84E Tyseley was my nearest loco shed when I lived in the Midlands (it became 2A in 1963 when control transferred to the LM Region). These photographs record its last days and are in many ways a sad sight. One of the roundhouses had been demolished and a corrugated iron and scaffolding wall erected in its place and most of the locos were in a filthy condition. Nevertheless the shed still retained that atmosphere of gently hissing locomotives, sulphurous fumes and shafts of sunlight piercing the steam - impossible to recreate today and such a pity that the roundhouse couldn't have been preserved to house the present day Birmingham Railway Museum.

Just an everyday sight of steam trains passing by - if only it were still so today, but unfortunately we took it for granted. These were the days when the majority of freight traffic was carried by rail, and there were two mainlines from Birmingham to London. As an impecunious teenager I couldn't afford a decent camera, but I hope the subject matter compensates for the quality of the photos.

The Southern Region ran one of the last steam operated main lines and it was possible to experience a fully operational steam hauled service right up to 1967 when the Bournemouth line was electrified. These photos represent a number of visits to Waterloo, a trip on the Waterloo to Bournemouth line and a few shots of the Isle of Wight '02's' taken on a visit in 1966. Alas in the run down of steam the locos were all in filthy condition.

Crewe - the centre of all things LMS although there seem to have been a number of LNER "Streaks" in the works on a visit in 1967.

London Transport acquired a total of 13 ex-GWR Pannier Tanks for hauling engineering trains, spoil trains and yard shunting. These photos record a visit by the Midlands Branch of the Great Western Society to Neasden on 1 April 1967 (See also my colour slides). Several of the locos remained in service with LT until 1971 and a total of six found their way into preservation.

A railtour organised by the Stephenson Locomotive Society on 24 April 1965 over the Stratford-upon-Avon and Midland Junction Railway from Stratford to Woodford Halse. The line was closed completely in 1966.

The 1960's was a decade of saying goodbye. I had to leave Bristol for the Midlands, there was wholesale closure of railway lines under the Beeching Axe and we witnessed the end of steam on BR in 1968. These photos reflect just some of those events.

Regrettably I didn't take many railway colour slides during the 1960's, but what I have are here. There are basically three subjects; Tyseley in its last days, a trip to Neasden to see the London Transport owned pannier tanks and a Farewell to Steam railtour on 4 August 1968, exactly one week before the very last "15 guinea special". There are also some pictures of Port Isaac Road Station on the North Cornwall line taken shortly after closure.