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October 2011

Peter Doudney- `Mainline Steam in England and Germany’, together with Ian Chancellor `Alternative viewpoints’, 4th October 2011

A member of the Society since it began in 1977, Pete Doudney has always had a passion for photographing Steam locomotives in their natural element and surroundings, working hard out on the main lines ofthe national network. In Part One of a two- part show, (with Part Two shown in February 2012) Pete showed a series of slides portraying a wide variety of steam locomotives on various main line specials over the years, firstly along the rails between Bristol and Kingswear, in effect following the route taken by the Torbay Express, before moving north to the fells and Settle & Carlisle line. Views taken at the Great Central Railway, Loughborough also featured, keeping up the main line connection in name, since it was formerly known as the Main Line Steam Trust, before we moved abroad to Germany to see preserved steam working on service trains as part of their legendary steam festivals know as `Plandampfs’.

Pete explained that in contrast to this country there are few preserved or heritage steam railway lines in Germany, although there are many preserved main line steam locos and active museum collections. Some of these steam locos occasionally got the chance to stretch their legs on the German DB national network hauling either special passenger trains, or occasionally, during these Plandampfs, scheduled passenger train services, in conjunction with the local authority and often run over several days as part of a community fair.

Supporting Pete on the evening wasIan Chancellor who presented an interesting selection of slides entitled `An Alternative Viewpoint….’.These showed views of steam and diesels taken around twenty-five years ago in the 1980s, but from a slightly alternative perspective. Ian explained the thinking behind his efforts to get a different photograph, viewpoint or angle, rather than just present a traditional front three-quarters view with the sun behind thephotographer.

Our thanks go to Pete and Ian for an entertaining evening. Further views of Pete’s German travels, including Digital images of his visit to an Open Day at the Meiningen Steam Locomotive Works in Germany, were held over until February 2012.

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