Steve Crowther : Hydraulic Delights 09/12/23

On 9th December we welcomed Steve Crowther who presented a show of his own slides which focused on the last years of the Class 52 Western diesel-hydraulics, although other contemporary diesel types did appear during the course of the evening. We saw these fondly-remembered locos in action at various locations, mainly in Devon and Cornwall, but also elsewhere including the Westbury area and also saw plenty of views of them on shed at depots such as Laira, Newton Abbot and Penzance. Some of the farewell rail tours were depicted, together with some sad scenes in the Swindon Works graveyard where locos were being cut-up. On a happier note, Steve was one of the enthusiasts instrumental in preserving Warship D832 Onslaught, which survived thanks to being transferred to the Railway Technical Centre at Derby. The loco was purchased after this second career had ended and Steve explained how the loco was obtained, with views of its transformation from looking rather forlorn at Derby to its current active state on the East Lancashire Railway. This was an enjoyable presentation with plenty of favourable comments from an appreciative audience.