatea” at Hellifield, plus “Duchess of Sutherland” all on their regular tours of duty.  A superb trip into California was given by Chris Davies illustrating freight traffic on Tehachapi Loop and through the Mojave Desert.  Typical American railroad scenes were also shown of traffic through both Kingman (Arizona) and the lines through and around Needles and Barstow.  Finally, Keith Leah closed the meeting with an all steam showing of varied actions and locomotives seen chiefly across the Midland region alongside local glimpses taken at York and the Worth Valley.

Thanks to all for putting together a varied evening of internally generated interest and entertainment.