Large photographic collection (2000 plus) of (mainly steam) BR Locomotives

[Tickplan]

Can I begin by just putting this topic in some sort of context. Over 40 years ago I was at university with  a chap, who, like me, was interested in railways. We shared a house together in our final year. Although we did not keep in touch as such a series of reunions over the last 8 years allowed us to re-establish contact. Unfortunately Steve passed away a few years ago and it has fallen to his family (largely his widow and son) to deal with his vast collection of all things railways. The modelling side of things has now been disposed of but at the most recent re-union his family asked if I "would have a look at" his photographic collection. I was happy to help of course but did not expect to receive through the post packet after packet of so many photographs!

I have now been through the lot. They are not catalogued (by Steve, and I am certainly not about to start) but the gist is as follows:

Total photographs :2164, of which 652 are in proper transparent sleeves. The vast majority are in black and white but there are some 60 in colour.

Size: nearly all en-print in size with a smattering of smaller prints.

Subject matter: Nearly all are of steam locos from BR days. There is a preponderance of large express locos and standard classes and only a small number of tank/shunting classes. Most are of the loco itself (side-on/three-quarter view) but there is a small minority of locos out pulling trains both close up and at a distance. There are a few diesels but these are limited to the very early ones. Many of the photos appear to have a connection to Scotland where Steve lived most of his life.

Origins?: Steve may have taken some of these photos himself but it would appear that the majority of them have been bought over a long period of time from specialist suppliers  (Lens of Sutton etc) or at swap meets etc. Some of the photos are properly labelled on the back with date/time/location, many are not. I have no idea if these photos are rare (and therefore valuable) but I suspect they are commonplace.

 

So what to do? I have been in contact with the family and they are happy to leave it with me to keep/dispose of as I see fit. My interests are in the modelling side of railways and my interest in the prototype is limited to The Midland Railway in the Edwardian period and in small colliery type locos. The locos depicted in the majority of these photos do not excite me but they may you.

 

I have therefore decided I would write about the photos on here and see if there are similarly-minded enthusiasts to Steve who would be willing to take on this collection. I do not wish to part with this to a dealer (to break up and sell what may be valuable and junk the rest) and I do not wish to deal with split disposals - you take the lot or none at all.

 

I suspect that large photographic collections such as this do not come available very often. Although this is being posted in the "free to a good home" section it would be nice if whoever wants these would make an appropriate donation to charity.

I have no intention of posting any of this out. If you want to see the collection then you will need to travel to the Derby area. I am happy to answer any general questions on this forum but if you are genuinely interested and can give these photographs a "good home" then please PM me. It is what Steve would have wanted. If there is a scramble to view/take them then I will be the judge of who will give them the "best home"

 

Thank you for your time in reading this.

 

Bryan

[ScRSG]

I have sent you a p.m.

[Tickplan]

I am pleased to report that a good (and entirely appropriate) home has been found for these photographs so please treat this thread as closed