When Covid restrictions once more allow indoor meetings of groups of 30, we will 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 most 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 cost is offset by the club’s cheaper bar prices (£2.60-£2.80). 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.
2021 IS A COVID ‘ROLLING’ PROGRAMME. Postponed meetings are being ‘rolled over’ by 12 months. April-Dec 2020 are now April-Dec 2021. If necessary, Jan-Mar 2021 (et seq.) will postpone to Jan-Mar 2022 (et seq.).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
2021
MONDAY 4th JANUARY – now postponed to Monday 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.
MONDAY 1st FEBRUARY – “A forty-year Obsession” – digital – Dave Stacey (York)
Originally a schoolboy ‘spotter’ in his native Sunderland, it was the mid 1970’s when Dave started photographing special events and the changing railway scene in earnest. Later shots also include Railtours, Steam Charters, industrial visits, and some ‘before and after’ shots. This varied show will remind you how much has changed over the last forty years.
MONDAY 1st MARCH – “West Coast Railways” – presentation – James Shuttleworth
The intriguing complexity of setting up a private railway company, and then resourcing access agreements to use the network and stations, acquire depots, locomotives, coaching stock and staff. .With the resources in place, James then goes on to describe the multitude of arrangements to run diesel and steam charters on today’s railway, with some examples of all going well, and others which encountered problems, and how they were resolved. A fascinating insight.
MONDAY 5 APRIL – “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.
MONDAY 3 MAY (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.
MONDAY 7TH JUNE – “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.
MONDAY 5th JULY – “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.
MONDAY 2nd AUGUST – “A Journey from Dore to Chinley in the Steam Era” – digital – Ted Hancock
The route of Ted’s Hope Valley book. With his wealth of pictures, can we complete the distance in a single show! The new Vol 2 of Ted’s Hope Valley book should be available.
MONDAY 6th SEPTEMBER – “Trains, Trams, Trolleys and Trivia” – digital – Frank Greaves
Another mischievous evening from Frank with a pot-pourri of all things transport
MONDAY 4th OCTOBER – “Branch Lines around Devon” – slideshow – Martin Bromley (Nottingham)
Martin’s childhood holidays were with the family to Aunts living near Axminster in Devon. At every opportunity Martin would visit the Southern’s local branch lines to Lyme Regis, Seaton, Sidmouth and Exmouth. Tonight is an excuse to re-visit those haunts.
MONDAY 1st NOVEMBER – “The History & Restoration of the Chesterfield Canal” – digital – John Lower
An illustrated journey along the Chesterfield Canal to discover its history, the 12 miles of restoration already completed and what work is still required to once again link Chesterfield with the River Trent. We will also learn about the varied activities of the Chesterfield Canal Trust and its more than 1,700 members. John Lower has been a volunteer since 1981, most recently involved in the construction of a replica wooden horse-drawn narrowboat of a type unique to the Chesterfield Canal. He is a writer of waterway guides and magazine articles.
MONDAY 15th NOVEMBER – to be confirmed – “Railways Remembered” – Film Show at The Library Theatre – Rob Foxon
Library Theatre, Tudor Square, Sheffield S1 1XZ – Start 7.30pm (doors 7.00pm).
MONDAY 6th DECEMBER
Pie, Pea & Chips Supper with Peak Rail Director, and then “Quick Quiz”, “YourPix” and Roy Wilson’s “The 2021 Transport Scene in Sheffield & beyond”
Latest news and developments direct from a Board Member, Q&A, then John Wade’s “Quick Quiz” whilst supper is being served. After supper, the slide & digital projectors and laptop are available for 15 min slots to show your film clips, slides, and digital pictures (on USB devices please), and then the evening will conclude with Roy Wilson’s “The 2021 Transport Scene in Sheffield & beyond”.
2022
MONDAY 3rd JANUARY – (postponed from Jan 2021) “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.
DIRECTIONS TO FARM ROAD SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUB:
BY ROAD: Farm Road is immediately off A61 southbound at the 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 / TheSheffield 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.
