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August 2007 Weston Railway Society spent an evening viewing member’s slides, including the groups first members slide show featuring digital projection. Roy Patterson showed a selection of slide from his travels through Ireland, South Africa, France, Bulgaria and the UK. A shot was also seen of the Brief Encounter clock at Carnforth, a place of pilgrimage for fans of the film. On this occasions, Ian Chancellor stayed nearer home and included stunning shots on slide of the preserved Duke of Gloucester and Lord Nelson at Temple Meads, whilst his digital shots showed Tangmere at speed and a south west selection. John Mayhew took a trip on the Yellow Train, the Catalan “Tren Goc” , from Villefranche-de-Conflent for a dramatic journey in open top “bathtub” coaches to the highest station in France at Bolquere in the Pyrenees-Orientales. He also showed shots of the Society’s visit to the Severn Valley Railway before the line suffered extensive damage due to the summer’s heavy rainfall. Finally, Lionel Jones gave a digital slideshow with some artistic shots taken on local lines and on the West Somerset Railway. Home | Reflections |Top
Weston Railway Society spent an evening viewing a presentation by Frank Cronin, from Rochdale, on BR Steam in the 1960s. This started with pictures of the end of steam at Swindon and Didcot and then moved to Bradford, where Manningham Shed was seen, as were Leeds Holbeck and Low Moor. Gresley A4s were seen in all their splendour from Scotland to the south of England in the last days of steam. Yellow cabside stripes reminded us of the general steam ban south of Crewe as electrification of the West Coast Main Line raced ahead in the mid 1960’s. All present agreed this was a spectacular show, enlivened with Franks entertaining and educational commentary.
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In October members enjoyed the latest slide presentation from Paul Chancellor, brother of Society member Ian, entitled “From blue and grey to black and green”. Paul showed a wide variety of slides taken over many decades to illustrate the wide variety of motive power over the years- steam, diesel and electric- in many different liveries. Paul’s own slides were supplemented by many from his collection bought over the years. Although living in Weston for many years these days Paul lives in the Midlands and his photographic travels during the evening ranged from the North Yorkshire Moors to the south coast of England. Pictures from Paul’s large collection of acquired negatives and slides appear in a large number of the magazines we see on Newsagents shelves each month and Paul told us of the work sometimes required to restore these to a condition suitable for publication or display. Some of the pictures date from pre-war times and provide some fascinating insights into long- vanished days.
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The Weston Railway Society celebrated its 30th Anniversary at its November meeting. The Society formed when those attending a Railway film show at the Playhouse in 1977 found a flyer on their seats advertising the inaugural meeting of the Society at the former NALGO Club in Carlton Street Car Park. At the Anniversary celebration in November, which followed on from the Society AGM, there were exhibitions of pictures showing Weston’s changing Railways over the last fifty years, photo displays of Society trips and events over the last thirty years, and a demonstration of the Society’s new website. These events were accompanied by a buffet and light refreshments for the twenty seven members & friends present. Click here for further details of the 30th Anniversary event.
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Society member Peter Doudney made a welcome return visit for a slide show entitled “Main Line Steam, home and away”. Pete showed some excellent photos of steam locomotives hauling charter trains on the main line in recent years. Examples included the Torbay Express, which was pictured from countless angles in different locations throughout the South-West, showing the range of steam locos which have operated it, whilst photos taken on the main line through the Welsh Marches and lineside photos at several preserved steam railways including the Swanage Railway and Great Central Railway at Loughborough were also shown. Finally, Pete showed some fascinating photos of his latest visit to Germany for their “Plandampf”, when steam locos are operated on normal passenger services in a particular locality during a special festival weekend. All in all, an evening of excellent photos showing a wide variety of steam in action.
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