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'Next Meeting' Banner Advert Archive
– – – 2018 – – –
Reference archive of 'Next Meeting' banner adverts from the home page.
Banner ad archives: 2025 – 2024 – 2023 – 2022 – 2021 – 2020 – 2019 – 2018 – 2017 – 2016 – 2015
Note: the '(directions)' link within the banners will not work from this page.
"German Railways Miscellany – Narrow Gauge Steam"(TBD) – German narrow gauge steam: Saxon State Railways 750mm gauge Günther-Meyer type 0-4-4-0T, number 99 542; preserved and working on the Pressnitz Valley Railway (Preßnitztalbahn). – Photo: Colin Miell"; also used for the UPDATE THIS: Facebook event.
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
TBD
German Railways Miscellany –
Narrow Gauge Steam
Colin Miell
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
.jpg "German narrow gauge steam: Saxon State Railways 750mm gauge Günther-Meyer type 0-4-4-0T, number 99 542; preserved and working on the Pressnitz Valley Railway (Preßnitztalbahn). – Photo: Colin Miell")
Our friend from the Locomotive Club of Great Britain, Colin Miell, makes a welcome return to The Manor, at short notice.
Colin suggested the talk might be better titled: 'Mainly Narrow Gauge railways in Germany, both steam and diesel, plus a few surprises!' but that was never going to fit the space available!
"Xmas Hangover Transport Presentation Evening" (28 Dec) – "DB Class '001' (DRG Class '01') coal-fired 4-6-2 No.001 111 in largely original condition, climbing the Schiefe Ebene on a Bamberg–Hof express. Feb 1973 (Hugh Llewelyn [CC-by-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons)".
Photo also used for the posting on Twitter, but NOT posted to Facebook or Kahuti.
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
28 December 2018
Xmas Hangover Transport Presentation Evening
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
-400px.jpg "DB Class '001' (DRG Class '01') coal-fired 4-6-2 No.001 111 in largely original condition, climbing the Schiefe Ebene on a Bamberg–Hof express. Feb 1973 (Hugh Llewelyn [CC-by-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons)")
An 'Anything Goes' evening: big screen video, ciné, projected prints, or slides, presented by SWRS members and featuring transport subjects from Great Britain or further afield. (It's open to all, not just SWRS members!)
If you have films or photos to share with fellow enthusiasts, please bring them along on Friday. (And if you contact info@swrs.co.uk in time, we can advertise your contribution in advance.)
"Festive Gathering and Big Screen Archive Ciné) Film Evening" (22 Dec) – "A snowy scene at Swindon Locomotive Works, featuring GWR engines and 43001, a visiting LM Region Ivatt 2-6-0, 29 November 1964 (Ben Brooksbank – Geograph [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons)";
Photo also used for the
Facebook event, and posting on
Twitter but not posted on Kahuti.
Image from Geograph via Wikimedia Commons – Source caption: "Locomotives outside Swindon Works in the snow - in November.
View SW of the locomotive sidings outside the main workshops. A London Midland 2-6-0 (Ivatt 4MT 2-6-0 No. 43001) is a stranger among various ex-Great Western engines. The occasion was an organised visit. – Ben Brooksbank: 29 November 1964".
[CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
21 December 2018
Festive Gathering and Big Screen Archive Ciné Film Evening
Frank Banfield
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
.jpg "A snowy scene at Swindon Locomotive Works, featuring GWR engines and 43001, a visiting LM Region Ivatt 2-6-0, 29 November 1964 (Ben Brooksbank – Geograph [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons)")
Frank Banfield presents another of his very popular evenings with a further selection from his extensive collection of archive 16mm ciné film, but with a bit of a festive twist.
Previous evenings have included documentaries, BTC publicity, vintage adverts, cartoons, and excerpts from home movies. Films mostly feature railway subjects, but trams, buses, canals, docks, heavy road haulage and air travel may also make an appearance.
There will also be party food (please 'bring and share')!
"SWRS Festive Photographic Competition" (14 Dec) – "An enthusiast appreciated the sight of preserved class A4 60019 Bittern accelerating its special train away from a signal check in Huntingdon station on a foggy winter morning. – 29 Nov 2008 (John Webber – Geograph [CC-by-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons)".
Image from Geograph via Wikimedia Commons – Source caption: "An enthusiast appreciated the sight of preserved class A4 60019 Bittern accelerating its special train away from a signal check in Huntingdon station on a foggy winter morning. – John Webber: 29 November 2008".
[CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
NOT posted to Facebook or Kahuti.
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
14 December 2018
SWRS Members' Festive Photographic Competition
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
Yes! It's time for the Annual SWRS Photo Competition.
There is still time to enter. Please submit your photos by Thursday 14th December. See the Photo Competition page for categories and instructions.
There will be party food (please 'bring and share'), and further entertainment if there is time after the Competition.
"Winter Railwayana & Miscellaneous Auction" (07 Dec) – "Christie's Auction Room (edited) - Plate 006 from 'Microcosm of London' - (Wikimedia Commons)"; also used for the Facebook event.
Image via Wikimedia Commons – Source caption: "Christie's auction room in London: This engraving was published as Plate 6 of Microcosm of London (1808). [Public domain]".
This'll do for now... Future suggestion: edit the image to place locos in the picture frames?
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
07 December 2018
Winter Railwayana & Miscellaneous Auction
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
Experience John Coke's unique style of auctioneering, join in the witty banter, and bag yourself a bargain, or ten... Yes! It's nearly time for the legendary SWRS Auction!! (raising money towards the upkeep of Slough Estates No.3).
So, dig through your cupboards, lofts and shelves for any spare railwayana, unwanted Christmas presents, and all those other things you never use.
Bring it along on the night, for us to sell...
...and don't forget your wallet: we need you to buy things as well!
"Pot Pourri" (30 Nov) – "YJ 310 at Tanshan Colliery, China, 1989 – Ian Silvester".
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
30 November 2018
Pot Pourri
Ian Silvester
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
.jpg "YJ 310 at Tanshan Colliery, China, 1989 – Ian Silvester")
Ian Silvester is a keen amateur steam railway and wildlife photographer (see www.dorneyphoto.com) and an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society.
Ian has photographed trains from Austria to Zimbabwe, and in this return visit to The Manor, he will draw on his extensive library of rail tours and expeditions.
"Journey through Birmingham by Canal" (23 Nov)
"Gas Street Basin, Birmingham, 8 September 2008 (Roger Kidd – Geograph [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons)"; also used for the UPDATE THIS: Facebook event.
Image from Wikimedia Commons –
Source caption: "Gas Street Basin, Birmingham The stretch of canal beyond the stop lock (open, on the left))leads to the present junction of the Worcester and Birmingham Canal (started in the early 1790s) and the older Birmingham Canal, beyond the arch of Broad Street Tunnel. Originally the Worcester and Birmingham Canal terminated here at Gas Street Basin because when it opened it was prevented from connecting with the Birmingham Canal, so goods had to be carried from boat to boat across a solid barrier, known as the Worcester Bar, which separated the canals. An Act of Parliament in 1815 resulted in this stop lock being constructed, linking the two canals. – Roger Kidd – 8 September 2008"
Full attribution: Roger Kidd / Gas Street Basin, Birmingham / [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
23 November 2018
Journey through Birmingham by Canal
Mary Sibley
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
It is said that Birmingham has more miles of canal than Venice. There are certainly more than 100 miles in the Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN) system, one of the most intricate canal networks in the world. The photo is of Gas Street Basin, the bustling city centre junction at the hub of the BCN.
"Reading (Southern)" (16 Nov) – "U-Class 2-6-0 31616 with a train from Redhill, at Reading (Southern) station, 8th June 1962. - Ben Brooksbank - via Wikimedia Commons" – no Facebook event created. (Page was updated far too late.)
Image from Wikimedia Commons – Source caption:
"Reading Southern station, with steam train from Redhill.
View eastward, towards Wokingham, then Staines and Waterloo by the electrified ex-LSW line, and via Guildford and Redhill by the non-electrified ex-SE&C line. The train from Redhill is headed by U class 2-6-0 No. 31616 (built 9/28, withdrawn 6/64). The SR lines were connected with the BR/WR (ex-GWR)lines (up on the left) by two loops to the east: this allowed much interchange of traffic and eventually the closure of this SR terminus (called 'Reading South' 26/9/49 - 11/9/61) and diversion of services into the ex-GW General Station from 6/9/65."
– Ben Brooksbank - 8 June 1962
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
16th November 2018
Reading (Southern)
Paul Joyce
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
Author and historian Paul Joyce is well known to SWRS members for his talks about canal restoration and the railways around Reading and the South.
This evening he will be giving us the second part of his history of the railways in and around Reading, particularly focussing on the now-closed Southern station.
"SWRS vs Reading Transport Group – Annual Quiz" (09 Nov) – "Stephenson's 'Rocket' replica and train at Tyseley Locomotive Works. 25 Jun 2011 (Tony Hisgett [CC-by-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons)"; also used for the Facebook event.
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
09 November 2018
SWRS vs
Reading Transport Group – Annual Quiz –
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
.jpg "Stephenson's 'Rocket' replica and train at Tyseley Locomotive Works. 25 Jun 2011 (Tony Hisgett [CC-by-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons)")
Can Slough & Windsor Railway Society re-claim the coveted 'Rocket' trophy, the spoils of the annual battle of railway knowledge between the two ferroequinologist behemoths of the Thames Valley?
Come along on Friday to support your team and find out!
The second half of the evening will be an illustrated talk by members of Reading Transport Group, so even if quizzes aren't your thing, it'll still be worth joining us – besides, will probably learn something new during the quiz (and if you don't, because you already know everything, why aren't you on our team??)
"France Revisited" (16 Feb) – "Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme (CFBS), France: Metre gauge steam locomotives, 1905-built Pinguely 0-6-0T No. 101, and 1889-built 2-6-0T Cail No.2, on passenger duties. – Photo: Jim Ballantyne"; also used for the UPDATE THIS: Facebook event.
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
16 February 2018
France Revisited
Jim Ballantyne
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
.jpg "Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme (CFBS), France: Metre gauge steam locomotives, 1905-built Pinguely 0-6-0T No. 101, and 1889-built 2-6-0T Cail No.2, on passenger duties. – Photo: Jim Ballantyne")
Jim Ballantyne is our resident expert on industrial railways, Eastern Europe, boilers, and surviving steam-hauled railways worldwide. He is also a frequent winner of the annual SWRS Photographic Competition.
Back in February, Jim described the first of two visits to France that took place in 2017. This evening he will be covering the second visit.
"Mid Hants Railway" (26 Oct)
"BR Class 9F 2-10-0 leaving Ropley for Alresford with the 'Pines Express', Mid Hants Railway, 06 Mar 2010 (Peter Trimming – Geograph [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons)"; also used for the UPDATE THIS: Facebook event.
Image from Wikimedia Commons –
Source caption: "The 'Pines Express' Leaves Ropley, Hampshire. The driver 'opens up' (thank you!) before 9F class no.92212 cruises down the bank, towards Alresford, during the Mid Hants Railway Spring Gala 2010. – Peter Trimming – 6 March 2010"
Full attribution: Peter Trimming / The "Pines Express" Leaves Ropley, Hampshire / [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
26 October 2018
Mid Hants Railway
Frank Taylor
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
.jpg "BR Class 9F 2-10-0 leaving Ropley for Alresford with the 'Pines Express', Mid Hants Railway, 06 Mar 2010 (Peter Trimming – Geograph [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons)")
Frank Taylor is a volunteer Station Inspector on the Mid Hants Railway.
The Mid Hants Railway, or "Watercress Line", is a heritage railway between Alton and Alresford in Hampshire. It has a connection with the Slough & Windsor Railway Society, as it is where our loco Slough Estates No.3 started its life in preservation, although that's a whole other story...
"Steam in the 1940s (archive ciné)" (19 Oct)
"Locomotive erecting shop, Eastleigh Works, Southern Railway during 1944 – Imperial War Museum Collection (via Wikimedia Commons)"; also used for the Facebook event.
Image from Wikimedia Commons –
Source caption: "Turkish Railway Delegation Visits Southern Railway Works
- Turkish Government Representatives Inspect work at Eastleigh, Hampshire, England, UK, 1944
A general view of men at work in the locomotive erecting shop at the Southern Railway Works at Eastleigh, Hampshire."
Full attribution: Imperial War Museum collection, via Wikimedia Commons
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
19 October 2018
Steam in the 1940s
(archive ciné)
Frank Banfield
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
.jpg "Locomotive erecting shop, Eastleigh Works, Southern Railway during 1944 – Imperial War Museum Collection (via Wikimedia Commons)")
Frank Banfield presents another of his very popular evenings with a further selection from his extensive collection of archive 16mm ciné film.
Previous evenings have included documentaries, BTC publicity, vintage adverts, cartoons, and excerpts from home movies. This time, Frank will be concentrating on vintage steam footage from the 1940s.
"Disconnected! Broken Links in British Rail Policy" (28 Sept) – "A BR Class 121 railcar at Staines West railway station, 29 August 1962. The branch line closed to passengers in March 1965. - User:Lamberhurst - via Wikimedia Commons" – also used for the UPDATE THIS: Facebook event
Image from Wikimedia Commons – Source caption: "British Rail Class 121 railcar at Staines West railway station, Middlesex"
– User:Lamberhurst - 29 August 1962
Blurb taken from: "Disconnected! Broken Links in Britain's Rail Policy" by Chris Austin (Author), Richard Faulkner (Author) ISBN-10: 0860936643 [Amazon listing for book].
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
12 Oct 2018
Disconnected!
Broken Links in
British Rail Policy
Chris Austin
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
(400px).jpg "A BR Class 121 railcar at Staines West railway station, 29 August 1962. The branch line closed to passengers in March 1965. - User:Lamberhurst - via Wikimedia Commons")
The Beeching closures and those of the 1970s and 1980s left a lot of gaps in Britain's railway network and a legacy of inadequate capacity. Which lines should Beeching and his successor have kept, and what lessons can we learn from the closures today?
Chris Austin is a Board member of the Association of Community Rail Partnerships, Secretary of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Heritage Railways and a co-opted member of the Railway Heritage Committee. He joined BR in 1967, working in local management and project planning. For 10 years he was the Board's Parliamentary Affairs Manager covering the period of privatisation. He set up and ran a political consultancy for the rail industry before moving to the Strategic Rail Authority, where his responsibilities included producing the Community Rail Development strategy. He retired in 2009 as Head of Public Affairs for ATOC. He is a graduate of Cambridge University, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Transport and Logistics and was awarded an OBE in 2006 for services to the railway industry.
"Romania" (05 Oct) – "Steam locomotive CFR 230.515 with the Romanian royal family's royal train, at Gare de Nord, Bucharest, May 2017 - User:TrainSimFan - via Wikimedia Commons". Created too late to post Facebook event.
Image from Wikimedia Commons – Source caption: "Steam locomotive CFR 230.515 with the Romanian royal family's royal train, at Gare de Nord."
– User: TrainSimFan - 28 May 2017
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
05 Oct 2018
Romania
Derek Spicer
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
Derek Spicer, from Reading Transport Group, is a retired engineer who is now a professional film-maker and video producer.
This evening is likely to feature videos of trains in Romania... (The picture is not one of Derek's. It shows steam locomotive CFR 230.515 with the Romanian royal family's royal train, at Gare de Nord, Bucharest, May 2017.)
"British Airways Past and Present" (28 Sept) – "British Airways BAC Concorde G-BOAE - February 1978 - User:Mike Freer - via Wikimedia Commons" – also used for the Facebook event
Image from Wikimedia Commons – Source caption: "Perfection in design, beauty, grace and shear power. What other aircraft has all these attributes ? Seen performing several approaches while crew training on a cold winter's day."
– Mike Freer - February 1978
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
28 Sept 2018
British Airways:
Past and Present
Jim Davies
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
.jpg "British Airways BAC Concorde G-BOAE - February 1978 - User:Mike Freer - via Wikimedia Commons")
Jim Davies is the resident expert at the Speedbird Centre, the home of the British Airways Heritage Collection at Heathrow.
Jim will be relating the history of British Airways, from the start of commercial flying in 1919, through its predecessor companies, including Imperial Airways, BEA and BOAC, up to the present day.
"Trackside Travels" (21 Sept) – "Track workers on the Bluebell Railway pass West Hoathly station, heading for Sharpthorne Tunnel. - User:Bluebellnutter - via Wikimedia Commons" – also used for the Facebook event
Image from Wikimedia Commons – Source caption: "Track workers walking the line through the old station with the tunnel beyond."
– User:Bluebellnutter - 2 November 2007 (original upload date)
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
21 Sept 2018
Trackside Travels
Paul Joyce
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
.jpg "Track workers on the Bluebell Railway pass West Hoathly station, heading for Sharpthorne Tunnel. - User:Bluebellnutter - via Wikimedia Commons")
Author and historian Paul Joyce is well known to SWRS members for his talks about canal restoration and the railways around Reading and the South.
The photo is a rather literal interpretation of the talk's title! In reality, I have no idea what Paul will be showing us, but he always gives us an enjoyable evening.
"An Evening With... - Mark Hopwood" (14 Sept) – "HST power car 43187 in latest GWR livery, with statue of Isambard Kingdom Brunel – Paddington, 19 June 2016 (Geof Sheppard – [CC-BY-SA-4.0], via Wikimedia Commons)"; also used for the UPDATE THIS: Facebook event.
Image from Wikimedia Commons – Source caption: "Paddington station was the London terminus of the Great Western Railway. First Group have revived that famous company's name which so a modern GWR-liveried High Speed Train (with power car 43187) can draw up alongside Brunel's statue when at platform 9 of the station.
– Geof Sheppard - 19 June 2016"
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
14 Sept 2018
An Evening with...
Mark Hopwood
(Managing Director of Great Western Railway)
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
Mark Hopwood joined what was then First Great Western as Managing Director in 2008. In the subsequent ten years he has faced a series of major challenges, including: Crossrail, the Great Western electrification programme, the remodelling of Reading station, and procuring a new fleet of rolling stock.
Mark sits on the Board of the Institute of Railway Operators and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport. He was named Industry Leader of the Year in 2017 by the Rail Business Awards.
"Modern Image (not quite) 70s/80s" (07 Sept) – "D1013 'Western Ranger' on a night time van train at Paddington, 04 Feb 1977 (Barry Lewis – Flickr [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons)"; also used for the Facebook event.
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
07 Sept 2018
Modern Image
(not quite)
70s/80s
Peter Robins
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
.jpg "D1013 'Western Ranger' on a night time van train at Paddington, 04 Feb 1977 (Barry Lewis – Flickr [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons)")
Peter Robins will be providing us with memories of the time when diesels were mostly blue, passenger trains were still loco-hauled, and wagon-load freight was still a thing (just).
"Members' Transport Presentation Evenings" (03/10/17/24/31 Aug) – P Jewell's montage; also used for the Facebook event.
Source image (original): SWRS Transport Mix (P Jewell montage) - Original
Source image (letterbox/Facebook): SWRS Transport Mix (PJ) - Compressed height
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
03/10/17/24/31 Aug 2017
Members' Film Presentation Evenings
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
.jpg "Big Screen Transport Mix Presentation (P Jewell)")
'Anything Goes' evenings: big screen video, ciné, projected prints, or slides, presented by SWRS members and featuring railway or other transport subjects from Great Britain or further afield. (It's open to all, not just SWRS members!)
If you have films or photos to share with fellow enthusiasts, please bring them along on Friday. (And if you contact info@swrs.co.uk in time, we can advertise your contribution in advance.)
"Railway Enthusiasts' Barbecue" (Jul 20th) – "'Bar-B-Que sausages' – Photo by User:Salimfadhley – from Wikimedia Commons"; also used for the Facebook event.
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
20 July 2018
Railway Enthusiasts' Barbecue
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
A chance to munch on a burger or hot dog in the sunshine, chat to fellow enthusiasts, and watch the trains go by.
The Manor forecourt has a grandstand view of Slough Railway Station and the trains passing on the GW main line – an ideal venue for our annual barbecue.
"Mystery Rail Trip" (12 Jul) – P Jewell's question-mark montage. Use wide version for Facebook. (Not posted on Facebook/Kahuti/Twitter.)
Source image (low-res/website): SWRS Unknown Photo Image (Mk1) - Small
Source image (wide/Facebook): SWRS Unknown Photo Image (Mk1) - Wide
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
12 July 2017
Mystery Rail Trip
Meet: The Manor, 6:45pm
Slough Station (directions)
Another of John Coke's legendary SWRS Mystery Trips!!
We will meet at The Manor from 6:45pm – note the earlier time – leaving at 7pm, so don't be late! You will need to bring £8 to cover the rail fare and costs.
Can't give you any more details than that, or it wouldn't be a mystery...
...but previous trips usually included a visit to a pub somewhere along the way, so it's worth coming along for a drink and a natter with friends, and a journey into the unknown!
"Exeter to Exeter via Plymouth" (06 July) – "Swansea to Paignton Summer Saturday relief service in the charge of 6877 'Llanfair Grange', pausing on the down through line at Exeter St Davids station - 26 July 1958 [Ben Brooksbank - CC-SA 2.0 - via Wikimedia Commons]" – also used for the UPDATE THIS: Facebook event.
Image from Wikimedia Commons – Source caption: "Holiday Relief express at Exeter St David's station.
View northward, towards Taunton etc. on the ex-GWR main line, towards Plymouth etc. on the SR. The 08.50 Swansea - Paignton is a Summer Saturday relief express that has come via Bristol and is not calling at Exeter but is held on the Down Independent line, headed by 4-6-0 No. 6877 'Llanfair Grange' (built 4/39, withdrawn 3/65) of a Class normally engaged on freight workings. The crew have time to chat with the boys on the platform.
– Ben Brooksbank - 26 July 1958"
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
06 July 2018
Exeter to Exeter
via Plymouth
Bob Bunyar
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
In steam days, Plymouth-bound trains could be seen leaving Exeter St Davids station in opposite directions: Western services headed south for the coastal route via Dawlish; while Southern services headed north for the inland route via Okehampton.
In a welcome return to The Manor, Bob Bunyar will be describing the convoluted routes over long-departed lines that made this possible.
"Slough & Windsor Railway Historical Photographs" (29 Jun) –
"70029 'Shooting Star' passing through Slough with the up 'Red Dragon', 23 April 1955 (Ben Brooksbank – Geograph [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons)"; also used for the UPDATE THIS: Facebook event.
Image from Wikimedia Commons –
Source caption: "Slough Station and the Up 'Red Dragon'
View westward, towards Reading and the West; ex-Great Western Paddington-Reading-Bristol and the West main line, junction for Windsor (Central). Instead of the usual GW 'Castle', the 'Red Dragon' (07.30 Carmarthen - Paddington) was worked for a few years by one of the 15 BR Britannia Pacifics tolerated by the Western Region, here No. 70029 'Shooting Star'. On the right can be glimpsed one of the numerous 61XX 2-6-2Ts that dominated the local services from Paddington, possibly here working from Windsor."
Full attribution: Ben Brooksbank [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
29 June 2018
Slough & Windsor Railway Historical Photographs
John Coke
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
Our very own John Coke will be delving into his archives to show us some of the area's railway history in old photographs.
"London Transport Architecture" (22 Jun) – "Chiswick Park station building - Ewan Munro - 23 April 2008" – also used for the UPDATE THIS: Facebook event
Image from Wikimedia Commons – Source caption: "Chiswick Park station building (inset entrance).""
– Ewan Munro - 23 April 2008"
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
22 June 2018
London Transport Architecture
Paul Joyce
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
Author and historian Paul Joyce is well known to SWRS members for his talks about canal restoration and the railways around Reading and the South.
Many Tube stations across the London Underground network feature distinctive architecture. Paul will be telling us something about it.
"New Zealand Consolidated: Part 2" (15 Jun) – "Probably beyond restoration...the remains of a steam locomotive lie rusting gently in the New Zealand sunshine – Photo: John Fowler". Only updated last minute on web, nowhere else.
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
15 June 2018
New Zealand Consolidated: Part 2
John Fowler
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
.jpg "Probably beyond restoration...the remains of a steam locomotive lie rusting gently in the New Zealand sunshine – Photo: John Fowler")
Our own John Fowler has been on several New Zealand holidays in recent years. Despite the photo John has provided, steam preservation is alive and well!
This talk, featuring both still photography and video footage, will cover the variety of railways in NZ, including preserved and running steam locos and the current scene, plus 'some other eclectic sites'.
"Southern Steam" (08 June) – "Quintessential Southern steam: Rebuilt Bulleid Light Pacific No. 34048 'Crediton' on the 18:54 Waterloo-Salisbury semi-fast, passing Raynes Park in south-west London - 15 May 1964 [Ben Brooksbank - CC-SA 2.0 - via Wikimedia Commons]" – also used for the Facebook event.
Image from Wikimedia Commons – Source caption: "Waterloo - Salisbury train passing Raynes Park.
View eastward, towards Wimbledon and Waterloo: ex-LSW Waterloo - Woking and the West main line; junction of the line to Epsom, Dorking etc. - controlled by the signalbox behind the locomotive. The 18.54 Waterloo - Salisbury semi-fast is headed by SR rebuilt Bulleid Light Pacific No. 34048 'Crediton' (built 11/46, rebuilt 3/59, withdrawn 3/66). The view is from the Up main platform, Raynes Park having Up and Down sides staggered. [One of my few colour photographs of railways in those days].
– Ben Brooksbank - 15 May 1964"
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
08 June 2018
Southern Steam
John Bird
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
John Bird is a life-long railway enthusiast and photographer, and author of several books about the steam locomotives of the Southern Railway.
2017 was the 50th anniversary of the final steam-hauled train services on British Railway's Southern Region, so this evening is likely to include photos of the anniversary celebrations, alongside memories of the iconic 'Bulleid Pacific' locomotives, 'Schools', 'Nelsons', and so forth.
"Submarine Cabling" (01 June) – "H.M.S. Agamemnon Laying the Atlantic Telegraph Cable in 1858 [Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons]" – also used for the UPDATE THIS: Facebook event.
Image from Wikimedia Commons – Source caption: "H.M.S. Agamemnon Laying the Atlantic Telegraph Cable in 1858: a Whale Crosses the Line
– Watercolor over graphite with touches of gouache, by Robert Charles Dudley: 1865-66"
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
01 June 2018
Submarine Cabling
Brian Tilbury
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
The first submarine cables were laid in the 1850s to convey telegraph messages, with the first successful transatlantic cable laid by Brunel's 'SS Great Eastern' in 1866. Today, submarine cables are still relied upon for Internet traffic.
Brian Tilbury worked in the Research and Development Department of BICC (British Insulated Callender's Cables) at White City in London.
Previous talks on engineering subjects have given a fascinating insight into areas of technology that are used everyday but go largely unnoticed. Whether you are interested in engineering, telecommunications, industrial archaeology, or social history, this is an evening for you!
"Spring Holiday Film Evening" (25 May) – P Jewell's montage; also used for the UPDATE THIS: Facebook event.
Source image (original): SWRS Transport Mix (P Jewell montage) - Original
Source image (letterbox/Facebook): SWRS Transport Mix (PJ) - Compressed height
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
25 May 2018
Spring Holiday
Film Evening
John Coke
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
John Coke will be giving us an evening of transport-related films from his extensive ciné collection.
"White Waltham" (18 May) – No change to website, as left it far too late. – NO Facebook/Twitter/Kahuti event either. (Update too late to be worthwhile.).
"Railway Art" (11 May) – "Early 20th Century Posters for London Underground, by Horace Taylor, Unknown, and Tony Sarg. [Wikimedia Commons]" – also used for the Facebook event.
Image from Wikimedia Commons – Source caption: "'Brightest London is best reached by Underground.' Advertising poster for the London Underground Limited showing brightly dressed people on escalators of the London subway.
– Horace Weston Taylor (Artist): 1924"
Image from Wikimedia Commons – Source caption: "
'Golders Green' a poster from the Underground Electric Railways Company of London (UERL) advertising the benefits of living in Golders Green, the northern terminus of the recently opened Charing Cross, Euston and Hampstead Railway.'
– London Transport Museum (artist unknown): 1908"
Image from Wikimedia Commons – Source caption: "
Up river; Humours no. 6, by Tony Sarg'
– 1913"
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
11 May 2018
Railway Art
Bob Hutchings
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
The artist J.M.W.Turner immortalised Brunel's broad gauge railway in his 1844 painting Rain, Steam and Speed – The Great Western Railway; David Sheppard painted elephants (and steam locomotives!); Terence Cuneo featured a mouse in his railway paintings; and from the earliest days, the railway companies have used art as the basis of their advertising poster campaigns.
Bob Hutchings will guide us through this fascinating aspect of railway history.
"Maidenhead Waterways" (04 May) – "Maidenhead:York Stream The four flood arches allowing York Stream to flow under the Great Western main line railway embankment. [Nigel Cox / Maidenhead: York Stream / CC BY-SA 2.0 -- Geograph via Wikimedia Commons]" – also used for the Facebook event.
UPDATE THIS: Image from Wikimedia Commons – Source caption: "Departures board at London Waterloo station, viewed from the retail balcony.
– Matt Buck: 6 October 2012"
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
04 May 2018
Maidenhead Waterways
Richard Davenport
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
.jpg "Maidenhead:York Stream
The four flood arches allowing York Stream to flow under the Great Western main line railway embankment.
[Nigel Cox / Maidenhead: York Stream / CC BY-SA 2.0 -- Geograph via Wikimedia Commons]")
In the centre of Maidenhead are several historic waterways, used for carrying cargo to and from the Thames. Having been neglected in the Twentieth century and partly converted for flood relief, there is now a drive to restore the channels, to allow navigation by boat traffic and generally enhance the local environment in the area.
Richard Davenport is the chairman of Maidenhead Waterways, the charity behind this exciting project.
"Spring Railwayana & Miscellaneous Auction" (27 Apr) – "Christie's Auction Room (edited) - Plate 006 from 'Microcosm of London' - (Wikimedia Commons)"; also used for the UPDATE THIS: Facebook event.
Image via Wikimedia Commons – Source caption: "Christie's auction room in London: This engraving was published as Plate 6 of Microcosm of London (1808). [Public domain]".
This'll do for now... Future suggestion: edit the image to place locos in the picture frames?
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
27 April 2018
Spring Railwayana & Miscellaneous Auction
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
Experience John Coke's unique style of auctioneering, join in the witty banter, and bag yourself a bargain, or ten... Yes! It's nearly time for the legendary SWRS Auction!! (raising money towards the upkeep of Slough Estates No.3).
So, dig through your cupboards, lofts and shelves for any spare railwayana, unwanted Christmas presents, and all those other things you never use.
Bring it along on the night, for us to sell...
...and don't forget your wallet: we need you to buy things as well!
"Slough & Windsor Railway Society – Annual General Meeting " (20 April) – Not advertised externally in 2018 (was in 2017).
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
20 April 2018
Slough & Windsor Railway Society
Annual General Meeting
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
All members are encouraged to attend this important meeting. Further details here.
The aim, as always, is to finish the official business of the evening by half-time, so that in the second half (after 'drinks and nibbles') we can enjoy entertainment provided by John Coke.
In previous years, John has usually shown ciné or video on the big screen, featuring Slough Estates No. 3, local railway happenings (eg rail-tours), or historical footage of Society activities. (But it could be anything...!)
"Videos of South Africa" (06 Apr) – "The 'Outeniqua Choo Tjoe' train at the Kaaimans River bridge, South Africa, May 2004 – Tim Giddings via Wikimedia Commons"; also used for the Facebook event.
Image from Wikimedia Commons – Source caption: " Outeniqua Choo Tjoe at the Kaaimans River bridge – Tim Giddings: 2 May 2004"
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
13 April 2018
Videos of South Africa
Ian Silvester
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
.jpg "The 'Outeniqua Choo Tjoe' train at the Kaaimans River bridge, South Africa, May 2004 – Tim Giddings via Wikimedia Commons")
Ian Silvester is a keen amateur steam railway and wildlife photographer (see www.dorneyphoto.com) and an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society.
In a welcome return visit to The Manor, this time Ian will be covering his trips to South Africa. Expect spectacular steam (trains) set in stunning scenery!
"Transport Mix 2018" (06 Apr) – "London Underground 1927 Standard Tube Stock driving motor car no. L134 at Acton Depot Open Day (Rob Holder)"; also used for the Facebook event.
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
06 April 2018
>> Programme Change <<
Transport Mix 2018
Rob Holder
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
.jpg "London Underground 1927 Standard Tube Stock driving motor car no. L134 at Acton Depot Open Day (Rob Holder)")
A varied evening of transport-related subjects featuring a mix of recent railway trips, behind-the-scenes views at Heathrow Airport, and some other bits and pieces included for good measure.
PLEASE NOTE: Neil Watson is unable to give his presentation 16mm Home Movie Collection by Rev Sandeman this evening. Check website for further details.
"Good Friday Archive Ciné Evening" (30 Mar)
"70029 'Shooting Star' passing through Slough with the up 'Red Dragon', 23 April 1955 (Ben Brooksbank – Geograph [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons)"; also used for the Facebook event.
Image from Wikimedia Commons –
Source caption: "Slough Station and the Up 'Red Dragon'
View westward, towards Reading and the West; ex-Great Western Paddington-Reading-Bristol and the West main line, junction for Windsor (Central). Instead of the usual GW 'Castle', the 'Red Dragon' (07.30 Carmarthen - Paddington) was worked for a few years by one of the 15 BR Britannia Pacifics tolerated by the Western Region, here No. 70029 'Shooting Star'. On the right can be glimpsed one of the numerous 61XX 2-6-2Ts that dominated the local services from Paddington, possibly here working from Windsor."
Full attribution: Ben Brooksbank [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
30 March 2018
Good Friday
Archive Ciné Evening
Frank Banfield
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
Frank Banfield presents another of his very popular evenings with a further selection from his extensive collection of archive 16mm ciné film.
Previous evenings have included documentaries, BTC publicity, vintage adverts, cartoons, and excerpts from home movies. Films mostly feature railway subjects, but trams, buses, canals, docks, heavy road haulage and air travel may also make an appearance.
"Train Service Policy" (16 Mar) – "Departure Board, London Waterloo Station, October 2012. (Matt Buck – Wikimedia Commons)" – also used for the Facebook event.
Image from Wikimedia Commons – Source caption: "Departures board at London Waterloo station, viewed from the retail balcony.
– Matt Buck: 6 October 2012"
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
16 March 2018
Train Service Policy
Peter Latham
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
.jpg "Departure Board, London Waterloo Station, October 2012. (Matt Buck – Wikimedia Commons)")
Peter Latham, the Society's 'industry insider' will be looking at current train service policy in the UK. In particularly how the re-franchising process works and how Government objectives for the railway are delivered through franchising.
Peter is first and foremost a railway enthusiast, as well as a railwayman, so this should be a fascinating evening.
"Basingstoke to Southampton" (09 Mar) – "''Standard Arthur' Class 5MT 4-6-0 no. 73115 'King Pellinore' with a Bournemouth West train from Waterloo." – provided by Paul – also used for the Facebook event
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
09 March 2018
Basingstoke to Southampton
Paul Joyce
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
.jpg "'Standard Arthur' Class 5MT 4-6-0 no. 73115 'King Pellinore' with a Bournemouth West train from Waterloo.")
Author and historian Paul Joyce is well known to SWRS members for his talks about canal restoration and the railways around Reading and the South.
Continuing from his talk earlier in the year (Waterloo to Basingstoke), Paul will be taking us down the line to Southampton, looking back through the years at the stations, feeder lines and motive power.
March 2nd – Cancelled due to adverse weather conditions!
Programme change:
"German Railways Miscellany – Narrow Gauge Steam – Colin Miell"
Original meeting, postponed (indefinitely) due to ill health:
"Blackburn Aircraft – Peter Trout"
Facebook post warned of cancelled meeting. No event created. No Kahuti event/update.
Important notice!
for: Friday, 2nd March
* * * MEETING CANCELLED * * *
Due to the adverse weather conditions, Friday's meeting has been cancelled.
Please re-visit the website to check for further news.
(Note that The Manor will NOT be opening for members this evening.)
"GWR Salisbury Branch in WW1" (23 Feb) – "Great Western Railway steam railmotor 93 during a visit to the West Somerset Railway in 2013. (Geof Sheppard – Wikimedia Commons)" – also used for the Facebook event.
Image from Wikimedia Commons – Source caption: "Great Western Railway steam railmotor 93 on its way from Norton Fitzwarren to Bishops Lydeard during a visit to the West Somerset Railway.
– Geof Sheppard: 24 March 2013"
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
23 February 2018
GWR Salisbury Branch
in WW1
Robert Cole
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
.jpg "Great Western Railway steam railmotor 93 during a visit to the West Somerset Railway in 2013. (Geof Sheppard – Wikimedia Commons)")
The Great Western Railway's branch line from Westbury, in Wiltshire, to Salisbury was completed in 1856. Most of the smaller stations were closed in 1955, but the line remains open as part of the Wessex Main Line.
Robert will no doubt be explaining the role that this branch line – with its proximity to the military camps and training areas around Salisbury Plain – played during the First World War.
"Two French Visits" (16 Feb) – "Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme (CFBS), France: Metre gauge steam locomotives, 1905-built Pinguely 0-6-0T No. 101, and 1889-built 2-6-0T Cail No.2, on passenger duties. – Photo: Jim Ballantyne"; also used for the Facebook event.
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
16 February 2018
Two French Visits
Jim Ballantyne
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
Jim Ballantyne is our resident expert on industrial railways, Eastern Europe, boilers, and surviving steam-hauled railways worldwide. He is also a frequent winner of the annual SWRS Photographic Competition.
Jim will describe the first of two visits to France that took place in 2017. Watch this space for the date of the second talk!
"Model Train Evening - Part 2" (09 Feb) – "Detail from 'Addison Park', a 3mm-scale (TT) model of an imaginary London Underground station near Kensington (Olympia). [Photo: P Jewell]; also used for the Facebook event
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
09 February 2018
Model Train Evening
– Part 2
Graham Bilbe
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
Last September, Graham Bilbe spoke about his work as an auction house valuation consultant, and gave an interesting talk about the early history of model trains.
This evening, Graham will continue his history talk about model trains. He will also be evaluating railway and other transport models and providing valuations.
Members are invited to bring a model along for Graham to examine.
(Well, you can bring several if you like, but there might not be time to get more than one valued!)
"Transport Miscellaneous" (02 Feb) – "Hawksworth '9400' Class 0-6-0PT no. 8436 at the head of an empty stock working, Paddington Station, 28 June 1962 (Ben Brooksbank – Geograph [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons)" – also used for the Facebook event.
Image from Wikimedia Commons – Source caption: "Large Pannier Tank on empty stock work at Paddington.
View outward from near barriers on Platforms 4/5. Hawksworth '9400' class 0-6-0PT No. 8436 (built 5/53, withdrawn 6/65) has brought in from Old Oak Common the stock for the next express from Platform 4. Note the trolleys piled with bags of Mail.
– Ben Brooksbank: 28 June 1962"
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
02 Feb 2018
Transport Miscellaneous
Graham Stacey
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
.jpg "Hawksworth '9400' Class 0-6-0PT no. 8436 at the head of an empty stock working, Paddington Station, 28 June 1962 (Ben Brooksbank – Geograph [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons)")
Graham Stacey has previously given us several entertaining and educational evenings featuring select railway photographs from the historic Ken Nunn collection, and also from his own collection of railway photographs taken during the 1960s.
(Don't know what subjects Graham will be showing us this time! Sorry!!)
"The Digital Year – 2017" (27 Jan) – "2-foot gauge 0-4-0 steam locomotives 'Chuquitanta' (Decauville 36/1855) and 'Armistice' (Bagnall 2088/19) on the Richmond Light Railway – 19th Aug 2017 – Photo: Jim Ballantyne"; also used for the Facebook event.
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
26 January 2018
The Digital Year
– 2017 –
Jim Ballantyne
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
Jim is our resident expert on industrial railways, Eastern Europe, boilers, and surviving steam-hauled railways worldwide. A frequent winner of the SWRS Photographic Competition, Jim will be sharing stories and (digital!) photos from his travels during the past 12 months or so.
"Waterloo to Basingstoke" (19 Jan) – "'Merchant Navy' Class Bulleid Pacific 4-6-2 locomotive 21C19 'French C.G.T Line' at Waterloo, Dec 1945." – provided by Paul – also used for the Facebook event
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
19 Jan 2018
Waterloo to Basingstoke
Paul Joyce
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
Author and historian Paul Joyce is well known to SWRS members for his talks about canal restoration and the railways around Reading and the South.
This time, Paul will be looking back through the years at the London terminus, Waterloo, and its feeder lines and motive power...with a slight divergence to look at the adjacent Basingstoke Canal as a bonus!
"Videos of China" (12 Jan) – "YJ 310 at Tanshan Colliery, China, 1989 – Ian Silvester"; also used for the Facebook event.
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
12 January 2018
Videos of China
Ian Silvester
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
Ian Silvester is a keen amateur steam railway and wildlife photographer (see www.dorneyphoto.com) and an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society.
In a welcome return visit to The Manor, this time Ian will be showing us video footage of several trips to China, between 1997 and 2000. Expect lots of steam set in stunning scenery!
"Transport Mix" (05 Jan) – P Jewell's montage.
NOT posted to Facebook or Kahuti.
"Friday Nights at The Manor"
05 January 2018
>> Programme Change <<
Transport Mix
Rob Holder
7:30pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Rob Holder will be giving us another varied evening of transport-related subjects.
PLEASE NOTE: Christian Wolmar is unable to give his presentation on 5th January due to other engagements. Please watch website for further details.
