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Weston-super-Mare
Railway Society |
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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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8th January 2008– Peter Triggs- “A Cornishman goes to Scotland” The Society year began with a return visit by Peter, whose meetings showing slides are not so much slide shows as interactive experiences! And this one was no exception. Peter Triggs travelled up from Taunton and showed views of his visits to Scotland over the last forty-five years or so. Few railways in Scotland escaped his camera, and we saw Steam specials and charters, long –demolished and rebuilt stations through to modern electric multiple units. Diesels and liveries which vanished in the seventies brought back many memories for those present. As ever, Peter enlivened proceedings with his “human interest shots” and provided a lively and witty commentary with many insights for his photos. This certainly was another one of Peter’s “show’s to remember”. He lived up to his reputation for providing a fascinating evening’s entertainment.
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February Meeting report: On Tuesday, 5th February, Ian Chancellor presented his annual offering, this year with a programme entitled: “Rambling ‘round the Roses”, with slides of railways in Yorkshire and Lancashire, mainly taken during the early 1980’s. Travelling from Scarborough westwards, via York, Doncaster, Sheffield and Leeds, to Manchester, Preston, the Settle and Carlisle line, the Wirral and finally Liverpool Ian’s slides of railways in these areas revealed just how much of the steam-era infrastructure still remained in the early 80s. However, it is a startling fact that few of the locos, multiple units or carriages seen in these pictures still remain in existence to this day! Few of us realised in the early 80’s the massive changes that were about to come, both on the railways and elsewhere….Massive changes to the coal, steel and heavy manufacturing industries had a great impact on freight flows and the railways that served them, whilst the changes to the railway in the mid 80’s saw the end of British Rail and the emergence of numerous new companies, some quite short lived, each with different identities, liveries and policies. Ian captured many of these changes, and through his slides showed the effects on the steel industry of Sheffield, the South Yorkshire Coalfield, and the manufacturing industries of the Pennines and North West England.
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4th March 2008– Richard Jones- “Over Thirty Years with Steam” Richard Jones returned with a slide presentation entitled “Over Thirty Years with Steam”, following on from his previous visit to us in June 2000. Richard recalled in pictures his involvement with steam railways over the years, in particular serving the West Somerset Railway in many different capacities. He started as a volunteer on the WSR in 1977 – the year after the line re-opened- and during this time has been a Director of the West Somerset Railway plc and West Somerset Railway Association, plus also Editor of the WSR Journal. At the time of his visit Richard was Project Manager (New Works) at the WSR, responsible for train movements and overseeing work on a day-to-day basis in connection with the construction of the new turning triangle at Norton Fitzwarren, a pioneering project amongst preserved railways- but also heavily involved with the present-day working railway. Richard described the award-winning and innovative “win-win” partnership with Freightliner whereby spent ballast from their High-Output Ballast Cleaner was helping in the construction of the new triangle. Richard portrayed through slides his involvement with special trains and events- for several years he has been the Chairman of the WSR’s Special Events Planning Team, which has been responsible for the hugely successful programme of galas. He also described his experiences as a regular steam and diesel locomotive driver on the WSR- following on from his time as a Driver and Guard with Virgin Trains and FM Rail. Not that he has spent all his time, professionally, on the railways – he spent nearly eighteen years prior to this in the teaching profession. Our thanks to Richard for another fascinating show, with excellent slides. We wish him well in his new role as General Manager with the Bodmin & Wenford Railway, which he takes over on 1st June 2008. Home | Reflections |Top
April meeting report: On Tuesday 1st April, Ian Chancellor presented a programme of slides depicting “the Rockies by Rail”. Standing in at very short notice for an unavailable speaker, Ian Chancellor presented his slides taken in Canada and North America of railways and trains in stunning and colourful scenery crossing the Rocky Mountains. Ian showed us freight and passenger trains passing through scenery ranging from snow to desert, through painted canyons and alongside raging rivers, on their route to the West Coast. A journey on the “Rocky Mountaineer” train was featured, as well as a journey by the “Royal Hudson” steam train along the Puget Sound from Vancouver to Squamish in British Columbia. Added to these were pictures of the Georgetown Loop steam railway high in the mountains above Denver, pictures of trams and modern double-deck commuter trains in Toronto which all made for a memorable evening.
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6th May 2008: Mike Squire “55 degrees North to 55 degrees South- by the Pretty Route” Mike’s railway travelogue brought us scenes of railways in many different climates and countries, taken on his travels. At times it was difficult to keep up with the geography as we moved from country to country and explored fascinating rail systems, some large, some small, many steam ones long since gone or endangered. However a fascinating evening’s entertainment that made you want to start planning your next foreign holiday!
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3rd June 2008: Bob Bunyar: “Early Diesels of the Western Region” A welcome return from Bob, whose past shows have generally had a Southern Steam feel about them. This time something different from him- slides of the early days of WR diesels. Bob showed us slides from his collection which captured how the Western Region of BR decided on a different path to the other regions in choosing largely diesel- hydraulic rather than diesel- electric transmission for its diesel fleet when replacing steam some fifty years ago. This perpetuated the individualistic approach of the GWR after brief flirtations with Gas Turbine locos. However, the diesel- hydraulic locos were quickly branded as non-standard and most had very short working lives- many ten years or less! In the case of the D95xx Class 14’s some less that five years before deemed redundant on BR, and sold off to industry where they lasted nearly another twenty! In the meantime the Diesel electrics locos which replaced the hydraulics- be they `Peaks`, Brush 4’s, 37’s or 50’s have themselves either vanished from the mainline scene, or been reduced to just a few examples remaining. For those who remember steam in its heyday it is sometimes difficult to realise that the Warships have been gone for thirty-five years and the Westerns for thirty, but this show brought it all back, plus the pioneering days of diesel preservation which saw two Warships preserved but several other hydraulic classes have “near misses” from reaching preservation. In recent years, the painstaking work in restoring “Western Champion” to main line condition have set new standards in diesel preservation and produced excellent reliability and performance on the main line. An excellent and thought-provoking show from Bob; we look forward to his return in the future!
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Tuesday July 1st 2008- Society evening visit to the Gartell Light Railway, Templecombe. In July each year an evening visit traditionally replaces our indoor meeting. This year we made a return visit to the Gartell Light Railway, a 2 foot gauge line built partly on the trackbed of the old Somerset & Dorset Railway between Templecombe and Henstridge. This is now within the land of the Gartell family, who specialise in the production of agricultural and earth-moving machinery. The Railway started as a family `hobby` many years ago and has been perpetuated and developed by successive generations of the Gartell family. It operates both steam and diesel locomotives and is fully signalled with two signal boxes, based largely on old Southern Region practice, with semaphore and colour light signals. The enclosed passenger carriages have been constructed from new for the railway, which currently has four locos, including one steam. The total length of the line is about 3/4 mile. There is a fantastic attention to detail about everything on this family –run railway, and we always receive a warm welcome. For our visit fifteen members and friends assembled at Common Lane GLR Station, outside Templecombe at Seven O’clock. After light refreshments in the Gartell’s spacious new “Pines” Function suite- the largest in the area- we set off for the first of two return runs along the railway hauled by steam loco No.6, Mr G (named after the late Mr Gartell, founded the railway), with John Gartell at the regulator. After photos at Park Lane, the terminus of the line, we paused on the return journey at Pinesway Junction for a visit to the extensive signalbox, which formerly served on the LSWR main line. It has now been owned by the GLR for fifteen years, and since installed and extended it boasts a thirty-lever frame. For our second run, following further refreshments, a surprise for one of or members celebrating his 50th Birthday that day- with a return footplate ride! As drizzle and light rain gradually closed in this was followed by a visit to the Common Lane signal box and loco depot, housing three diesels, to hear about the construction of the Gartell’s second steam engine now underway both on site and at premises at Fiddleford. We saw the tender, already completed, and heard how Loco No 9, to be called Jean, a 0-4-0- Tender tank engine, should be completed for the 2009 season. Our thanks to the Gartell family for accommodating our visit, and their customary hospitality- it is always fascinating to chat to John Gartell. Thanks also to Roy Patterson for making the arrangements for the evening. We look forward to another visit in years to come when we might see No 9, the GLR’s new steam loco, in action. Home | Reflections |Top
August 08 Members and friends gathered on 5th August for our annual opportunity to share digital images and slides of railway scenes. Contributions from Lionel Jones, Clive Boxley, Roy Patterson, Robin Eames, John Mayhew and Ian Chancellor gave a varied programme. Thanks in particular to Clive, John, and Robin for sharing their pictures with us- it was good to see photographic contributions from those members who don’t often get the opportunity to show them. August 2008 marked the fortieth anniversary of the final “normal service” steam trains on BR, with the so-called “15 Guinea Special”- 1T57- on 11th August 1968 running in the North West of England. Roy Patterson showed some fascinating slides of the final days of BR steam in 1968, including the final weekend, capturing some of the atmosphere of steam in its final days- run-down, neglected, dirty- and the conditions which those working with it experienced. In those days before health and safety and the insurance claims culture, crowds swarmed off the end of station platforms and strolled around railway depots photographing remaining steam locos! How different things are today, when you can be stopped for taking photos of trains on station platforms and treated as if you were a criminal - just for showing an interest in modern-day trains. Lionel Jones brought us up to date and showed recent scenes from one the last three depots on BR running main-line steam- Carnforth. For many years after the end of steam this remained as a railway preservation centre- Steamtown, but in the mid 1990’s this closed to the public and became a privately owned railway renovation and operating centre- latterly with West Coast Railways. To mark the 40th Anniversary of end of steam it held an Open Weekend in July 2008- which Lionel attended and recorded on digital images. A fascinating range of steam and diesel locos were shown, including newly-restored “Britannia” class 70013 Oliver Cromwell- a loco which took part in the 1968 last rites of steam on BR, and “Royal Scot” 6115 Scots Guardsman. The other contributions showed us scenes of railways abroad and at home. Preserved and active steam, lines of stored electric locomotives in rural Worcestershire, and diverse diesel workings. Thanks to all who contributed to the evening. Home | Reflections |Top.
Mike Clemens visited the Society on 2nd September to share more of his late Father’s “Cine from the early 1960’s". Newly transferred to digital format, the twenty two members present saw scenes from the latter years of steam, recalling their run-down and largely uncared for condition. Views at Swindon Works, whether of ex-works locos outside awaiting return to traffic, or increasingly in this era of rusting and forlorn locos on the “Dump” awaiting scrapping at the end of their careers always fascinate. There were some glimpses of early diesel interlopers amongst the large numbers of steam locos to be seen on several shed visits, and also in some local views of the closing years of steam at Taunton station. Whilst most of the scenes showed locations in Wessex, the West and Midlands, there were also some fascinating shots from the East Coast mainline from a very industrial and grimy 60’s Newcastle with coal and ore trains hauled by ex LNER steam predominating. Arriving at Kings Cross by train with tracks to the Widened lines and the large central signal box was very different to the simplified layout and wires of today. Finally, to conclude the evening Mike showed some very impressive steam locos at work in Alicante in the 60’s- of course long before the era of package holidays and tower blocks on the Costas!
Home | Reflections |Top On October 7th, Arthur Turner presented one of his numerous and very varied programmes, Part One of “Post War Years in the St Pancras District”. Arthur recalled his early working years on the railway, when he was based at St Pancras- never dreaming that it would one day be the rail gateway to the continent. Arthur shared some fascinating personal insights- telling us that certain offices in the station buildings provided excellent views of the station interior and locos at the buffer stops, but as a rail enthusiast if you were unlucky your office was on the other side of the building and looked out on Euston Road! Still, even then there were some small rooms which could be visited to give that cherished view of the station tracks- which could lead to some frequent visits to the toilet! Some jobs which Arthur held at St Pancras meant that, quite legitimately, he could roam around the station environs at will and slightly longer absences from the office to pick items up or drop papers off would go unnoticed! And so it was that if an unusual or noteworthy visiting steam loco was due Arthur might be gone from the office a little bit longer than might otherwise be expected. His camera naturally went with him, and hence he captured some fascinating shots around the station, with lineside access where required. Not that this show was by any means restricted to St Pancras station itself. Arthur took us out into the suburbs controlled from St Pancras to Cricklewood, Harpenden and beyond. An occasional early diesel put in an appearance but this was a time with steam very much in charge. Our thanks to Arthur for a very entertaining evening and some fascinating photos from years gone by. We look forward to Part 2 of the story! Home | Reflections | Top
The Society Annual General Meeting was held on 4th November. Chairman Lionel Jones opened the meeting with his address to members summarising the key events of the last year, both in the rail industry and Society. He recalled a very successful year for the Society- including its 30th Anniversary celebrations a year ago and the day outing to the Gloucs & Warwickshire Railway/ journey on the Shakespeare Express, which had seen a full 53-seater coach, glorious weather and excellent planning by the organiser, Peter Carr. In addition there had also been outings to the Gartell Light Railway, and a tour behind the scenes at Bristol Temple Meads old station. The Society had launched its new web-site which was receiving a large number of hits and had developed its e-mail communication with members, including a regular monthly e-mail informing them of forthcoming meetings and events. A varied programme of meetings featuring both members and speakers from around the country had drawn generally good attendances for a society of this size and as a result of these factors the year had been financially successful. The Chairman thanked Committee members for their efforts. Following the Chairman’s address, there were reports from other Committee members, including the introduction of the Accounts by Treasurer Roger Pavey, who recommended to members that membership of the Society should remain at £10 for the next year. Members were also advised of the planned programme of meetings for 2009. The annual election of officers to the Committee saw the current Chairman and Committee re-elected. The Chairman paid tribute to the outstanding efforts of former Press Officer Mike Kellaway-Marriott, who had reluctantly tendered his resignation during the year due to additional commitments elsewhere. Suggestions for future society activities were considered and it was confirmed that the committee would further develop the planning for a day visit to the Bodmin and Wenford Railway, plus Dingles Fairground Heritage Centre, to be held in June 2009. After further discussions under Any Other Business, and conclusion of all official business, the Chairman brought the AGM to a close. Full minutes were recorded by the Secretary, Roy Patterson. Following the interval Lionel Jones introduced his version of “Location, location, location”, an informal and light-hearted competition, asking members to identify the location of twenty images showing railway-connected scenes over the years. This was won by Roy Patterson. Home | Reflections | Top Thirty members and friends gathered on 2nd December for the presentation by Lionel Jones, the Society Chairman, depicting his visit to Australia in late 2007/ early 2008, entitled “An Australian Adventure- a delight of Transport and other sights'” With one of our largest audiences for some time, Lionel took us on a tour of Australia using digital images with, as ever, a few stories to tell! Lionel planned his trip to not only take in the usual top tourist locations, but also a wealth of transport interest showing all types of rail transport from narrow gauge tourist and steam railways to urban transit and tram systems, plus numerous anonymous and workaday diesels. Lionel recalled how on several occasions his shirt with its West Somerset Railway insignia acted as an instant ice-breaker, discovering along the way several ex-pats and lifelong members of the WSR living in deepest Oz! With the password of “Minehead” acting, it seemed, as an “open sesame” this link helped to get him onto the footplate of several steam locos running on preserved lines. We met the well-known natives of another sort- Koalas and Kookaburras- on this travelogue, as well as several old British–built steam locos, recalling the era from long ago when Britain was very much “the supplier of steam engines to the world”. However, on the major rail lines in Australia the railway influences of the last fifty years or so have been very much American, and we saw several examples of coaching stock built to the American style of Budd , with the distinctive external stainless steel carriage sides, and diesel locos which reflected the American practice of General Motors. During the interval members enjoyed the customary annual buffet, and the whole evening was an ideal way to shrug off a cold December night and cast our minds towards the warmer climes of Australia. Our thanks to Lionel for an excellent presentation and a very enjoyable evening. Home | Reflections |Top |