6 Decades of Photographing Steam

For their April meeting the Solent Branch welcomed Tony Storey to give a presentation on 6 decades of photographing steam.

The first section of the presentation was concerned with BR steam from 1962 with many of the early photographs taken in the Christchurch and Bournemouth areas near Tony’s home and featured such locos as Bulleid pacifics, S15s, Standard Class 4s and 5s as well as visiting Black 5s. Going further afield there were trips to London to see Crosti boiler 9Fs, to Crewe for Stanier pacifics, and Manchester Victoria.

The end of regular steam workings on BR in 1968 was followed by a ban on steam, but this was lifted with runs by King George V and Clan Line. Tony illustrated many special workings both in the south of England in the Chichester and Eastleigh areas and the north on routes such as the Settle- Carlisle line as well as the Stockton and Darlington 150 celebrations.

Finally we visited preserved railways, starting with the Swanage Railway from its early days of operation in 1981, the Bluebell in the early 60s when the 3rd rail was still in place but unused at Horsted Keynes, and concluding with the Watercress Line from 1977.

Tony’s high standard of photography was appreciated by the audience and he was thanked for his presentation.