14th February 2023: That Was the Year that Was – 1965, by Geoff Plumb

In the yard at York MPD (50A), a couple of engines are ready to go off shed for their next duties, both carrying pilot or trip headlamp codes. On the right is K1 class 2-6-0 No. 62012, while on the left is LMS 8F 2-8-0 No. 48286. Both are adding to the general murk and gloom on the afternoon of Saturday 4th December 1965. Image credit: Geoff Plumb

Geoff’s father took an active role in the RCTS, so Geoff went with him on many RCTS railtours. Geoff received a new camera for his 14th birthday 2 years before; most of the pictures we would see came from this camera.

Geoff showed us a great many interesting photographs, only a brief flavour of which follows.    Sir Winston Churchill’s funeral train headed by 34051 Winston Churchill.    Further Bulleid Pacifics at Micheldever and elsewhere on the Bournemouth route; Blue Pullmans; a B1 on parcels, 61264.    An RCTS railtour followed, with K4 3442 The Great Marquis on the front, with its bell from the USA; and then at Stockton on Tees the train had 92097 on the front with The Great Marquis on the back.

35005 on the Bournemouth Belle going through Fleet; Reading shop with 31842, and outside the station a Reading trolleybus. 35028 was seen on the Pines express, while 34087 was going off shed to work up to Waterloo. 75026 was with a snow plough in May!    4472 Flying Scotsman was on an RCTS special.

We visited North Wales, and the Isle of Wight where 32 Bonchurch was dumped, 14 Fishbourne was on Ryde to Ventnor and 18 Ningwood on Ventnor to Ryde. Also a shot of Ryde pier with MV Shanklin taken from MV Balmoral. Visits to Seaham Harbour and other industrial sites in the NE of England; the last RCTS railtour of 1965 with LMS Jubilees 45654 Hood and 45596 Bahamas.    Finally, BR Standard class 5MT 73001 at Bath Green Park station which was going via the S&D to Evercreech Junction.

The meeting was via Zoom and 90 participants very much enjoyed the show so thank you very much Geoff. (Rob Burridge)