Slide Presentations from the 1960’s to Privatisation

Our booked speaker was unable to attend for the April Meeting, his travel arrangements being scuppered by the closure of the main Oxford-Banbury line due to the condition of Nuneham Viaduct. In consequence an enforced change of plan was necessary and at very short notice past and present Chairmen John Hubbard and Phil Darlaston stepped in with miscellany based slide presentations.

John concentrated on the Oxford area, initially focusing on freight operations and Oxford and Banbury locomotive sheds circa 1965; of particular note were the Oxford-Bathgate trains hauled by Britannia Class locomotives by now relegated from their more glamourous passenger duties. Early 1970s steam specials north of Oxford and residual Steam operated Industrial sites in the area were pictured including the system at APCM Alpha Works Blechingdon which at that time still had a fleet of 4 industrial locomotives each of various dates and manufacturers.

Phil’s presentation covered a much wider geographical area in the period from late 1970s to Privatisation, during which time extensive travel was undertaken recording major changes on the “big railway”, the burgeoning Heritage Railway scene and of course the significant increase in Main Line steam operations nationwide including his particular favourites the Settle-Carlisle & Cambrian lines. This was a  rapid fire selection including old and new locomotive classes, new liveries galore, Steam such as  46229 on Ribblehead Viaduct, 6000 & 92220 on the Welsh Marches, 7819 at Pwllheli and 3717 awaiting Nula Seer at Bridgnorth, -all of course now retired, Ian Allan Network South East away days, Hertfordshire 125 Specials, a Deltic on Virgin 1S87, and close to Phil’s professional life -coal trains to Ironbridge and Didcot.  Happy Days!