26 October 2022 Six Decades of Steam Railway Photography

Presenter: Tony Storey

Originally we had planned to be taken on an American Rail Rover, but with a couple of months-notice our chosen speaker had to pull out. We therefore returned to a subject which never fails to disappoint our members.

Tony began by taking us back to the 1960s, original images of steam in the South, many familiar and some unusual locations, bringing back the memories. The quality of the photography proving that not all rolling stock and locomotives were uncared for in the last decade of steam in the South. Bulleid Pacifics reigned supreme until the very end.

We were then treated to many subsequent preserved locomotives running on the main line, including several in the Chichester area. In more recent times this included locomotives not normally seen in the South of England back in the 60s, the Class B1 and Stanier Black 5s still to be seen on special charter trains to this day.

The local preserved railways haven’t escaped Tony’s camera, the Mid Hants, Bluebell and Swanage railways all featured, and some formidable images from the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, including a breath-taking view of multiple class A1Xs on shed.

Steam Photographs from the 1960s are plentiful, but many are fairly average. Tony displayed a polished and superb quality of images, bringing the steam era back to life for a very appreciative audience.