The Current Day Scene in Europe

Presenter: Brian Garvin

Meeting Held at Shenfield Parish Hall

The show featured pictures of the modern scene in Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Luxembourg and Baltic States.  Brian spent 41 years with BR in operations control and he started the meeting by regaling us with tales of his time with BR, of which we hope to learn more in due course.  His presentation held us in rapt attention for nearly 2 ½ hours.

Through his high quality images and his knowledgeable commentary we learned a great deal of how things are (or were until quite recently) “over there”.  As in the UK, a large number of companies provide the motive power and rolling stock, run the trains and look after the infrastructure.  Contrary to some widely held opinions efficiency is not always what it is cracked-up to be.  We saw a great number of interesting trains, both passenger and freight, with various modes of traction, including a few battery and hydrogen examples, along with diesel and electric units working in multiple.  Some drivers’ cabs have consoles that can be displayed in a number of languages, to suit the driver. The generous loading gauge permits the use of double-decker trains.  There also appear to be some flourishing narrow gauge systems.  We heard of a plethora of rolling stock moving around the continent in search of new users, whilst other trains and locos are held in store awaiting their fate – sound familiar?  Inefficiency and even corruption is not unknown!  I guess complexity is in the nature of the beast and, bearing this in mind, the fact that the system works at all is surprising.  As Samuel Johnson observed in a slightly different context  “…it’s like a dog walking on his hinder legs.  It is not done well; but you are surprised to find it done at all”.