Geoff Plumb. That was the year that was: 1962.

Staveley Iron Works near Chesterfield had its own internal rail system, but hired in motive power from the Midland Railway. It apparently had a 100 year contract, which rather outlasted the provision of Midland power, but did ensure some ancient engines survived! Here, Johnson “Half-Cab” class 1F 0-6-0T is shunting internal user wagons within the works on Sunday 12th August 1962.

In Sheffield branch’s 75th anniversary year Geoff makes a welcome return – his father Derek Plumb was one of the branches founder members. 

Geoff was born in Sheffield in 1949, into a railway-mad family, starting his railway enthusiasm at the age of around 18 months. After some early attempts with the family Box Brownie camera in the 1950s, he was given his first ‘proper’ camera for his thirteenth birthday in March 1962, this eventually leading to his career as a Television Cameraman. The first half of the presentation covers his early background before moving on to a variety of high quality (mainly Black & White) images taken around the country during 1962.