All Change Britain’s Railways 1967-1979

Starting in late 1967 with black and white images taken in the Northwest which was then the last remaining location for Main line steam (though with its limited variety of locomotives and Britannia’s relegated to Freight duties) the presentation then moved on to industrial railways, preservation, and activity on the Main Line through to 1979. Locations pictured varied from Mike’s original home in the Bristol Area to Birmingham whilst he was at University and his subsequent employment in Somerset, West London and the Southeast. At this time steam was still in common use on industrial railways and among lines visited were the Collieries at Radstock and Kilmersdon, in Somerset, Snowdown Colliery in Kent and the extensive Austin Longbridge system. Also included was Whatley Quarry which operated as a private railway with a main line connection via a twisting branch line using a mixture of steam and diesel locos, since when the line has been rebuilt enabling main line locos to operate directly into the Quarry.

Views on the main line showed passenger services operated by first-generation diesel electric and hydraulic locos with class 47’s still in their original green livery and class 50’s having just been transferred to the Western Region. There were also some very interesting views from above Paddington Station of the prototype HST entering and of the first of the production HST’s inside the station.

Views of preserved lines included the Bluebell, Dart Valley, Severn Valley, Keighley and Worth Valley, Ravenglass and Eskdale and the Mid Hants prior to operating passenger services. It was noticeable how many locos whilst still in existence have moved to other preserved lines since then especially the industrial tanks which now tend to be based on centres dedicated to an industrial theme.

Many thanks to Mike for a varied and interesting presentation showing the variety of Main Line, Industrial and Preserved Railways operating during this period.