WFD Watford
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WFD Branch – ‘The Forgotten Standard’, by Ian Crowder, 7th October 2025
WFD Watford Beechen Grove Baptist Church, Clarendon Road, Watford, United KingdomIAN CROWDER - “The Forgotten Standard”. Ian Crowder is Marketing Director of Toddington Standard Locomotive Ltd (TSLL), owners of Standard Class 4 2-6-0 No. 76077 and which is nearing the end of its restoration for use on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway. In this two-part lavishly-illustrated presentation, he firstly describes the development of the Standard…
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WFD Branch – ‘Through Kirton Tunnel Part 1’, A railway journey from Sheffield Victoria to Kirton Lindsey, by Stephen Gay, 2nd September 2025
WFD Watford Beechen Grove Baptist Church, Clarendon Road, Watford, United KingdomWe welcome back the ever-popular Stephen Gay for another visit and more excellent photography, this time with a journey from Sheffield Victoria to Kirton Lindsey, doubtless with some poetic interludes! Please note this is a physical meeting, doors open from 18:30 for 19:00 commencement of proceedings. Please note also that there is no meeting in August as we…
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WFD Branch – ‘That Was the Year That Was – 1972’, by Geoff Plumb, 1st July 2025
WFD Watford Beechen Grove Baptist Church, Clarendon Road, Watford, United KingdomGEOFF PLUMB - 'That Was the Year That Was - 1972'. More of Geoff's many days out around and about, including UK scenes and West Germany. The main event sees a visit to South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique for a feast of steam. Nostalgia rules, OK! Please note this is a physical meeting, doors open from…
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WFD Branch – ‘The Southern End of the WCML, 1930s to Present Day’, by Rob Freeman, 3rd June 2025
WFD Watford Beechen Grove Baptist Church, Clarendon Road, Watford, United KingdomROB FREEMAN - 'The Southern End of the WCML 1930s to Present Day'. From the 1930s to the present, featuring the work of local photographers such as H C Casserley for the steam era and my own work for the modern era, where I will be concentrating on the more unusual of my sightings. Further…
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WFD Branch – Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway Visit, 1st June 2025
WFD Watford Beechen Grove Baptist Church, Clarendon Road, Watford, United KingdomSunday 1st June 2025 - A visit to The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway. Five days after the end of the Annual Steam Gala, we visit this Heritage Railway where we will travel over all of the line, getting off at most of the stations. We will visit the steam shed and diesel shed at Toddington,…
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WFD Branch – ‘Reminiscenses and Thoughts of a Retired Railwayman’, by John Noorani, 6th May 2025
WFD Watford Beechen Grove Baptist Church, Clarendon Road, Watford, United KingdomJOHN NOORANI - 'Reminiscenses and Thoughts of a Retired Railwayman'. Throughout his schooldays John had been interested in railways, initially as a trainspotter but then an interest in their history and operation. After leaving school he needed a temporary job for about six months and an opportunity to work on the railway presented itself. The…
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WFD Branch – Branch AGM, followed by ‘The Northern Line Extensions’, by Brian Hardy, 1st April 2025
WFD Watford Beechen Grove Baptist Church, Clarendon Road, Watford, United KingdomAGM start 18:45. Then at 19:15 BRIAN HARDY - 'The Northern Line Extensions' (Bushey Heath, Alexandra Palace, etc.) – i.e. what was planned under the 1935-40 New Works Programme, what was done, what was abandoned and what remains now. Further details may be available nearer the date. Please note this is a physical meeting, doors open…
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WFD Branch – ‘War and Peace’, by Simon Colbeck, 4th March 2025
WFD Watford Beechen Grove Baptist Church, Clarendon Road, Watford, United KingdomSIMON COLBECK - WAR AND PEACE The railways of Bosnia and Sweden. Preserved and real steam in both countries, with plenty of archive images to add to the interest. Further details may be available nearer the date. Please note this is a physical meeting, doors open from 18:30 for 19:00 commencement of proceedings.
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WFD Branch – ‘Members’ Presentations’, plus Lizzie’s Mince Pies and Sausage Rolls! 3rd December 2024
WFD Watford Beechen Grove Baptist Church, Clarendon Road, Watford, United KingdomAnother chance for Watford Branch members to show off your prowess with a camera (but don’t worry about the quality, feel the width!) – stills or videos, film or digital *. Please bring along some 35mm slides or image files on a memory stick or DVD disc and we’ll endeavour to treat everyone to your…
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WFD Branch – ‘Funeral Trains and Final Journeys’, by Nicolas Wheatley, 5th November 2024
WFD Watford Beechen Grove Baptist Church, Clarendon Road, Watford, United KingdomFurther details of this meeting will be added nearer the date. Please note this is a physical meeting to be held at our usual venue at Beechen Grove Baptist Church, doors open from 18:30. The meeting takes place in the first floor Conference Room, there is level access into the building and a lift is available…
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WFD Branch – ‘Memories are Made of These!’, by Phil Darlaston, 1st October 2024
WFD Watford Beechen Grove Baptist Church, Clarendon Road, Watford, United Kingdom'Memories are made of these!' - a kind of photographic reminiscence looking back over approx. 50 years at the big railway, main line steam, the maturing preservation scene and perhaps a little infrastructure and overseas thrown into the mix. Commence 19:00. Please note this is a physical meeting to be held at our usual venue at Beechen…
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‘Those Were the Years Those Were’ Part 2, by Michael Reade, 3rd September 2024
WFD Watford Beechen Grove Baptist Church, Clarendon Road, Watford, United KingdomPlease note there is no meeting in August! 'Those Were the Years Those Were' Part 2 (With Apologies to Geoff Plumb). Michael was able, during extensive business travel by rail and road in the U.K., to capture the rail scene in colour from 1960 to the end of mainline steam in 1968. Opportunities arose during…