The Last Years of Steam 1966-67 (part 1)

Cambridge Branch member Michael Smythe was our speaker this afternoon, with a very evocative presentation “The Last Years of Steam 1966 / 67”.

Most of Michael’s excellent photographs were taken in his teenage years close to his family home covering the Leeds, Bradford and Wakefield area. A very busy area for steam with so many coal trains to and from the local coal fields working to the power stations nearby. There were many Black 5’s, 8F’s, WD’s and a few B1’s working from sheds nearby, Normanton, Royston, Stourton, Neville Hill, Low Moor, Copley Hill, Knottingley and Manningham with its two roundhouses, to name a few. In this period Health and Safety didn’t exist, you could visit sheds and stations, walk on railway banks to get close the locomotives to obtain the pictures you wanted. We saw just what a poor condition many of these engines were in and just how filthy things were. Michael had his favourite engines, of which we saw plenty, B1 (61361),  Jubilee (45562 Alberta) and Fairburn tank (42152). An interesting timing was one from Bradford Exchange station to Bridlington and one to Skegness, both trains on the same departure timing, but Michael never was able to picture them running parallel, despite many attempts.

We finished the afternoon looking at shots taken in the last week of steam, then the last weekend with several rail-tours visiting the area to capture the scene.  Finally, workings on the very last day with 42152 working the last passenger service to Leeds from Bradford Exchange with suitable chalked inscriptions on the smokebox and a final 9F with a coal train from Hunslet to Carnforth.

A nostalgic afternoon that enthralled our 35 attendees.

Dave Elsdon

Branch Secretary