'Next Meeting' Banner Advert Archive

– – – 2025 – – –

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.

INCOMPLETE OFFLINE EDIT (dd mmm) – placeholder.

"Comment placeholder" (dd mmm) – Speaker – no email address.


TEMP NOTE:
Entry for 8th July (2022?) has new and improved sections.
Create a new banner template from this.


Twitter text source:
Incorporating an ellipsis: (more…) and an N-dash: –

dd mmm 2025
Template: Title – Speaker

UPDATE THIS: Photo caption:
"Description. (Photographer – Date – via Wikimedia Commons)"

UPDATE THIS: ALT text:
"ALT text."

Image from Wikimedia Commons – Source caption:
[text of source caption]
(Photographer – Date – Geograph [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons)

Not YET publicised on social media.

[UPDATE THESE] Social Media: Twitter –– Instagram –– Facebook ––
Not used this time: Google My Business –– ScoopLoop.

"Friday Nights at The Manor"

dd MONTH 2025

Title

Sub-title

Speaker

7:45pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)

A wooden, single-storey, Victorian building with large windows, in GWR colours.

The Slough & Windsor Railway Society meets on Friday evenings at The Manor, by Slough railway station, from about 7:15pm. The meeting is open to all, not just members. It usually features an illustrated talk on the subject of railways or some other transport-related theme, often presented by a visiting speaker (see programme page for details). There is a small admission charge to cover costs.

Details of this week's talk will be updated here soon.

placeholder

Photo: 'The Manor', the SWRS meeting place adjacent to Slough Station.

Please see the Programme page for more about Friday meetings.

25 Apr 2025
Ashford to Hastings Revisited – Dick Crane

  • Research notes:
  • Details emailed by Richard/Dick, 2nd-7th March 2025.

Photo caption:
"Southern Class 171 2-car DMU, set no. 171 729, calls at Appledore in 2022 working between Ashford - Hastings - Eastbourne. Photo: Dick Crane"

ALT text:
"A modern diesel multiple unit calls at an almost-deserted rural railway station."

Not YET publicised on social media.

[UPDATE THESE] Social Media: Twitter –– Instagram –– Facebook ––
Not used this time: Google My Business –– ScoopLoop.

"Friday Nights at The Manor"

25 Apr 2025

Ashford to Hastings Revisited

(railway video extracts)

Dick Crane

7:45pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)

A modern diesel multiple unit calls at an almost-deserted rural railway station.

A presentation featuring the railway scene past and present at Ashford and Hastings, with pictures from the early 1900s through to 2025 along the once-threatened branch line between the two rail centres.

More recently known as the 'Marshlink Line', the non-electrified branch is a small oasis of diesel traction in otherwise Southern third-rail territory.

Photo: "Southern Class 171 2-car DMU, set no. 171 729, calls at Appledore in 2022 working between Ashford - Hastings - Eastbourne. Photo: Dick Crane"

Please see the Programme page for more about Friday meetings.

18 Apr 2025
Train-spotting: 2024-Style – Matt Francis

  • Research notes:
  • Details emailed by Matt, 7th April 2025.

Photo caption:
"SWRS Vice-Chairman Matt Francis photographing his favourite, rebuilt Merchant Navy Bulleid Pacific no. 35006 'Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co.', at Toddington on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway, 5th April 2025. Image Credit: James Taviner"

ALT text:
"An enthusiast taking a photo of a large steam locomotive at a heritage railway station.."

Not YET publicised on social media.

[UPDATE THESE] Social Media: Twitter –– Instagram –– Facebook ––
Not used this time: Google My Business –– ScoopLoop.

"Friday Nights at The Manor"

18 Apr 2025

>> Programme Change <<

Train-spotting:
2024-Style

(railway video extracts)

Matt Francis

7:45pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)

An enthusiast taking a photo of a large steam locomotive at a heritage railway station.

A slide-show of pictures and video footage of Matt's train-spotting exploits from the last 18 months. There will be highlights from the mainline, featuring steam, diesel, and electric traction, together with some heritage railway steam events that he has attended.

As well as being SWRS Vice-Chairman, and organiser of the SWRS Model Railway Exhibition (25th-26th October), Matt's job and hobbies allow many opportunities for rail travel at home and abroad. He enjoys sharing his spotting adventures on social media, and you can follow him on Instagram (@mattsmaritimeandrail), Facebook, and YouTube.

NOTE: We had hoped to welcome back Paul Joyce this evening, for some "Reading Railways", as advertised, but technical difficulties mean this must wait for another day. Our apologies for any inconvenience.

Photo: "SWRS Vice-Chairman Matt Francis photographing his favourite, rebuilt Merchant Navy Bulleid Pacific no. 35006 'Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co.', at Toddington on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway, 5th April 2025. Image Credit: James Taviner"

Please see the Programme page for more about Friday meetings.

11 Apr 2025 –
Slough & Windsor Railway Society – Annual General Meeting

  • Photo for Social Media:
    use the PRJ photo of No. 3 (DSCF1661.JPG) from SWRS Middleton Trip, 2015.
  • [ALT text]:
    "A small 0-6-0 steam locomotive in front of a wooded countryside background.
    [Full caption]: 1924-built Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0ST "Slough Estates No.3" simmers gently at the far end of the Middleton Railway in Leeds, October 2015 (Photo: Peter Jewell)"

Not YET publicised on social media.

[UPDATE THESE] Social Media: Twitter –– Instagram –– Facebook ––
Not used for AGM: Google My Business, ScoopLoop.

"Friday Nights at The Manor"

11 April 2025

Slough & Windsor Railway Society
Annual General Meeting

7:45pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)

Hybrid Zoom meeting *

All members are encouraged to attend this important meeting.

Further details may be found here.

If the official business is concluded by half-time, in the second half we can enjoy watching a DVD, or something, on the big screen; however, there are plenty of important matters to discuss...

Please see the Programme page for more about Friday meetings.

* This will be a 'hybrid' Zoom evening: the meeting will take place at The Manor, and everyone is encouraged to attend in person; but for those who are unable to do so, the presentation will also be shared via the Zoom video conferencing software: please contact Frank Taylor to take part.

Unfortunately, the meeting will not be available online via Zoom, this year. Efforts are in hand to once more provide Zoom access to occasional Friday meetings, but there are financial and administrative considerations.

04 Apr 2025
After the Grouping – Jeremy Harrison

  • Research notes:
  • See previous entries and email March 2025 about this talk

Photo caption:
"LMS Hughes 5P 4-6-0 10474, heading a train of the latest coaches, participating in the Cavalcade at the Darlington Railway Centenary Exhibition, 2nd July 1925. Image Credit: LCGB/NRM Ken Nunn Collection"

ALT text:
"Archive photo from 1925, showing a smart 4-6-0 tender steam locomotive and some contemporary, wooden-panelled, coaches."

Not YET publicised on social media.

[UPDATE THESE] Social Media: Twitter –– Instagram –– Facebook ––
Not used this time: Google My Business –– ScoopLoop.

"Friday Nights at The Manor"

04 Apr 2025

After the Grouping

(railway video extracts)

Jeremy Harrison

7:45pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)

Archive photo from 1925, showing a smart 4-6-0 tender steam locomotive and some contemporary, wooden-panelled, coaches.

Jeremy Harrison presents a selection of images from the LCGB/NRM Ken Nunn collection, covering the period 1923-1929.

It is over 100 years since the 1923 Grouping, when most of the railways of Great Britain were amalgamated into the 'Big Four' – the greatest reorganisation they had suffered in their first century, which was marked by the Railway Century Exhibition at Darlington in 1925.

Tonight's presentation looks at Britain's railways between 1923 and 1929, as the multitude of preceding companies were reorganised into the four systems which most of us are familiar with – a process which did not always go smoothly.

Photo: "LMS Hughes 5P 4-6-0 10474, heading a train of the latest coaches, participating in the Cavalcade at the Darlington Railway Centenary Exhibition, 2nd July 1925."
Image Credit: LCGB/NRM Ken Nunn Collection

Please see the Programme page for more about Friday meetings.

28 Mar 2025
35006 Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co. – Chris Ardy

  • Research notes:
  • Chris Ardy returned a good set of notes (see below), plus a photo, which was cropped partly to remove a photographer's arm, but partly just to make the photo larger on the website. (Facebook will possibly use a different crop.)
    • I am a life-long railway enthusiast, starting in 1953 when I spotted my first loco, 35006, pulling an up train over the bridge over the A30 west of Honiton. We were going on holiday to Devon. I was then a keen trainspotter until 1968 when steam ended on BR.
    • I rekindled my interest in the 1980's when I joined the GW Society at Didcot. Since then I have supported other railway ventures and and am a shareholder in the Bodmin & Wenford Railway and the Bluebell Railway amongst others. I am a volunteer at the GWSR in the Loco Department.
    • I have also supported engine restorations and new builds. I have been a supporter of the A1 Trust since the early 1990s and a support crew member on Tornado from 2008 to date. I also coordinate all the the talks for the Trust and give some of the talks.
    • I have been a shareholder and member of the 35006 Loco Preservation Society since the Mid 1990s and a Director of the 35006 Loco Co. since 2012. I have been involved in running the sales stall for the Society since about 2010 to date.
    • My talk will cover the history of the loco, its restoration and operation from 2014.

Photo caption:
"Rebuilt Merchant Navy Bulleid Pacific no. 35006, Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co., on a passenger service at the May 2016 gala on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway. – 28 May 2016 [Photo:Chris Ardy]"

ALT text:
"A large steam locomotive with smoke deflectors, in shiny ex-works condition, hauls a passenger train past a semaphore signal on a rural heritage railway."

Not YET publicised on social media.

[UPDATE THESE] Social Media: Twitter –– Instagram –– Facebook ––
Not used this time: Google My Business –– ScoopLoop.

"Friday Nights at The Manor"

28 Mar 2025

35006 Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co.

(railway video extracts)

Chris Ardy

7:45pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)

A large steam locomotive with smoke deflectors, in shiny ex-works condition, hauls a passenger train past a semaphore signal on a rural heritage railway.

35006 "Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co." is a Merchant Navy Class 4-6-2 steam locomotive, designed by Oliver Bulleid for the Southern Railway, and built at Eastleigh locomotive works in December 1941.

The loco has been part of Chris's life since 1953: on the way to a family holiday, the sight of 35006 hauling a train across the A30 near Honiton started a life-long enthusiasm for railways.

Chris's talk will cover the history of the loco, its restoration, and operation from 2014.

Along with "Clan Line" it was one of the last two of the class to be rebuilt, in October 1959.Withdrawn in 1964, 35006 languished at Woodham's Scrapyard, Barry until 1983, when it was move to Toddington on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway. A lengthy restoration followed, including construction of a new tender, and 35006 finally returned to steam in 2015.

Chris Ardy was an avid trainspotter until the end of steam on BR. His interest was rekindled in the 1980s, and he is now a volunteer on the GWSR, in the loco department, and a member of the support crew for Tornado. Chris is a shareholder and director of the 35006 Loco Preservation Society, and also runs its sales stand!

Photo: "Rebuilt Merchant Navy Bulleid Pacific no. 35006, Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co., on a passenger service at the May2016 gala on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway.
– 28 May 2016 [Photo:Chris Ardy]"

Please see the Programme page for more about Friday meetings.

14 Mar 2025
For a Few Rupees More (Part 1) – Peter Robins

  • Peter Robins returned a description and photo + caption via email.
    Copy-edited, including using Indian spellings for locations, rather than those used during British occupation!

Photo caption:
"WP class 4-6-2 'Pacific' locomotive no. 7687 restarting its train from Amritsar to New Delhi out of Jalandhar on 2nd January 1981. [Peter Robins]"

ALT text:
"A mainline railway scene in India in the 1980s. A large, partly-streamlined steam locomotive hauls a lengthy passenger train through broad expanses of freight marshalling yard, between characteristic semaphore signals. Smoke from several locomotives contribute to the heavily polluted sky."

Not YET publicised on social media.

Social Media: Twitter –– Instagram –– Facebook ––
Not used this time: Google My Business –– ScoopLoop.

"Friday Nights at The Manor"

14 Mar 2025

For a Few Rupees More
(Part 1)

(railway video extracts)

Peter Robins

7:45pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)

A mainline railway scene in India in the 1980s. A large, partly-streamlined steam locomotive hauls a lengthy passenger train through broad expanses of freight marshalling yard, between characteristic semaphore signals. Smoke from several locomotives contribute to the heavily polluted sky.

India was always a wonderful but slightly frustrating country that was full of surprises – some good, some not so. This two-part presentation draws from visits made between 1981 and 1996.

The presentation includes a variety of steam classes at work on broad and metre gauge, and on a number of the charming narrow gauge lines at various locations. Industrial lines also feature as does steam over the border in Pakistan.

Part 1 covers 1981 and 1987, and includes Punjab, Pakistan, Darjeeling, and Ooty (Ootacamund). (Part 2 is scheduled for October.)

Peter Robins is the guest judge for the Annual SWRS Photo Competition (held in December), so we can expect some cracking photography.

Photo: "WP class 4-6-2 'Pacific' locomotive no. 7687 restarting its train from Amritsar to New Delhi out of Jalandhar on 2nd January 1981. [Peter Robins]"

Please see the Programme page for more about Friday meetings.

07 Mar 2025
Looking Back at 2024 in Motion – Derek Spicer

  • Derek Spicer sent notes and a photo via email, in response to Peter's request to do the evening. Used almost unmodified.

Photo caption:
"LNER Thomson B1 4-6-0 61306 'Mayflower', leaving Kingswear on the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway, sometime during 2024. [Derek Spicer]"

ALT text:
"A steam locomotive hauls a lengthy passenger train along the bank of a broad river. The tree-covered hillside rises steeply behind. The apple green -liveried locomotive and carmine and cream coaches show up nicely against the natural backdrop."

Not YET publicised on social media.

Social Media: Twitter –– Instagram –– Facebook ––
Not used this time: Google My Business –– ScoopLoop.

"Friday Nights at The Manor"

07 Mar 2025

Looking Back at 2024
in Motion

(railway video extracts)

Derek Spicer

7:45pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)

A steam locomotive hauls a lengthy passenger train along the bank of a broad river. The tree-covered hillside rises steeply behind. The apple green -liveried locomotive and carmine and cream coaches show up nicely against the natural backdrop.

Derek makes short videos for his YouTube channel 'Pico Railway Videos'. Tonight he will be showing a selection of these video plus a couple of his unpublished films from 2024.

The videos will feature mainly railways, both main line and preserved, in the West Country and Southern England. This show was first shown at Reading Transport Group in January this year.

Derek Spicer is a professional videographer with a life-long interest in steam railways. He has been a keen amateur photographer for many years, winning awards at various competitions. Turning to video in 2000, he started a company to create short promotional videos for companies and charities. More of Derek's railway videos may be found on his YouTube channel: Pico Railway Videos.

Photo: "LNER Thomson B1 4-6-0 61306 'Mayflower', leaving Kingswear on the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway, sometime during 2024. [Derek Spicer]"

Please see the Programme page for more about Friday meetings.

28 Feb 2025
"Carry On Steaming, Again!" 2023-2024 – Simon Colbeck

  • [Research notes]:
  • See PRJ/Simon email, 22-23 Feb 2025
  • Photo provided by Simon was title caption for talk. Traction engine shot extracted from that for website. No caption provided.

Photo caption:
"1914 Fowler 10NHP B6 Showmans Road Locomotive 'Carry On' (works no 14425, reg. no. DP 4418), in livery of 'McGivern's Gigantic Pleasure Fairs', hard at work generating power for a vintage fairground ride. – Simon Colbeck"

Photo ALT text:
"Night-time view of a brightly-coloured traction engine on a vintage fairground, stationary, but steaming at full power. The lights on the showmans road locomotive use the electricity it is generating for the rides."

Not YET publicised on social media.

[UPDATE THESE] Social Media: Twitter –– Facebook ––
Not used this time: Instagram (couldn't create post) –– Google My Business –– ScoopLoop.

"Friday Nights at The Manor"

28 Feb 2025

"Carry On Steaming,
  Again!"
2023-2024

2023-2024

Simon Colbeck

7:45pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)

Night-time view of a brightly-coloured traction engine on a vintage fairground, stationary, but steaming at full power. The lights on the showmans road locomotive use the electricity it is generating for the rides.

A photographic essay of steam power on road and rail over the last couple of years. It will feature narrow gauge and standard gauge preserved railways, together with the best of UK road steam. As a bonus, there will be some archive material – fresh off the scanner – to remind us of the good old days of UK steam.

Simon Colbeck is a lifelong railway and heritage road steam enthusiast and live-steam modeller, and is well-known as a photographer, being a correspondent for Old Glory and Steam Railway magazines.

Photo: "1914 Fowler 10NHP B6 Showmans Road Locomotive 'Carry On' (works no 14425, reg. no. DP 4418), in livery of 'McGivern's Gigantic Pleasure Fairs', hard at work generating power for a vintage fairground ride. – Simon Colbeck"

Please see the Programme page for more about Friday meetings.

21 Feb 2025
Scenic Rails Around the World – Part 2 – John Laker & Keith Spillet

  • [Research notes]
  • Previous talks by John Laker & Keith Spillet:
    • "Scenic Rails Around the World – Part 2" - 21st Feb 2025
    • "Scenic Rails Around the World – Part 1" - 31st May 2024
    • "Preserved Steam Part 4" - 25th Nov 2022 - advertised as "High Definition Photography"!
    • "Preserved Steam Part 4" - 25th Feb 2022
    • "Preserved Steam Part 3" - 5th Nov 2021
    • "Preserved Steam Part 2" - 10th Sep 2021 (Blu-ray failure)
    • "Steam Railway Miscellany" - 1st Feb 2019 ('Keith & John Laker' !!)
    • "Steam on the Underground" - 1st Dec 2017 ('John Laker' - didn't show us any LT Steam, as the only footage is on their DVD which they didn't show!!)
    • "British Second Generation Tramways" - 17th Mar 2017 ('John Laker')
    • "British Trams and Trolley Buses in HD" - 28th Oct 2016 ('John Laker')
  • Email response from John (to Peter Latham, 7th Feb 2025):
    • Rocky Mountaineer Vancouver to Banff and Via Rail Jasper to Toronto 2001
    • Petit Train de Cerdagnes 2005
    • Bernina Express 2009
    • Pilatus Bahn Rack Railway 2019
    • Brienz Rothorn Steam Railway 2019

Photo caption:
"Train of Rhätische Bahn on the Bernina line, with the Morteratsch Glacier in the background, 16 August 2004.
– Rainer Göttlinger   [Wikimedia Commons - CC-by-SA-3.0]"

ALT text:
"A boxy, but colourful, electric multiple unit on a steep climb in Switzerland, backed by dense forest and a glacier in the background."

Image from Wikimedia Commons – Source caption:
Train of Rhätische Bahn on the Bernina line, with the Morteratsch Glacier in the background, 16 August 2004.
– Rainer Göttlinger   [Wikimedia Commons - CC-by-SA-3.0]"

Not YET publicised on social media.

Social Media: Twitter –– Instagram –– Facebook ––
Not used this time: Google My Business –– ScoopLoop.

"Friday Nights at The Manor"

21 Feb 2025

Scenic Rails Around The World – Part 2

John Laker & Keith Spillet

7:45pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)

A boxy, but colourful, electric multiple unit on a steep climb in Switzerland, backed by dense forest and a glacier in the background.

Videographer and tram enthusiast, John Laker, and retired photographer Keith Spillett, are presenting another evening of their high-definition video, complete with sound system and live commentary.

This evening will feature trains from around the world, including: from 2001, The Rocky Mountaineer (Vancouver to Banff) and Via Rail (Jasper to Toronto); the Petit Train de Cerdagnes (2005); the Bernina Express (2009); and then, after the interval, from 2019: the Pilatus Bahn Rack Railway and the Brienz Rothorn Steam Railway.

(Photo: Train of Rhätische Bahn on the Bernina line, with the Morteratsch Glacier in the background, 16 August 2004. – Rainer Göttlinger   [Wikimedia Commons - CC-by-SA-3.0]
Not featured in the evening's entertainment, but is representative of an RhB train. It may, or may not, be the Bernina Express; but it's certainly similar!)

Please see the Programme page for more about Friday meetings.

14 Feb 2024
Rhapsody in BR Blue – (Peter Jewell / Members Evening)

  • Additional notes:
  • Evening will be built around the 2017 DVD from Global Video films:
    "Into the Blue - Blue Diesels in the 1970s and 1980s - Volume 2: Yorkshire"
  • DVD was donated to SWRS to sell, but the sights and sounds are too good to let go.
  • At end, need to do a quick advert for the publishers, to appease any copyright issues!

Photo caption:
"BR Class 45 1Co-Co1 diesel locomotive no. 45054 heads south from Loughborough with a passenger train for London St. Pancras, 9th July 1975. – Nigel Tout
– (CC-by-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons"

Photo ALT text:
"A very long British Rail diesel locomotive, painted BR Blue, with yellow ends, hauls an express passenger train through flat countryside."

Image from Wikimedia Commons –
Source caption: "BR Class 45 1Co-Co1 diesel locomotive no. 45054 heads south from Loughborough with a passenger train for London St. Pancras, July 1975."
Nigel Tout – via Wikimedia Commons – 9 July 1975

Not YET publicised on social media.

[UPDATE THESE] Social Media: Twitter –– Instagram –– Facebook ––
Not used this time: Google My Business –– ScoopLoop.

"Friday Nights at The Manor"

14 Feb 2025

Rhapsody in BR Blue

– from luxury travel to warplanes

(Members Eve. / Peter Jewell)

7:45pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)

A very long British Rail diesel locomotive, painted BR Blue, with yellow ends, hauls an express passenger train through flat countryside.

British Rail's corporate identity introduced BR Rail Blue in 1966, and this livery lasted well into the 1980s. The "BR Blue" era is fondly remembered by those who started their train-spotting during those years.

This evening we shall be watching classic diesel traction in Yorkshire in the late 1970s and early 1980s, with a very high content of freight! It's from a DVD donated to the Society, and the sound is something else. So, if you love the gentle roar of Sulzers, English Electrics and Napier Deltics, you'll love this.

Fans of Peaks, Whistlers, Tractors, Choppers, Grids, Rats, and Deltics will be in their element, and there's a glorious cameo from a Hoover on a railtour!

If there's time, we'll also watch some footage of Slough Station in 1985, featuring Class 50's, 47's, 31's, HSTs and DMUs.

Photo: "BR Class 45 1Co-Co1 diesel locomotive no. 45054 heads south from Loughborough with a passenger train for London St. Pancras, 9th July 1975. – Nigel Tout
– (CC-by-SA 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons"
[I know it's the wrong region, but it's a fantastic photo! - Webmaster]

Please see the Programme page for more about Friday meetings.

07 Feb 2024
Stories from a Career in Flying – Lorimer Burn

Photo caption:
"The Lynx Mk8 helicopter of HMS Campbeltown, a Type 22 Frigate, is pictured on exercise over the Red Sea in January 2007. –
LA(Phot) Des Wade – Crown Copyright / MOD 45147445 [OGL v1.0], via Wikimedia Commons"

Photo ALT text:
"A Royal Navy Lynx helicopter, silhouetted against a sunset over a vast expanse of sea"

Image from Wikimedia Commons –
Source caption: "The Lynx Mk8 helicopter of HMS Campbeltown, a Type 22 Frigate, is pictured on exercise over the Red Sea in January 2007."
LA(Phot) Des Wade – Crown Copyright / MOD 45147445 [OGL v1.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Not YET publicised on social media.

Social Media: Twitter –– Instagram –– Facebook ––
Not used this time: Google My Business –– ScoopLoop.

"Friday Nights at The Manor"

07 Feb 2025

Stories from a
Career in Flying

– from luxury travel to warplanes

Lorimer Burn

7:45pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)

A Royal Navy Lynx helicopter, silhouetted against a sunset over a vast expanse of sea

The stories commence with naval helicopter operations off Iceland during the 'Cod Wars', then continue with helicopter flying in the Royal Navy, including some dramatic video of landing a Lynx helicopter on the deck of a frigate in a gale.

Moving to civilian aviation, the stories continue with helicopter operations to the North Sea oil rigs, including passenger ditching training, and operations of the S61N and Chinook helicopters. Finally, "Don't fly through a thunderstorm!" – the story of an accidental flight into a cumulonimbus cloud over Basingstoke, UK.

Lorimer Burn started his flying career in 1967, flying helicopters from Royal Navy ships. After 12 years' military service he joined British Airways Helicopters to fly S61 and Chinooks to North Sea oil rigs. In 1988 he moved from helicopters to airliners, flying Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 planes from Heathrow for British Midland. Since retirement Lorimer has remained firmly on the ground, but spends his time giving presentations about his flying experience and other aviation topics.

This will be a welcome return to the Manor for Lorimer, who gave us an illustrated talk on Incredible Flying Boats, last year.

Photo: "The Lynx Mk8 helicopter of HMS Campbeltown, a Type 22 Frigate, is pictured on exercise over the Red Sea in January 2007.
– LA(Phot) Des Wade – Crown Copyright / MOD 45147445 [OGL v1.0], via Wikimedia Commons"

Please see the Programme page for more about Friday meetings.

31 January 2025
"Slough Estates No.3" (Members Evening)

Photo from PRJ's 'purchased slide' collection.

Photo caption:
"Slough Estates No.3 pauses between duties outside Weston's Biscuit Factory, sometime during the 1960s (P Jewell Collection)"

ALT text:
"A small, green, 0-6-0 saddle-tank locomotive (Slough Estates No. 3) sits amid clouds of steam, near a brick factory building, surrounded by cars parked very close to the tracks."

Not YET publicised on social media.

[UPDATE THESE] Social Media: Twitter –– Instagram –– Facebook –– Facebook (10th Jan) ––
Not used this time: Google My Business –– ScoopLoop.

Original text: (only up for 24hrs)

"Friday Nights at The Manor"

31 January 2025

"Slough Estates No.3" (100 years old!)

(Members' Photographs)

7:45pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)

A small, green, 0-6-0 saddle-tank locomotive (Slough Estates No. 3) sits amid clouds of steam, near a brick factory building, surrounded by cars parked very close to the tracks.

In anticipation of a proper "Return to Steam" celebration later in the year, this is an opportunity for members to look out their pictures and videos of No.3, and to share these and other reminiscences with fellow members.

"Slough Estates No.3" is one of the 0-6-0 steam locomotives that used to shunt wagons around the Slough Trading Estate's private railway system, between 1924 and 1973. Slough & Windsor Railway Society are custodians of "No.3" (as we know her), and SWRS members were instrumental in restoring the locomotive to working order again, after 25 years out of use.

October 2024 was No.3's 100th birthday, and we had hoped to celebrate this with a trip to the Middleton Railway in Leeds, where No. 3 is currently based. This couldn't happen as No.3 is still in pieces, deep into her second boiler overhaul since restoration. Happily, the overhaul is approaching completion and should be finished within the next few months.

This evening is a chance to see pictures and film of No.3 at work on the Trading Estate, under restoration at Stoke Place, and in action at the Swindon & Cricklade Railway, and the Middleton Railway. We should also have an update on the progress of her latest overhaul.

Members are invited to bring their photos of No.3, particularly at work on the Trading Estate or in pieces at Stoke Place (or the Watercress Line), to share with others. And if anyone can bring along a Super 8 ciné projector, we can show an archive film of the engines that was made during their last year of operation.

(Photo: Slough Estates No.3 pauses between duties outside Weston's Biscuit Factory, sometime during the 1960s (P Jewell Collection))

Please see the Programme page for more about Friday meetings.

Please note that new heaters have been installed in The Manor, so winter meetings are a lot warmer than they used to be! (But do wrap up, as they struggle a bit when it's near freezing.)

Revised text: (after it was noted that we should be having a big celebration on completion)

"Friday Nights at The Manor"

31 January 2025

"Slough Estates No.3"

(Members' Evening)

7:45pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)

A small, green, 0-6-0 saddle-tank locomotive (Slough Estates No. 3) sits amid clouds of steam, near a brick factory building, surrounded by cars parked very close to the tracks.

In anticipation of a proper "Return to Steam" celebration later in the year, this is an opportunity for members to look out their pictures and videos of No.3, and to share these and other reminiscences with fellow members.

Please note: at the beginning of the evening there will be an Open Meeting for all members to discuss the current vacancies within the Committee.

"Slough Estates No.3" is one of the 0-6-0 steam locomotives that used to shunt wagons around the Slough Trading Estate's private railway system, between 1924 and 1973. Slough & Windsor Railway Society are custodians of "No.3" (as we know her), and SWRS members were instrumental in restoring the locomotive to working order again, after 25 years out of use.

No. 3 is currently based at the Middleton Railway in Leeds, but out-of-traffic for her second boiler overhaul since restoration. Happily, the overhaul is approaching completion and should be finished within the next few months.

Members are invited to bring their photos of No.3, particularly at work on the Trading Estate or in pieces at Stoke Place (or the Watercress Line), to share with others. And if anyone can bring along a Super 8 ciné projector, we can show an archive film of the engines that was made during their last year of operation.

(Photo: Slough Estates No.3 pauses between duties outside Weston's Biscuit Factory, sometime during the 1960s (P Jewell Collection))

This evening is open to non-members as well as SWRS members.

Please see the Programme page for more about Friday meetings.

03-24 January 2025
Members' Presentation Evening

Banner ad stayed up, unmodified (not even date!), from 3rd to 23rd January! No social media updates either, although a FB event was created for 10th.
For 24th Jan, the date was changed, and the final comment about next week's No.3 evening added.

Photo previously used prior to 2018. (Not yet looked when!)

Photo caption:
"GWR 2-6-2T 5164 in the snow at Kidderminster Town on the Severn Valley Railway. 23rd March 2013 (Tony Hisgett [CC-by-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons)"

ALT text:
"A wintry scene at a heritage railway where a restored Great Western Railway tank locomotive stands waiting for its next duty, partly obscured by falling snow."

Image from Wikimedia Commons –
Source caption: "5164 in the Snow 2 – 23rd March 2013 "
Full attribution: Tony Hisgett [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Not YET publicised on social media.

[UPDATE THESE] Social Media: Twitter –– Instagram –– Facebook –– Facebook (10th Jan) ––
Not used this time: Google My Business –– ScoopLoop.

"Friday Nights at The Manor"

24 January 2025

Members' Presentation Evening

(Members' Photographs)

7:45pm, at 'The Manor', Slough Station (directions)

A wintry scene at a heritage railway where a restored Great Western Railway tank locomotive stands waiting for its next duty, partly obscured by falling snow.

The Manor will be open as usual for members to come along and socialise, catch up on the latest railway news, enjoy a tea or coffee, join in the raffle, and chat to the people running the OO model railway.

As for entertainment... This evening is an opportunity for members to present their photos or videos of railway-related activity: heritage railway visits, rail tours, mainline specials, train-spotting exploits, etc, with other like-minded enthusiasts.

But as a fallback, we can watch a railway-related DVD on our big screen!

Next week – look out your photos to share at our Slough Estates No. 3 evening.

(Photo: GWR 2-6-2T 5164 in the snow at Kidderminster Town on the Severn Valley Railway. 23rd March 2013 (Tony Hisgett [CC-by-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons))

Please see the Programme page for more about Friday meetings.

Please note that new heaters have been installed in The Manor, so winter meetings are a lot warmer than they used to be! (But do wrap up, as they struggle a bit when it's near freezing.)