9th December 2025 Branch AGM and Members’ Contributions
Chairman Robert Bartlett OBE opened the AGM promptly at 7.30pm and with characteristic aplomb completed the same at 7.47 pm. The minutes of the meeting can be found on the Branch’s Administration page.
Branch Fixtures Secretary Michael Smyth then took the floor to present a series of slides by the late David Steers which had been gifted to the Branch by his wife shortly after his passing. Grouped regionally, most of the slides were from the late 1950s and early 60s and were mainly of steam.
The images were not captioned in any way and many present offered their expertise towards identifying location, possible date and train working. Examples of the images included Class A2 No. 60500 ‘Edward Thompson’ in blue on a Parliamentary working on the East Coast Main Line, Class A4 No. 60031 ‘Golden Plover’ on the Waverley Route, the classic Northbound view leaving Oxenholme, with ‘Royal Scot’ Class 7P No. 46141 ‘The North Staffordshire Regiment’ and a stunning view of ‘Princess’ Class 8P No. 46201 ‘ Princess Elizabeth’ taking water at Dillicar troughs.
GWR ‘County’ Class No. 1000 ‘County of Middlesex’ was captured on the sea wall at Dawlish, whilst the Southern selection included Merchant Navy Class 35001 ‘Channel Packet’ storming through Shorncliffe, a lovely view of Schools Class No. 30935 ‘Sevenoaks’ at Vauxhall and Battle of Britain Class 34052 ‘Lord Dowding’ at Salisbury showing the station's distinctive, tall platform-mounted signal box.
The selection of David’s slides was finished off with a perfect view of BR Standard Class 4 No. 80105 coming off Barmouth viaduct and rounding the rocky coastline towards the station.
After the break, Branch Secretary Tony Field entertained us with three movies. Firstly, an August 2025 view at Ely of new Class 99s Nos. 99001 and 99002 heading South through the station.
Second was a tour of various Irish Railway locations from the early 2000s, when there were still small General Motors Bo-Bos in service on many of the secondary services. Locations covered included Athenry, the 3 foot gauge Clonmacnoise and West Offaly Railway, Kildare, Drogheda, Tralee, Ballina, Manulla Junction and Dublin Heuston.
The third movie was of the North Norfolk Railway’s recent 50th Anniversary Gala weekend – an extravaganza of some proportion - appropriately celebrating this milestone event. Visiting locomotives 70000 ‘Britannia’ and D9000 ‘Royal Scots Grey’ featured often, along with the more usual D5631 and Somerset & Dorset 7F No. 13809. All things considered, it was generally felt that the sound of D9000 departing Holt on both engines in the atmosphere of a gently setting evening sun took some beating!
The meeting closed at 9.55 pm with great appreciation for Chairman Robert's handling of the AGM and to Michael and Tony for their photographic sessions, both of the highest quality.