24 Hours(A day on the railway)
Wednesday 4th Jan 2023
It was rewarding to see a larger audience than at our recent meetings to hear one of our members David Bousfield talking about a day on the railway. This was cleverly produced presentation as it commenced with railway pictures shot in the middle of the day moving through a full 24 hours to the following midday.
In addition to his own pictures David used several of his late father’s slides. During this 1st part of the day, we were treated to a staggering array of geographical locations, Kings Cross, Ebbw Vale, Corinth, Switzerland, Helensburgh, Scout Green, and Copy Pit. A wide display of motive power was provided such as a 91s at Kings Cross, a B1 at Fort William and a 4 car dmu at Corinth Greece.
Later in the afternoon (using his theme) David continued showing a Black 5 on Beattock, swiftly moving to Ecuador showing the famous G and Q (Good and Quick) railway better known as the Guayaquil to Quito with Baldwin 2-8-0s on offer. The locations raced past, St Moritz, Keighley, Blackpool north again with an amazing variety of locomotion, class 33/50/185s and steam power City of Wells, Princess Elizabeth etc.
Continuing into the afternoon with the light quality clearly changing we were taken to France, Poland, Spain, and Switzerland in addition to many areas of the UK. On offer were black 5s, HSTs and a Polish electric loco.
We continued into the early evening with the longer shadows giving a different feel to the pictures. Shots of a class 47 on Ribblehead viaduct, Woodhead tunnel in 1962 and the 8F 48151 on Carlisle bridge Lancaster with the Fellsman clearly reflecting the changing light.
After the interval (night-time) David took us to Penzance with the sleeper train, Lancaster, Skipton, Chester, Lancaster, and Ecuador with yet more superb shots of DMUs steam locos Scots Guardsman and Sir Lamiel amongst a wide range of motive power. Night shots are notoriously difficult to produce and these were all top order
So, after a good rest morning emerged with more locations, Manchester Piccadilly, Glasgow, and Huddersfield with D200,43407 and the Tesco train on offer amongst many others.
So, after a full 24 hours but really 100 minutes David ended with a Pacer at Morecambe.
This was a brilliant presentation, very cleverly themed around a full 24 hours and our audience went away delighted with evenings show.
Alan Sattenstall
4th Jan 2023