2nd July 2019 · An evening with Father’s slides – Steam within the M25’

Presenter: David Cross

On 2nd July 2019 we welcomed David Cross to the branch for the first time to present ‘An evening with Father’s slides – Steam within the M25’. (Father, of course, being Derek Cross).

We started off with County of Dorset at Paddington and travelled down the line with various locos at various sites and went a bit outside the M25 including Sonning Cutting, a DMU at Bramley, a goods train at Westbury with a Hymek pulling an Esso Tank Wagon with a Gunpowder Van right behind!!!

Western Lady was pulling a stone train at Clink Road Junction, Merehead Quarry saw a busy scene too.

On the Southern Region we started with a W Class 2-6-4T at Feltham, more steam at locations across the system with the Royal Train heading to Ascot,, a Hop Pickers’ special at Wateringbury, Stepney pulling the first train on the Bluebell Railway, Folkestone Warren, a Class 71 using the overhead catenary at Shepherds Well, Coal train at Eythorne, the ‘Kentish Belle’ at Bromley South, the ‘Golden Arrow’ at Sevenoaks, and a Boat Train at Swanley and Bearsted [on diversion].

On the Eastern Region we started with A3s at King’s Cross and Potters Bar, an A4 with the long Scotch Goods at Hadley Wood as well as the prototype Deltic and finished with a Baby Deltic crossing Digswell Viaduct.

Over to the London Midland Region where we had some wonderful shots of steam at Watford Gap alongside an almost deserted M1. Headstone Lane and Kenton and other sites seen with 10201 [Class 16/2] at South Kenton and we finished the evening with Class 85s and 86s at Euston.

A thoroughly entertaining evening enjoyed by an attendance of 25 members and visitors.

Highly recommended – we will certainly be inviting David back again next year.

Rob Davidson, Branch Secretary