“Adventures in Search of Steam”

Presenter: David Tillotson

At a well attended October meeting the audience was treated to an excellent totally steam orientated presentation given by David Tillotson, who is a well travelled organiser of railway outings.  The initial phase of the programme displayed pictures of wide ranging steam activities across the UK in the 1960’s which was to be then followed up with a showing of main line steam specials and locomotive movements in and around York.  Extensive pictures were then seen of activities on the North Yorkshire Moors and the Worth Valley Railways where a wide varied array of their locomotives and visiting engines were to be viewed.  Visits to other establishments such as the East Lancashire, Great Central and Severn Valley Railways plus Barrow Hill broadened the scope of the presentation whilst scenes at Beamish and the adjacent NRM were also to feature.  Tours to industrial locations were frequently undertaken particularly to British Steel factories, invariably embracing internal rail tours and run-pasts utilising steam powered industrial traction.

For narrow gauge enthusiasts their interests featured illustrations of various activities at the Scarborough North Bay line, Cleethorpes and the popular railways of North Wales.  Additionally, the Quarry and Mining Museum at Threlkeld showed a varied and wide range of narrow gauge industrial motive power.

Away from the UK, steam action embracing European locomotives were found and seen in France, Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia and Spain.  Interest was further enhanced as worldwide steam interests featured the popular tourist railroads in the USA and India.  Photographs of Garratts in Zimbabwe were most noteworthy.

This superbly photographed wide ranging presentation was greatly enjoyed by all.