Geoff Plumb. That was the year that was: 1962.
MEETING REPORT 8th APRIL 2025
'That was the year that was - 1962'. This was the headline of our April presentation by Geoff Plumb. Geoff, is the son of one of the founders of our branch 75 years ago and is a very active member of the RCTS and as well as running his home branch. 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. The first half of his presentation covered his early background before moving on to a variety of high quality (mainly black & white) images taken around the country during 1962. We saw many photos of his father Derek, Geoff, and his siblings both on and off the footplate. Cab rides were also enjoyed on their various trips. We were treated to local photos of Derbyshire with the High Peak Railway, including North London Railway 2F 0-6-0T 58850, stalwarts of the network for many years. Again, local shots of the Dore & Totley triangle were appreciated. Narrow gauge railways such as the Ffestiniog and Talyllyn were featured too. Whilst living in the Greater London area, Hadley Wood was a popular photographic location with appropriately, various Gresley pacifics. Equally, visits to the Isle of Wight produced fine shots of LBSC A1Terriers, E1 & LSWR O2 tank locos. Another favourite spot was the Weymouth tramway with GWR 0-6-0T tanks 1370 & 1367, working at their expected moderate pace. The locations were certainly varied, Cambridge, Newhaven, Eastleigh, Southampton, Barmouth, Forres, Banff, Dundee etc etc. It was pleasing to see many RCTS sponsored specials, including an East Midlands branch coach trip to Scotland. Heritage railways were not forgotten with photos of the Bluebell Railway, with GNR J52 0-6-0T 1247, LBSCR Terrier 0-6-0T tank ‘Stepney’ and Adams Radial Tank cl. 0415 4-4-2T 1P 488. Other modes of transport were not forgotten with a lengthy sequence of photos of London area trolley buses. So it was mainly steam, excepting particularly, a view of Brush prototype D0280 ‘Falcon’. A particular favourite with the writer was a sequence of photos of two Beattie LSWR cl. 0298 0P 2-4-0WT’s on a joint RCTS/SLS special at Waterloo and its environs. In total contrast and conclusion, Geoff detailed his later career as a professional cameraman for TV, covering three world football cups and with a nice shot of the Taj Mahal!