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Oxfordshire Railway Society's Recent Talks

APRIL 2011

We changed the normal format and held a quiz hosted by David Brace, chairman of Basingstoke & District Railway Society, who also set the questions. This appeared to be enjoyed by all the entrants even though many of the questions were very challenging. Four teams, comprising of four members in each, took part with the ‘run-away’ winners being Matthew Searle, Chris Brennan, Andrew Suckling and our latest new member, Mike Ashworth with a score of 174! It was difficult to give a maximum score as there were several instances where one could claim a bonus point, but the ‘basic’ total was 200, so well done to the winners and all who took part.

MARCH 2011

Dr. Mike Esbester, from Brookes University, gave a talk entitled ‘The Great Western Worker Safety Campaign 1913-1939’. Because of the complexity of the subject, he spoke mainly from his very detailed notes and included a few charts, graphs and photographs. Those present listened attentively and went home with a greater understanding of the GWR’s rules and regulations concerning safety procedures and how they affected the workforce, with most accidents being deemed ‘preventable’ according to the Company.

FEBRUARY 2011
AGM, Photographic Competition and Members Talks

After the AGM and Photo Competiton, Chris Brennan kicked off with a presentation of various video clips he had taken at the ORS visit to the Statfold Barn Railway in the summer of 2010. Chris had turned up the sound so as to distract our attention away from what he described as inadequate video quality!

Peter Heath was next. Sun, Snow and Steam was promised. We started in Germany, where else given the well known addiction to German narrow gauge, but we were not disappointed. Some of the German photos we had already seen in the Photographic Competition and some will be illustrating an article in 81F and it has to be said that the snow scenes in particular were dramatic, including one of the station toilet (from the outside we hasten to add). Back from Germany we visited in quick succession: Swanage, the restored station and 34070 on a special; Basingstoke on a day trip but the fascinating mural of silhouettes made it worthwhile; Bath, York and Didcot – with WT No. 5 at the GW 175 celebrations came next followed by a Deltic at Radley, yellow-peril track recording trains at Oxford and a selection of road Steam Engines and tractors.

Matthew Searle took up from both his earlier presentation to the Society and from his article in 81F which closed with "Mind the Gap". His talk was entitled The Missing Link and was about the completion of the Welsh Highland Railway from Caernarfon to Porthmadog. Matthew's talk made skilful use of old postcards and archive material together with photographs of the scenes today taken from the original vantage point.

Andrew Suckling came last but not least with Slow Train to Cozia. Andrew had been there in 2008 and showed us detail of an extensive rails system much of which had been electrified. We saw some narrow gauge steam with much sanding of the tracks due to slippy and slopey track. People power was in evidence as manual shunting was required at the terminus and there was a Didcotesque line-up of preserved steam with 'flower pot' chimneys. As well as admiring the lovely scenery we wondered at the sheer guts of those involved in several re-railing incidents: they got the engine back on then a carriage came off

JANUARY 2011

Brian Newey (ex General Manager B.R. Western Region) delivered a talk entitled “From Beeching To… Where?” 22 members and 4 visitors listened intently as he poke for an hour without any visual aids or props. Brian actually began by mentioning the run-down condition of the railways at the end of World War II, followed by nationalisation in 1948 and the Modernisation Plan. Radical changes had to be made and if the ‘unpopular’ Dr. Beeching hadn’t been appointed someone else would have been brought in to ‘wield the axe’.


The talk incorporated an overview of the changes and challenges of the ensuing 40-odd years, in particular signaling, track renewal, concrete sleepers, new rolling stock and lightweight trains. In one of the few lighter moments Brian recalled the occasion that he gave a personal off the record view on the future of the Settle & Carlisle line to a journalist which was later splashed all over the newspapers (sounds familiar!). As a result he was castigated by the then BR Chairman, Sir Bob Reid, who sent him on a public-speaking course to learn how to keep his mouth shut!
After the interval there was a lively ‘question and answer’ session. All in all a different’ but nevertheless interesting and informative meeting.

DECEMBER 2010

The Society’s 24th annual bumper film show. It was great to welcome back Alan Willmott after his enforced break in 2009, and he began by thanking Steve Foxon for stepping in at the last minute. The evening kicked off with “On the Cambrian Coast”, a 1938 Great Western travelogue that used young women in bathing costumes to extol the delights of the Dovey Junction-Pwllheli line! We stayed in Wales for the next offering – “Train Ride to Devil’s Bridge” – a short documentary on the Vale of Rheidol narrow gauge railway. Dating from 1962, it represented Alan’s first foray into independent film-making. This was followed by “Driving Force”, a 1966 BTF film tracing the development of diesel and electric locos during the run-down of steam. Next up was some recent footage of two preserved lines – the Cholsey
& Wallingford and Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railways. The first half concluded with Sylvester and Tweety Pie in “Jet Cage.” This was greatly enjoyed by all, including the Chairman – who continues to deny that these cartoons are brought each year at his behest!
After the customary interlude for seasonal refreshments, the second half opened with an abridged version of Buster Keaton’s 1927 classic, “The General.” This was superb. Set during the American Civil War, the film is loosely based on the true life story of the Andrews Raid. This was followed by another of Alan’s own Windjammer productions – “Return to Bewdley” – a wonderful documentary charting a day in the life of the Severn Valley Railway. The evening was brought to a close with a most appropriate piece – “Snow.” Made by Geoffrey Jones for BTF in 1963, this award-winning film has gained cult status over the years.
Like “Snow”, Alan never fails to impress, and once again our thanks go to him and Mick for making the long trek from Hemel Hempstead to entertain us so royally.

Click here to see the forthcoming programme

Contact the Oxfordshire Railway Society at:
the.oxfordshire.railway.society@googlemail.com