21st October 2024: End of Steam  Part 1  1966-68, a photographic presentation by  Michael Smyth

Michael grew up in West Yorkshire and the end of steam coincided with his departure for university in the autumn of 1967, but in those years he captured film of steam in the Leeds and Bradford areas and beyond as it was phased out.

Inspired by the work of contributors to Railway World and photographers like Colin Gifford, he spurned the classic three-quarter front views, concentrating on the gritty side of steam operation with beautiful shots of steam on shed and the everyday scene of the railway, the platform trolleys, trains spotters, semaphores etc etc. They were all in black and white, a lot of winter scenes and it seemed the sun never shone! However, it encapsulated the period so well, and even if we had never visited the area it didn’t matter, the names were familiar, the locos types were all known and we were given a chance to see closed or much altered stations such as Bradford Forster Square, Leeds Central and Wakefield Kirkgate. We also had shots of the results of the “neverers”, who feverishly cleaned engines, particularly the surviving Jubilees on 55A Holbeck: Alberta, Kolhapur and 45428 for specials.

It was an afternoon of pure nostalgia and an opportunity to appreciate the photographic skill of a railway enthusiast. We look forward to his return for Part 2.

Our winter programme continues on 25th November at our usual venue, Weston Favell Village Hall at 2pm, when Brian Sullivan will present a show with some more from the Tommy Tomalin collection.

Richard Deacon

Chairman/Secretary