‘Yours Faithfully’, by Bernie Holland, 1st February 2022

1st February 2022 Meeting

For our February Zoom meeting we welcomed former Branch Secretary Bernie Holland, who presented ‘YOURS FAITHFULLY’, a look at the photographs of Jack Faithfull and some other RCTS pioneers.

‘The Seven Lairds of Alloa’, taken during the SLS/RCTS ‘Scottish Tour’, at Alloa on 17th June 1960 in which can be seen from left to right : John Edgington, Henry C. Casserley, Bert Hurst, David S. Smith, unidentified person, Dick Tompkins and Jack Faithfull. Image Credit: Photographer Unknown

We worked chronologically but started with a painting by Bernie of BR 5173 [ex-GWR 5101] at Cheltenham St. James Station, Cheltenham being the birthplace of the RCTS

Our first photograph showed a July 1929 shot of the early members at Beckton Gas Works and also the Loco erecting shops there for Industrial locos. The next few were of letters and membership cards that Jack had kept. We then saw the GNR Stirling Single No. 1 at Kings Cross and Peterborough for the first RCTS tour with headboard. The members were in the next photo, this time at Hythe [RH&DR] Station.

LNER Class N1 0-6-2T No. 69441 featured at Marylebone Station on a circuitous tour to Broad Street. 25th April 1954 was the date of GWR 0-6-0PT No. 1366 at Highworth. A few shots of Crystal Palace followed, the first a remarkable one of THE Crystal Palace taken at Hyde Park in 1854 [not one of Jack’s], then more up to date was the pneumatic railway, a video of the Crystal Palace fire in 1936, then a 19/09/54 shot of 31576 with the last train. A 12/09/54 photo of 58887 at Aylesbury High Street and 32421 South Foreland with ‘The Hampshireman’ railtour, on 6th February 1955.

On the same tour, a shot of two T9s on the Meon Valley Line a day before closure. 4626 was seen at Euston, 80065 at Hammersmith & Chiswick Goods, 43245 at Heath Park Halt on the Harpenden to Hemel Hempstead Branch, 69614 at Liverpool Street, 45091 at Verney Junction, NBR 256 at Alloa with a group shot of members and to close the first half was HR Jones Goods No. 103 at Tomatin all taken between 1956-60 on tours.

Part Two carried on where we left off with the following photos all taken on rail tours, 44590 at Blackwell Colliery, 6132 and 1890 at Acton Main Line Station, along with a view of the lovely frontage in 1960. 47783 Saint Peter and 67025 and 67029 were on a move from Old Oak to Wembley  and were reversing at Acton Main Line - 8th March 2002.

A DMU at Malmesbury was seen, and in September 1961 we saw 5306 on the M&SWJR at Foss Cross and Cirencester Watermoor, and later at Cheltenham St. James, 70003 John Bunyan at Norwich Victoria Depot, 2F 58148 at Desford and on the same day in May 1962 we saw Hunslet Groby Colliery No.2 at Groby, 78036 at Barnoldswick, 6841 Marlas Grange at Paddington with the ‘Gloucestershire Rail Tour’, and 82036 at Coaley Junction on the same tour. 0-4-0ST 47006 at Middleton Incline bottom (Middlepeak), 30839 at Frimley, 35007 Aberdeen Commonwealth at Littlehampton, 46115 Scots Guardsman  at Hellifield, 60131 Osprey and 60004 William Whitelaw at Leeds, 70012 John of Gaunt at Nottingham Midland, 7029 Clun Castle at Paddington and Gloucester, 31639 and 53808 at Broadstone, 35028 Clan Line at Winchester, 48706 at Blandford, 75070 at Fareham, 48197 at Shirebrook North, and 4472 Flying Scotsman at Carlisle. Pixie is a 2ft gauge W.G. Bagnall 0-4-0ST and was seen before moving to the LBNGR where we also saw a short video of a ride along the line to Stonehenge Works. Pixie is now at the Richmond Light Railway.

Ex-District Line Q Stock was seen at Olympia on its farewell tour and finally a Class 37 crossing Knucklas Viaduct with the RCTS ‘Golden Jubilee Limited Rail Tour’ on 1st April 1978.

An interesting evening with great photos although we had to put up with Bernie’s occasional corny comments!

This meeting attracted 82 Zoomers.

Rob Davidson, Watford Branch Secretary