B1 class 4-6-0 number 61337 piloting class 5 2-6-0 number 42845
working the Newcastle to Red Bank parcels train, at Heaton Lodge junction, on the
15th May 1964.
Right : WD 2-8-0 number 90655 awaiting the next turn of duty on Mirfield shed, on the
15th May 1964.
Dave Rodgers, 1949 - 2020
A personal tribute to Dave by Julie Rodgers
Born in Huddersfield in 1949, David was lucky enough to have been at school at a time when there was a Railway Society and was fortunate to have parents who were prepared to take him on holiday and leave him on a station for the day while they enjoyed the beach. So, even though he had to take a paper round to be able to afford the film, he had a chance to photograph steam locally and a little further afield from 1964.
Once he started work, his training and artistic abilities gave him a good eye for detail and composition, qualities which were to contribute hugely to the success of the photos he took.
Initial forays abroad were to Europe – school trips or with a small group of like-minded individuals - with France and Germany (East and West) being the countries most commonly visited. It was not until 1975 (due to a better job and a working wife!) that the first trip to South Africa was made – the “once in a lifetime” holiday. It was only after almost 20 visits later, that the fascination began to wane!
Following a second visit in 1976, David put together “South African Steam Today”, published by Ian Allan in 1980, a book which inspired many more enthusiasts to visit that home of spectacular steam. His second book, “Preserved Steam Album”, was published by Jane’s in 1986 concentrating, as the name suggests on the preserved scene in Britain.
The photographic possibilities of South Africa amazed him and he decided to draw together a programme of charter trains aimed specifically at the serious photographer, meticulously planned to take account of location, sun and authentic locos and formations. Thus the “Cape Mountaineer” ran in 1990 under the auspices of Steam and Safaris, which was to become Steam Loco Safari Tours (SLST) in 1994.
Organising railtours was not altogether a novel idea for him, as he had had a pivotal role in “The Border Countryman” in 1967 – when he was only 17! SLST ran tours to many other countries, including the USA, Syria & Jordan, Ecuador, Pakistan and Cuba to name but a few – David calculated that he had visited about 45 countries to photograph railways. He only gave up when everything became too expensive and too frustrating – he was quite prepared to leave it to younger and more enthusiastic people!
David died in January 2020 and, in accordance with his wishes, his ashes were placed in the firebox of an engine passing over Ribblehead Viaduct – a steam enthusiast to the very end.
Below is a small selection of Dave's railway photography travels, visiting many different countries around the world. Also included is a full listing of all of the SLST that Dave organised over the years, along with a few images from the trips.
Britannia class 4-6-2 number 70041, Sir John Moore, working a
southbound goods train at Euxton junction, in August 1964.
Right : WD 2-8-0 number 90113 working a West bound mixed goods train at Longwood, in August 1964.
Right : WD 2-8-0 number 90113 working a West bound mixed goods train at Longwood, in August 1964.
01 class 4-6-2 number 001-150-2 working the 12.50pm Koblenz to
Trier passenger train 2452, leaving the 458 metre long Prinzenkopf tunnel in the
Moselle valley Germany, on the 27th August 1970.
Right : 141R class 2-8-2 number 141.R.98 awaits to depart with an evening passenger service from Calais station France, in January 1969.
Right : 141R class 2-8-2 number 141.R.98 awaits to depart with an evening passenger service from Calais station France, in January 1969.
A typical view of Dave in action on a railtour at the Heber
Valley Railway, USA, in 2007, organising the numerous photo locations and photo
runpasts with the train crew.
Right : Ex MZA 240F class 4-8-0 number 2271 working a lengthy mixed goods train at Valderrey, South of Astorga, Spain, in 1969.
Right : Ex MZA 240F class 4-8-0 number 2271 working a lengthy mixed goods train at Valderrey, South of Astorga, Spain, in 1969.
The listings that follow cover all of the SLST organised by Dave.
These illustrate the many countries where
steam could still be found, either still in use or in preservation. Below : A happy band tour participants on the
Cape Mountaineer railtour which ran from the 15th to the 28th July 1990 visting some of the railways of South Africa.
steam could still be found, either still in use or in preservation. Below : A happy band tour participants on the
Cape Mountaineer railtour which ran from the 15th to the 28th July 1990 visting some of the railways of South Africa.
The Zambezi Limited railtour in July 1994 explored the railways
of Zimbabwe, with classic garratt traction for
much of the tour. Covering the lines from Bulawayo to Victoria Falls, Plumtree and West Nicholson. Below is a
view of Rhodesia Railways 16A Class 2-8-2+2-8-2 No. 611 (formerly 638) built in 1953 by Beyer Peacock,
Works No. 7516 and 14A Class 2-6-2+2-6-2 No. 525 also built in 1953 by Beyer Peacock, Works No. 7604
rescuing failed 14th Class 2-6-2+2-6-2 No. 507 built in 1929 by Beyer Peacock, Works No.6625, near Heany
Junction on the 17th July 1994.
much of the tour. Covering the lines from Bulawayo to Victoria Falls, Plumtree and West Nicholson. Below is a
view of Rhodesia Railways 16A Class 2-8-2+2-8-2 No. 611 (formerly 638) built in 1953 by Beyer Peacock,
Works No. 7516 and 14A Class 2-6-2+2-6-2 No. 525 also built in 1953 by Beyer Peacock, Works No. 7604
rescuing failed 14th Class 2-6-2+2-6-2 No. 507 built in 1929 by Beyer Peacock, Works No.6625, near Heany
Junction on the 17th July 1994.
The Cape Province Explorer I railtour of May 1995 travelled over
the railways of the Cape Province in South Africa.
Covering the spectacular Garden Route, Lootsberg pass, Montagu pass, Barklay East branch and the Maclear
branch, to name but a few. Below is a view of South African Railways class 15AR 4-8-2 number 1970, built by
Beyer Peacock as works number 5987 in 1921, heading a mixed train away from Swellendam, on the 2nd June 1995.
Covering the spectacular Garden Route, Lootsberg pass, Montagu pass, Barklay East branch and the Maclear
branch, to name but a few. Below is a view of South African Railways class 15AR 4-8-2 number 1970, built by
Beyer Peacock as works number 5987 in 1921, heading a mixed train away from Swellendam, on the 2nd June 1995.
The private charter train on the metre gauge Vivarais line in
May 1996, was blessed with good weather on both days.
The line from Tournon to Lamastre was traversed using two of the preserved mallet locos, with numerous rupasts
en-route, accompanied by a carafe of wine for the loco crew. Below is a view of Reseau du Vivarais 0-6-6-0T mallet
number 413 built by SACM in 1932 as works number 7628, near Boucieu le Roi on the 4th May 1996
The line from Tournon to Lamastre was traversed using two of the preserved mallet locos, with numerous rupasts
en-route, accompanied by a carafe of wine for the loco crew. Below is a view of Reseau du Vivarais 0-6-6-0T mallet
number 413 built by SACM in 1932 as works number 7628, near Boucieu le Roi on the 4th May 1996
The visit to Syria & Jordan in September 1997 combined the charter
train activities with the chance to visit
some of the cultural highlights on offer, including the ancient cities of Amman, Damascus & Petra. Below is a
view of the Hedjaz Railway 1,050mm gauge 2-8-2 loco number 260, built by Hartmann as works number 4029
in 1918, seen departing from Dera'a on the 11th September 1997. Photo by Mike Squire.
some of the cultural highlights on offer, including the ancient cities of Amman, Damascus & Petra. Below is a
view of the Hedjaz Railway 1,050mm gauge 2-8-2 loco number 260, built by Hartmann as works number 4029
in 1918, seen departing from Dera'a on the 11th September 1997. Photo by Mike Squire.
The rail tour to Romania in September 1998 covered the forestry
narrow gauge lines from Viseu de Sus, Covasna
to Commandau, and Moldovita plus the narrow gauge line from Agnita to Sibiu. The mainlines to Cluj-Napoca
and Sibiu were also traversed. Below is a view of CFR class 142 2-8-4 number 142 044 built by Resita in 1939 as
works number 422, near Lacu Crisului with a charter train on 30th September 1998.
to Commandau, and Moldovita plus the narrow gauge line from Agnita to Sibiu. The mainlines to Cluj-Napoca
and Sibiu were also traversed. Below is a view of CFR class 142 2-8-4 number 142 044 built by Resita in 1939 as
works number 422, near Lacu Crisului with a charter train on 30th September 1998.
The visit to Poland in May 1999 used a number of charter trains
centred on the museum collections at Chabowka
and Wolstzyn. Visits to the narrow gauge lines at Sroda and Gniezno were also included. Below is a view of
PT47 class 2-8-2 number PT47 112 built by HCP as works number 1310 in 1949, hauling a short train of double
decker passenger stock.
and Wolstzyn. Visits to the narrow gauge lines at Sroda and Gniezno were also included. Below is a view of
PT47 class 2-8-2 number PT47 112 built by HCP as works number 1310 in 1949, hauling a short train of double
decker passenger stock.
The visit to the Czech Republic in May 2000 covered the lines
from Prague to Chomutov, Beroun to Rakovnik,
Plzen to Ceske Velenice, Ceske Velenice to Veseli nad Luznici, Jindrichuv Hradec to Nova Bystrice, Jihlava to
Brno, and the Brno to Blynice line. Below is a view of CKD Class 434 2-8-0 number 434 1100 built by Skoda
as works number 1 in 1920, passing through Roztoky station on the line from Beroun to Rakovnik on the 9th
May 2000. Photo by Mike Squire.
Plzen to Ceske Velenice, Ceske Velenice to Veseli nad Luznici, Jindrichuv Hradec to Nova Bystrice, Jihlava to
Brno, and the Brno to Blynice line. Below is a view of CKD Class 434 2-8-0 number 434 1100 built by Skoda
as works number 1 in 1920, passing through Roztoky station on the line from Beroun to Rakovnik on the 9th
May 2000. Photo by Mike Squire.
The visit to Hungary in May 2001 covered several lines
including the Kobanya-Felso to Esztergom, Budapest
to Zahony, Cegled to Szeged, Kecskemet to Kiskunaisa, Almasfuzito to Kertvaros, Gyor to Epleny, Celldomolk
to Tapolca, Putnok to Fuzesabony, Szilvasvarad to Szalajkavolgy, Hatvan to Salgotarjan, Keeskemet to
Jakabszallas and the Budapest Childrens railway. Below is a view of MAV class 424 4-8-0 number 424 247
built by MAVAG as works number 2546 in 1955, passing through the yard at Kisterenye on the 6th May 2001.
to Zahony, Cegled to Szeged, Kecskemet to Kiskunaisa, Almasfuzito to Kertvaros, Gyor to Epleny, Celldomolk
to Tapolca, Putnok to Fuzesabony, Szilvasvarad to Szalajkavolgy, Hatvan to Salgotarjan, Keeskemet to
Jakabszallas and the Budapest Childrens railway. Below is a view of MAV class 424 4-8-0 number 424 247
built by MAVAG as works number 2546 in 1955, passing through the yard at Kisterenye on the 6th May 2001.
A visit to the Austrian Tirol, was made in May 2002 with an
excursion on the Zillertalbahn from Jenbach to
Mayrhofen. Below is a view of former Yugoslavian class 83 0-8-2 number 83-076 built by Krauss as works
number 6035 in 1909, with a short log train in the Ziller valley.
Mayrhofen. Below is a view of former Yugoslavian class 83 0-8-2 number 83-076 built by Krauss as works
number 6035 in 1909, with a short log train in the Ziller valley.
Steam locomotives on the Italian island of Sardinia was the tour
destination in April 2003.
Below is a view of
Ferrovie della Sardegna number 402 built in 1931 by Officine Meccaniche Italiane Reggio Emilia, as works
number 135 at Villagrande, on the Mandas to Arbatax line on the 8th April 2003. Photo by Mike Squire.
Ferrovie della Sardegna number 402 built in 1931 by Officine Meccaniche Italiane Reggio Emilia, as works
number 135 at Villagrande, on the Mandas to Arbatax line on the 8th April 2003. Photo by Mike Squire.
A visit to the Ukraine to photograph some of the former
locomotives of the USSR was the choice for a trip in
February 2004. Below is a view of SO Class 2-10-0 No. SO 17 4371 near Chabarovka on 20th February 2004.
February 2004. Below is a view of SO Class 2-10-0 No. SO 17 4371 near Chabarovka on 20th February 2004.
A visit to the Harz mountains in Germany was made in February
2005, with Winter conditions prevailing.
Below
is a view of a double departure from Alexisbad with the train on the left heading for Steige and on the right
heading to Harzgerode. The locomotives are on the left number 99 5901 an 0-4-4-0T mallet built by Jung in 1897
as works number 258, and on the right number 99 6001-4 a 2-6-2T built by Krupp in 1939 as works number 1875.
is a view of a double departure from Alexisbad with the train on the left heading for Steige and on the right
heading to Harzgerode. The locomotives are on the left number 99 5901 an 0-4-4-0T mallet built by Jung in 1897
as works number 258, and on the right number 99 6001-4 a 2-6-2T built by Krupp in 1939 as works number 1875.
A return visit to the railways of South Africa was the tour
destination for the Drakensburg Explorer II in May
2006. Below is a classic South African early morning frost and mist photo of class 25NC number 3472 built by
the North British Locomotive Company as works number 27332 in 1953.
2006. Below is a classic South African early morning frost and mist photo of class 25NC number 3472 built by
the North British Locomotive Company as works number 27332 in 1953.
The preserved railways in the Western USA during February 2007
gave the tour participant an authentic recreation
of big railroading action. Below is a view of the Heber Valley Railroad, with Union Pacific 2-8-0 number 618 built
by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1907 as Works number 31250, near Heber on the 22nd February 2007. A Buick,
Chevy and Harley Davidson wait at the Crossing to complete the scene.
of big railroading action. Below is a view of the Heber Valley Railroad, with Union Pacific 2-8-0 number 618 built
by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1907 as Works number 31250, near Heber on the 22nd February 2007. A Buick,
Chevy and Harley Davidson wait at the Crossing to complete the scene.
