We meet at 7.30pm on the first Monday of each month at Farm Road Sports & Social Club Farm Road, Sheffield S2 2TP. Members and non-members are all welcome. This conveniently-located Club is the former BRSA, and is next door to McDonalds by the erstwhile Granville Square. We have relocated here to allow for Covid-19 social-distancing, and we use an en-suite function room directly off the main entrance so that those ‘shielding’ do not need to pass through the bar area.
Directions, parking and public transport details are at the end of these notes. We now have to pay room hire, as well as covering speaker expenses, and we also aim to raise monies towards Peak Rail projects. Accordingly we request a £4 donation on the door but you will find this entry increase is offset by the club’s cheaper bar prices. In the absence of catering staff interval sandwiches can no longer be provided and only limited bar snacks are available, but a 24hr McDonald’s is next door for Drive-thru or Eat-in, before or after the meeting.
2022 IS A COVID ‘ROLLING’ PROGRAMME
With a full 12 month programme, any meetings postponed by Covid are ‘rolled-over’ by 12 months. Jan-Jul 2021 are now Jan-Jul 2022. Any 2022 postponements will re-schedule to 2023. Thanks to all presenters for their co-operation.
Meeting Postponed? Please check with the Organiser at d.sharp@sheffield.ac.uk. Regular updates are sent to members of Peak Rail Sheffield Branch e-mailing list. Please make life easier by requesting to join this list. It is not a discussion group. You can remove your name at any time, there is an unsubscribe link at the foot of each message from the list.
MEETING DATES
MON 3 JAN 2022 – “Memories of My Time On Steam (1955-1967)” – digital – Dave Darwin.
Stories of working on steam locos in the 1950s & 1960s. After the interval some of Dave’s own photos plus a selection from the Barrow Hill archive, with the memories they trigger on-and-off the footplate.
MON 7 FEB 2022 – (A change to original printed programme) “Big Smoky Diesels, and Other Animals” – digital – Duncan McEvoy (York)
In 2018 Duncan showed us ‘Big Diesels in the Landscape’ (France). After their demise he first went chasing ‘Big Smoky Diesels’ in Russia, Moldova and Ukraine where he then also became captivated by their quirky narrow-gauge Rural, and Peat and Forestry lines. Tonight Duncan presents a varied pot-pourri from 8+ trips. Some very pleasing results from adventurous solo photo-expeditions into uncharted territory!
MON 7 MAR 2022 – (A change to original printed programme) “Ashover Light Railway Update” – digital – Richard Booth (Wingerworth)
The huge task of moving The Ashover Light Railway Society workshop from Sheffield to Peak Rail Rowsley South and then integration with the running area of the former Derbyshire Dales Narrow Gauge Railway. With an update of progress and future plans.
MON 4 APR 2022 – “People and Places” – digital – Paul Shackcloth (Cheadle Hulme)
Paul manages the Manchester Locomotive Society’s huge photographic collection of superb quality images. We not only see scanned prints and negatives of the pre-1968 steam railway, but Paul adds a ‘twist’ by then also zooming in close-up to secondary features also visible in the image. A novel show.
MON 2 MAY 2022 (Bank Hol) – “The Hill Railways of India” – digital, with video clips – Mike Fish (Brough, nr Hull)
Mike’s shows are enriched by the inclusion of video clips, often taken on the footplate. In my opinion this is Mike’s best show to date and records 2014 and 2018 trips with Fuzz Jordan’s Darjeeling Tours. Fuzz has many years experience and contacts to “fix” things which would be out of reach to others. Mike has developed a real knack for capturing the ‘feel’ of a railway, its atmosphere, people and surroundings. Thoroughly recommended, I can’t wait to see the on-train and lineside film clips again, especially a couple of heart-stopping near-stalling moments on the ascent to Darjeeling.
MON 6 JUN 2022 – “Off the Beaten Track” – digital – Rob Morrey (Stoke-on-Trent)
A bit of a Heineken tour because Rob loves to keep it simple, get off the beaten track, and search out the obscure, much to the delight of the editor of Swiss Express (The Swiss Railway Society magazine) who has printed a number of Rob’s articles. Switzerland and elsewhere.
MON 4 JUL 2022 – “Eastern Seaboard in 1975” – slideshow – Bernard Mills (Buckland Monachorum, Devon)
Bernard is a retired railway clerical officer from Plymouth. In 1975 he did a 6 month secondment with BritRail Travel International in New York, who arrange travel passes to the UK for overseas visitors. Commuting daily into New York from Westfield, New Jersey, Bernard stayed with a signalling friend who introduced him to enthusiasts who arranged weekend trips to photograph the railway scene. He also explored the immediate New York scene on many evenings after work. Intriguing stuff with GG1 crocodile-style electrics and huge diesels then still dragging long rakes of vintage steam-era rolling stock.
MON 1 AUG 2022 – (A change to original printed programme) “An Evening with Ted Parker, Professional Video Producer & Railway Artist” – Ted Parker (Yarm)
After his 2019 show featuring ‘Distant Trails’ and a helicopter chase of Tornado along the Cumbrian coast, Ted returns tonight to give three 40 minute presentations:
‘The Art of Steam’ – illustrated talk about railway art and its artists
documentary film with David Shepherd, wildlife and railway artist
‘It was 20 Years ago 1994-96 (with a few laughs)’
MON 5 SEP 2022 –
“More Footplate Memories” – slideshow – Martin Bromley (Nottingham)
By popular request Martin returns to give his 17th show to us since 2003 !! More illustrated stories told in his own irreverent and inimitable style!
MON 3 OCT 2022 – “More Trains, Trams, Trolleys and Trivia” – digital – Frank Greaves
Another mischievous evening from Frank with a pot-pourri of all things transport.
MON 7 NOV 2022 – “The East Coast Main Line – Vol 1 – Kings Cross to York” – digital – Mike Eggenton
Photographs from 1960s – 1980s covering the transition years from steam to diesel, and then from Deltics to IC125 HSTs.
MON 21 (??) NOV 2022 – “Railways Remembered” – Film Show by Rob Foxon (Leicester)
With Sheffield’s Library Theatre still closed until further notice (as at Dec 2021), this annual Film Show is in abeyance.
The future format and location, if any, are on hold for the time being.
MON 5 DEC 2022 – Peak Rail Update by a Director + Pie, Mash & Mushy Pea Supper + Roy Wilson “The 2022 Transport Scene in Sheffield & beyond”
Latest news and developments direct from a Board Member followed by a Question & Answer session whilst the caterers plate-up the suppers.
After the supper, Roy Wilson presents “The 2022 Transport Scene in Sheffield & beyond” which includes rail news and also a look at the bus and tram scene.
DIRECTIONS TO FARM ROAD SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB (postcode S2 2TP):
BY ROAD: Farm Road has McDonalds on the corner. It is one-way only behind the skating rink, immediately off A61 southbound at south-east corner of the Inner Ring Road. On-site parking.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: BUS passengers have nearby stops in Queens Rd., Shrewsbury Rd., and Granville Rd. or they can interchange in the city centre to take any Blue Route (‘Halfway’) or Purple Route (‘Herdings Park’) SUPERTRAM and alight at ‘Granville Road / The Sheffield College’ stop. From SHEFFIELD RAILWAY STATION the footbridge gives direct access to Supertram. Cross to the further tram platform and take any tram for just 1 stop. Leaving the tram, note the staggered platforms for your return journey and turn left down Granville Road. At the bottom, skirt McDonald’s to turn left into Farm Road. The Club is next on your left, the main entrance is at the far end of the building.
Enquiries to Sheffield Branch Programme organiser:
David Sharp
(h) 0114 274 5478
(m) 07950 787 231 (phone or text)
(e) d.sharp@sheffield.ac.uk
