“A Colour Rail Journey”

Presenter: Paul Chancellor

A most excellent show was given to the March meeting by Paul Chancellor of Colour-Rail fame, when he presented his latest version of a “Colour Rail Journey”.  Taken from his vast collection of pictures the programme was compiled to illustrate the photographic styles of ten different photographers as they ventured between steam and modern day activities.  In general images emanating from the days of steam were portrayed in black and white, whilst colour was exclusively employed as the medium with which to describe the periods of dieselisation.  Steam and modern traction motive power were to be seen in equal measure.

Fascinating artistic scenes abounded taken by some well-known photographers, such as Roger Siviter, Ken Fairey and John Spencer-Gilks, intermingled with some lesser known cameramen who, all in their own style, took the audience to innumerable locations around the country.

Widely varying superb images taken on steam sheds, infrastructure, viaducts, bridges and stations in combination with interesting lineside features and locomotives were to be seen in almost every region around the country.

An interesting section featured an American visitor, Emery J Gulash, who came to the U.K. on two occasions in 1966 and 1968 and took over 3,500 photographs.  A number of those shown were taken in and around northern England, specifically in West Yorkshire and York.

As a finale and as a photographer himself, the presenter compiled a section of his own material detailing steam engine activity on a large number of today’s countrywide preserved railways.

This proved to be both a most interesting and enjoyable, superbly constructed, presentation thoroughly enjoyed by another well attended gathering.