6th December 2024

Slough & Windsor Railway Society holds an annual competition, just before Christmas, so that Society members can show off their photographic prowess.

Members can enter railway-related photos to be shown on competition night, with the winning photos being published in The Triangle.

For 2020, as The Manor is still closed in line with government regulations, the competition will be held as a Zoom event, with an external judge.

For the 2024 competition, there are three categories:

  • Traction/Rolling Stock – Steel wheel on steel rail
  • Infrastructure – The general rail scene, infrastructure, etc
  • Quirky – for the David Pearcy Trophy.

The rules and categories for the 2020 Competition are expected to be broadly similar.
This web page will be updated when new information is available.

In the meantime, get that camera out and look for those photo-opportunities!

The 2021 rules and instructions are shown below.

Three photos may be submitted for each category (ie up to nine entries in total). The photos may be digital or print, although digital (JPEG) is preferred. Photos must be less than five years' old, taken by the SWRS member, and not entered previously. Entries may include pictures already published in The Triangle magazine or shown at a Society meeting.

'Quirky' photos, for the David Pearcy trophy, should still have rail- or SWRS-related content. Photographs including people may be entered in whichever category is most appropriate.

Judging will be by a guest enthusiast from a local club.

How to enter:

The full Competition Rules may be found below.

For each photograph entered, please state which category the entry is for, and provide a title and a brief description (including where and when taken). Images may be moderately 'photo-shopped'.

Digital images (JPEG format) to be submitted by email to competition@swrs.co.uk at least 7 days before (ie by 29th November).

Digital photos on other media, and photographic prints, must be posted to Jim Ballantyne by 22nd November at the latest. (Please contact a Committee member, or email info@swrs.co.uk for Jim's home address). Prints will be electronically scanned so they can be viewed with the digital submissions.

Photo Competition Rules (2024)

  1. All pictures must have been taken in the past 5 years.
  2. Pictures can be of UK or overseas subjects.
  3. All pictures must have some connection to the subject of railways or tramways.
  4. Pictures must have been taken by the SWRS member entrant, and not entered previously.
  5. Pictures can be either digital or print. Moderate digital manipulation is permitted.
  6. There will be 3 categories:
    • Traction/Rolling Stock
    • Infrastructure
    • Quirky (for the David Pearcy Trophy)
  7. Each entrant may submit up to 3 entries in each category.
  8. Two prizes will be awarded in each category (apart from Funnies).
  9. One prize in each category will be awarded by the visiting judge, with the second being awarded by the members present on a show of hands. (NOTE: this process is under continual review!)
  10. Digital pictures (JPEG format) may be submitted at least seven days in advance as an email attachment. Prints, and digital images on media (eg CD-ROM, USB stick), to be posted to Jim Ballantyne, to arrive by 24th November.
  11. Title, description, and category to be included for all entries.