Pole to Pole

Presenter: John Day

Meeting Held at Shenfield Parish Hall

September saw our first physical meeting since February 2020 and it was a pleasure to get back to our meeting place and to meet old friends. As was perhaps to be expected the attendance was not up to our former standards, just 20 being present to hear well known member from Ipswich, John Day, give his talk ‘Pole to Pole’.

John had devised this talk as something different and indeed it was as it included shots from 18 different countries. Whilst not exactly Pole to Pole it was close, as we started in Churchill, Manitoba and finished in Dunedin in New Zealand’s South Island. The first trip to Churchill took place in winter in appalling conditions when the train from Winnipeg was delayed by one and a half days! Polar bears are the big attraction in winter and no less than 40 were seen. As a result of the delay the Railroad offered a free trip, duly taken up in much better weather. After a few more shots in Canada we ventured to some of John’s favourite spots in the USA, the all-time favourite being Tahachapi’s famous loop which John has visited 12 times.

Coming across the pond the Isle of Man was in complete contrast to the USA’s huge trains and we also visited Wales and Scotland before taking the Eurostar to explore Belgium, Holland, France and Germany, the latter featuring severe weather on the Brocken. Some lovely shots on Portugal’s Douro were followed by a wide range of Eastern European countries including driving and firing on the Wolzstyn Experience in Poland.

Then it was off to China with the QJ’s on the Jing Peng line being the highlight. Commuter trains in Auckland were next and then a wide ranging review of rail operations in both the North and South Islands, including the famous Arthurs Pass. After this near world-wide trip the final shot was appropriately a sunset scene in Dunedin. John’s superb photographic skills made for a very enjoyable and informative evening.