February 2020 · “Iberian Steam”

Presenter: Brian Stephenson

Brian Stephenson’s subject for our February meeting was “Iberian Steam”. Brian’s photos were from the 1960s, the last years of Spanish steam. Many of the photos were taken on the line from Miranda along the Ebro valley and around Salamanca. Some of the locos portrayed were 1-4-1Fs, Spain’s most numerous class, streamlined 4-8-2s and green 4-8-4s. Many oil-fired locos had a light by the chimney, to help the fireman check at night that the fuel was burning correctly. We saw fascinating shots of antique locos from the 1880s being used as shed pilots. The Tunisian Pacifics and Engerth 2-6-4s of the narrow gauge La Robla also featured. After the break, Brian moved on to Portugal. We saw an ancient Beyer-Peacock 2-4-0 and a de Glehn compound 4-6-0. Many photos were of the line from Porto, along the Douro valley, to Regua, including narrow gauge and a grape picker’s special. Some Portuguese locos had a bar across the chimney, ostensibly to stop the electric catenary from being carbonised. Brian finished the evening with some photos of UK steam specials, Hothfield stone trains, double-deck TGVs and ICE trains in France. Brian never disappoints us; a fine selection of superb photographs.