Monday 12 September: "USA - The Eastern Sea Board 1975" - Bernard Mills
Bernard opens the new session, the presentation will cover much of the railway scene especially in New Jersey and the New York catchment area with all sorts of motive power, and also visit many of the heritage rail roads of the time some of which no longer exist.
Monday September 26: John Ball: "Rails of contrast: from the Emerald Isle to Scandinavia via Belgium."
John takes on a rail expedition from Ireland to Portugal to Spain, France, Belgium and Germany, then a little from Poland, Albania and Bulgaria, before heading into Scandinavia. Featuring visits from the 1980s and the 21st century with a mix of steam and diesel with just a little electric haulage
Monday 10 October: Stuart Warr “Railway Holidays in the West Country,
Part 1 - Cornwall'
featuring images from Stuart’s travels from the 1970’s to present.
Monday 24 October : John Fissler “From Semaphores To Cab Signalling”
An illustrated talk with slides, video and diagrams with a West Country flavour by a professional signal engineer.
We consider absolute block working utilising semaphore signals, throw in a taste of colour lights and then digest cab signalling without lineside signals. The European Train Control System (ETCS) is at the heart of eliminating line side signals. The speaker will consider what it means for the Driver and how the railway infrastructure will change as well as the transition from Signal Boxes to ROCs (Railway Operating Centres).
We consider absolute block working utilising semaphore signals, throw in a taste of colour lights and then digest cab signalling without lineside signals. The European Train Control System (ETCS) is at the heart of eliminating line side signals. The speaker will consider what it means for the Driver and how the railway infrastructure will change as well as the transition from Signal Boxes to ROCs (Railway Operating Centres).
Monday 7 November: Annual General Meeting followed by President’s selection - 'A Look Back at the 1990's'
The presentation will include photographs taken in Devon and Cornwall as well as visits to South Wales, the Midlands and the North of England.
Monday 21 November: Steven Andrews: Part 1 – “Maybachs off the beaten track"
A video review of the diesel-hydraulic classes well off their familiar Western Region territory, including archive footage of D1015 Western Champion's visit to Inverness and Kyle of Lochalsh in 2009, the Blaenau Ffestiniog branch in 2010, working over the Settle & Carlisle route and Shap, the Central Wales line, along the North Wales Coast route to Holyhead, along the East Coast Main Line to York and Scarborough, Class 42 Warships and Class 35 Hymeks on the Great Central and Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, D821 Greyhound in action in Sussex and D832 Onslaught in action in Derbyshire on the Wirksworth branch and much much more!
Part 2 – “DIESELS IN THE WEST”
Our second video review shows classic diesel traction in action in the West Country, from Bristol westwards to Penzance, including classes 20, 31, 33 & 37s, 40s, Peaks, 47s, 50s, 56s, Deltics, 57s and 59s. Freight, passenger workings and railtours, as well as special workings with the odd HST thrown in for good measure!
Part 2 – “DIESELS IN THE WEST”
Our second video review shows classic diesel traction in action in the West Country, from Bristol westwards to Penzance, including classes 20, 31, 33 & 37s, 40s, Peaks, 47s, 50s, 56s, Deltics, 57s and 59s. Freight, passenger workings and railtours, as well as special workings with the odd HST thrown in for good measure!
Monday 5 December: Jim Collins “Three Cheers to British Rail - Plymouth and Cornish Railways”
Jim reflects in this illustrated talk on his time as Area Manager for Plymouth and later as Area Manager for Plymouth and Cornish Railways in the period between 1984 and 1988.
Monday 19 December: Bernard Mills “The Mills Railway Year 2022”.
Our annual celebration of the year's railway events, as always presented by Bernard who continues to enthuse with the year's travels, and with his camera reminds us to observe the local as well as national railway scene. With plenty of material from his recently published books to assist, we can be assured a busy review from Bernard!
Monday 9 January: Barry Stirman “Steam Through The Canadian Rocky Mountain Canyons”
A video of Barry’s 2007 journey starting from Vancouver on the West Coast. Climbing through the Fraser, Thompson, Eagle and Columbia River canyons - to name a few! Finally crossing the 'Great Divide' Summit at Kicking Horse Pass, before dropping into the town of Lake Louise. In glorious summer weather with Montreal Locomotive Works #2816 'Empress' in charge.
Monday 23rd January: Steven Andrews “Britain’s Railways in the Sectorisation era”
Monday February 6th John Brodribb: "The East Suffolk Railway"
This was the line from Ipswich to Yarmouth and Lowestoft, with several branches; today it
survives between Ipswich and Lowestoft, with the stub of the Aldeburgh branch as far as
Sizewell siding. It was considered to be a main line in its heyday, with named trains including
the Easterling. John will recount its history and bring it up to the present day: it is currently
operated by the Stadler Class 755 bimodes.
survives between Ipswich and Lowestoft, with the stub of the Aldeburgh branch as far as
Sizewell siding. It was considered to be a main line in its heyday, with named trains including
the Easterling. John will recount its history and bring it up to the present day: it is currently
operated by the Stadler Class 755 bimodes.
Monday February 20th "Railway Impressions: Master Shots - Capturing the very best in Railway Images"
Our regular team of previous Photographic Competition prize winners is going to dazzle us
with a short selection of those photographs they consider to be their very own master shots.
Featuring Gareth Harrison, Bernard Mills, Stuart Hammond, Steven Andrews.
with a short selection of those photographs they consider to be their very own master shots.
Featuring Gareth Harrison, Bernard Mills, Stuart Hammond, Steven Andrews.
Monday March 6th Geoff Hudson:” Fifty years with the Fifties”
A DVD based presentation exploring why the Class 50’s were built for the BR London
Midland Region, the 50’s in service and in Preservation. Geoff’s experience includes his
work as HST Engineer for the ECML at Regional Headquarters in York Area, Fleet Manager
Plymouth at Laira depot and, later, Fleet Technical Manager for InterCity Great Western at
Swindon, and present as Consultant Engineer to the Railway Industry advising and solving
and developing Technical Issues with HST’s.
Midland Region, the 50’s in service and in Preservation. Geoff’s experience includes his
work as HST Engineer for the ECML at Regional Headquarters in York Area, Fleet Manager
Plymouth at Laira depot and, later, Fleet Technical Manager for InterCity Great Western at
Swindon, and present as Consultant Engineer to the Railway Industry advising and solving
and developing Technical Issues with HST’s.
Monday 20th March Steven Andrews: "The Classic Traction Review of 2022”
Digital Video show, featuring material filmed by Steve in 2022
Monday April 3rd Ian Mundy: “Railway Renaissance” (supported by Bernard Mills)
Ian is New Infrastructure Delivery and Readiness Manager, Great Western Railway, based
at Exeter St. Davids. He will look at recent railway developments in the South West such as
the Okehampton reopening and future station projects finishing with Marsh Barton.
Bernard Mills will take over for the second half, he will show his own programme of the rebuilding of the line and its reopening, with a plenty of then and now shots taking us back to pre 1972 closure. If time permits we will take a glance at Bere Alston-Tavistock as the same team that organised the rebuilding and reopening of the Okehampton line has been kept together for the Tavistock project.
at Exeter St. Davids. He will look at recent railway developments in the South West such as
the Okehampton reopening and future station projects finishing with Marsh Barton.
Bernard Mills will take over for the second half, he will show his own programme of the rebuilding of the line and its reopening, with a plenty of then and now shots taking us back to pre 1972 closure. If time permits we will take a glance at Bere Alston-Tavistock as the same team that organised the rebuilding and reopening of the Okehampton line has been kept together for the Tavistock project.
Monday April 17th Bernard Mills: "Okehampton to Torrington via Halwill”
A journey over a long lost part of the Withered Arm, recalling many memories with some
updated views showing how the scene has changed over the years.
updated views showing how the scene has changed over the years.
Monday May 15 : Members Photos and Video Evening (two hour-length presentations)
Stuart Hammond: A Railway Miscellany over the last decade
Paul Maycock: "1980's - 1990's Railway Operations around the UK"
Paul will talk about railway operations (passenger and freight) in the 1980's and 1990's and will feature photographs of most diesel classes taken at over 30 different locations in England, Scotland and Wales. It will also include photographs taken at 10 different Diesel Depots.
Paul Maycock: "1980's - 1990's Railway Operations around the UK"
Paul will talk about railway operations (passenger and freight) in the 1980's and 1990's and will feature photographs of most diesel classes taken at over 30 different locations in England, Scotland and Wales. It will also include photographs taken at 10 different Diesel Depots.
Summer Fixtures will be announced shortly!!