North from Kings Cross – Photographs from the RCTS Archive

This meeting represented a big change for the Branch, firstly it was the first meeting in our new venue and, secondly, by popular demand, it was our first afternoon meeting in Hitchin. The Branch now starts both its meetings at 2pm - this was obviously popular as we had the largest attendance for many years in Hitchin. To start us off we welcomed David Jackman with his show “North from Kings Cross” all photographs from the RCTS archive.

Starting at Kings Cross with a view of the station exterior and a trolley bus, David showed loco’s and trains starting from around 1900 through to the 1990’s. with a look at the different classes that would have used that station and area, gradually working his way north with many superb photographs. This pattern continued through to the tea break, when we went as far as Peterborough, also looking at its various branch lines etc. Moving on, after the interval, we spent some time with David moving his attention to Spalding & Lincoln, showing the vast amount of freight & holiday traffic on these routes. Eventually arriving back on the ECML we worked our way into Doncaster, finally arriving at York. I have no idea the variety and amount of steam loco’s we saw, but the programme included no less than 35 modern traction classes for diesels & electrics from class 01 through to classes 55, 66, 90, 91 also looking at the 114,115 & 144 and of course HST’s & the incursion on this line of Eurostars.

A superb afternoon with as much member participation that I ever recall at any other meeting.

Dave Elsdon
Branch Secretary