1968 ... and the End of Steam - the final account?

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As someone has said previously, WHY has it taken so long for someone to pull all this information together? At long last I can put accurate titles to all my 1968 photographs.
The loco diagrams and the list of rosters - with even the actual names of the crews for the last weekend - were simply superb. Where DID you get all that information?
I look forward to seeing an addendum to your articles in the mags. Can you also please send me a copy of your list of additions by e-mail?

 

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As predicted, the article HAS now appeared … in Issue 118–just out, and is, definitively, “The Last Word” on the matter and well worth the read!

Mention was also made that "Steam The Grand Finale" was expected to be on sale at the November gathering of the Irwell Vale Railway Photographers - when the guest speaker was to be the celebrated photographer, Peter Fitton, presenting a colour-slide show entitled “1968 Farewell To Steam”. .

It WAS on sale at the meeting, as was Noel Coates new book on Rose Grove shed, and both appeared to be selling profusely during the interval! (AND slightly cheaper than at WH Smug’s emporium as well!)

I was one of that, not inconsiderable, number lucky enough to be present on that date and, if 1968 nostalgia was what you were after, this was without a shadow of a doubt THE best of the best slide shows of the year! As in Mr. C’s book, Mr. F left no stone unturned in presenting what turned out to be a totally absorbing photographic chronological round-up of the last 8 months of BR steam in the North West. What times we had in those days of our ill-spent(?) youth!! Sadly, NEVER again!!

Cap that? Well, it was a very tall order, but organiser Mike Taylor may very well have pulled it off, for the special guest at the very next show (on Sat. 13th December) is the equally-acclaimed steam-era photographer, Gavin Morrison.

So .... if you’re in the area anyway, for the Cotton Mills Express, why not toddle over to Irwell Vale afterwards? (It’s only a couple of minutes from the motorway.)

7-00 for 7-30pm at Irwell Vale Village Church – 2 mins walk from Irwell Vale Station on the ELR – Parking available at the station – All Welcome – Pie and Peas at the interval!