Southern Region Memories: Photographs from the Bluebell Museum Archive

Finding new photographs of the UK railway scene in the 1950s can be difficult. Often illustrations appear in books and magazines which have been reproduced previously, sometime even on several occasions. It is then a privilege to present a collection from a totally new source, originating from the camera of the late J J Smith whose work is now in the custody of the Bluebell Railway Museum. The photographer worked for the railway in a privileged position, one that particularly enabled him to become aware in advance of special and unusual workings. Consequently he was often able to record these, covering unusual, locomotives, unusual trains and even unusual routes. Most areas of the Southern Region feature, all superbly composed and full of wonderful detail. An album to bring the joy back into nostalgia.