Night Steam by Joe Connell

On Monday 17th November 2025 at 2.00pm our speaker was Joe Connell who presented ‘Night Steam’. He went on to give us a detailed account describing the pitfalls and successes of night photography from dusk until dawn !!

To most of us ‘Night’ photography is usually the domain of the experts but Joe explained how practice makes perfect. We were shown excellent images of familiar locos at places far and wide from Bowness to Bewdley. Most were taken in colour with some more suited to ‘Black & White’. His favoured locations were engine sheds and stations all being highly atmospheric.

One shot, a personal favourite of committee member, Ian Reid, was taken early dawn at Swithland Sidings featuring a ‘going away’ view with a 9F hauling a ‘Windcutter’. The light was perfect as the train headed for Rothley - Nostalgic and Timeless - Shame about the ‘pegs’ being GWR semaphores !!

This was Joe’s first visit to the branch and will not be the last ! Excellent and informative throughout - Highly recommended.