22 January 2025 Metropolitan Lancashire & The West Riding Late Gerald Dixon Collection

Presenter: Tony Bowles via Zoom

The presentation covered areas of Lancashire from Preston southwards and much of the West Riding of Yorkshire. Additionally it encompassed a brief incursion into North Yorkshire to York.

It was in colour with the images almost exclusively depicting steam operations between 1962 & 1968 and covering both passenger and freight operations.

Tony pre-recorded commentary for each image, making the semi-automated presentation flow smoothly. The speed of the show suited this author very well.

We were treated to a tour of the Pennine area with images that not only showed a wide variety of steam power in the 1960’s but also reflected on the conditions that the run-down railway system was in at the time: where dirt and grime were the normality. It brought home how desperately investment was then needed in all aspects of the railway scene.

The Late Gerald Dixon was an accomplished photographer as the framing of his images was exemplary. We not only saw the Railway Scene, but also the conditions within the areas they operated, (much industrial and some dereliction). Conversely, the fantastic Pennine scenery was also in the images.

This presentation showed trains in their working setting, not just a succession of “Engine Images”. I loved every minute of it!