8 November 2024 ‘That Was The Year That Was 1965’ by Geoff Plumb

On the 8th November Geoff Plumb started his presentation with a photo of his new camera, a Voigtlander, which was used to take the photos that he showed. A great variety of motive power were shown. In January 1965 Winston Churchill’s funeral train hauled by Bullied Pacific No 34051 Winston Churchill’ was seen in Feltham yard. The first of the RCTS raitours in 1965 was from Crewe to Carlisle hauled by LMS No 46115 ‘Scots Guardsman’ travelling to Carlisle via the Settle and Carlisle line and returning via Shap. On the South West main line there were scenes of a number of Bullied pacifics including No 35005 Canadian Pacific on ‘The Bournemouth Belle’ and No 35028 Clan Line on ‘The Pines Express. We visited the Isle of Wight railway where No 14 Fishbourne and No 18 Ningwood were working between Ryde and Ventnor. No 32 Bonchurch was seen dumped in a siding. We then went on the island trip on MV Balmoral. Back up north again with another RCTS railtour from Crewe behind No 3442 The Great Marquess towards Manchester, later seen at Stockton on Tees behind 9F No 92097 with No 3442 at the rear. The last RCTS railtour hauled by Jubilees No 45654 Hood and No 45596 Bahamas was to Seaham. We then visited various collieries, including Marley Hill, and docks in the Sunderland and Newcastle areas. Various photos were shown of the Ffestiniog, Vale of Rheidol and Llanfair and Welshpool Railway. At Reading we saw No 31842 with a red trolleybus outside the station. Also at Reading there was No 75026 with a newly outshopped snowplough. This was followed by No 73001 at Bath Green Park station ready to leave via the S&D to Templecombe. Geoff’s excellent presentation was enjoyed by an audience of over 40.