Branch AGM and Members Entertain

The Branch Annual Business Meeting took place on Thursday 10^th April. Business was dispatched swiftly so we could be entertained by our members. Colin Sheppard started with a selection of slides of steam around the UK in the 1950s and 1960s. Most of the images were taken by his Father - some with him in the shot as a young un! In the year of Railway 200, Alastair Goldie reminded us of the Railway 150 Cavalcade at Shildon in 1975. All the locomotives are still with us - some are runners in 2025. John Smith challenged us to name stations which are named after local pubs – 42 of them. John then brought us a story of his Father being puzzled by great lists of GWR and LMS numbers in his notebook when, as a young lad, he had received specific instruction to remain at Paddington station! Sholto Thomas highlighted the recently activated gauge changing facility at Zweisimmen, in Switzerland. Sholto also commented on the legendary Swiss capability when it comes to seamless public transport provision. Malcolm Savidge finished the evening with video of GWR Castle 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe departing Gloucester in fine style on a Vintage Trains excursion and later returning down the Stroud Valley line. We also saw Malcolm’s 5” gauge model of a King Arthur steaming round the Stratford Park (Stroud) railway.