13th July 2020 · On-Line Meeting: More Southern from the RCTS Photographic Archive

Presenter: David Jackman

Our third successive virtual meeting, again using “Zoom” and organised by Jeremy Harrison and David Jackman, took place in mid-July, as we compensated for lockdown blues by extending our season of on-line meetings. Thirty-four local and other branch members – from as far afield as Yorkshire – participated at their respective homes. Tonight’s presentation was by David Jackman of “More Southern from the RCTS Photographic Archive”. David opened his presentation with a photograph of an immaculate Class D1 4-4-0 No. 31545 on a Stephenson Locomotive Society special train at Margate in May 1957. He followed this with some shots of the Golden Arrow headed by (of course!) Bulleid Pacifics, Riddles Britannia class Pacific No. 70004 William Shakespeare, and 2,000 hp diesel-electric 1Co-Co1 No. 10203. Next came a shot of two ex-GWR 0-6-0 pannier tanks on the Folkestone Harbour branch. These curtain raisers were followed by a multitude of memories ranging through ex-Southern steam and electric and BR Standard steam and diesel classes as David took us westwards towards Salisbury. After a short break for virtual coffee we headed deeper into former LSWR territory where former Southern designs and Ivatt tank engines on branch lines joined ex-GWR Halls on Inter-Regional services. Our final destination was the narrow gauge (1ft 11½ ins) Lynton & Barnstaple Railway. Our particular thanks go to David Jackman for offering this delightful virtual presentation for our enjoyment, also to all those photographers and others who have contributed to the Archive: we wonder what else it contains, for our future entertainment.