Considering the lack of evidence in that photo, Andy
@AndyB that is a very helpful identification. As Graham
@Dog Star said previously, if we could identify the rally by way of a programme doubtless a lot more would be revealed. Thanks also for your most recent info.
Thank you Tim
@Tim Birch and Paul
@hrmspaul for the proper identification of that shot of York together with the further input from Ian
@Ian@StEnochs, Simon T and Simon D, Barry
@Barry37 and Tony
@Osgood.
Your advice about the Port Line photo is valued as well, David
@David B I'm always a little cautious with the dates on the photos as you'll be aware but just maybe in this case it all falls conveiently in to place.
Although we've been here before I'm quite excited by these photos as I visited the Bowaters Railway shortly before it closed. So a series here of the Bowaters Paper Mill Railway at Sittngbourne. The first two photos are of ex-SECR P Class BR 31178 but here as Pioneer II at Ridham Docks in 1966. Happily the loco was preserved after industrial use and is now famously on the Bluebell Railway. See
31178 (SECR 178, SR A178, SR 1178, BR 31178 & Bowaters Pioneer II)
img348 and 501 are of “Superior” a 2 ft 6 in gauge 0-6-2T built by Kerr, Stuart & Co. (works number 4034) in 1920 for Bowaters Sittingbourne. These photos are dated 1966 and were taken at Bowaters. This is one of the locomotives which migrated to the Great Whipsnade Railway when the Bowaters system closed.
This is img494 and features “Premier”, a Kerr, Stuart Brazil Class 0-4-2ST of 1905 on the Bowaters Railway System in 1966. This loco remains on the S & KLR.
Chevallier in img495, 499 and 500 is a Manning Wardle 0-6-2T No 1877 of 1915 which originally came from the Chattenden and Upnor Railway and was sold to Bowaters Paper Mills in 1950 and is shown here in 1966. It was another loco which went to Whipsnade. It then moved to the Welshpool and Llanfair before going to the Flour Mills Works at Bream in Gloucestershire. Unexpectedly the loco then went to Romania but returned to Welshpool in 2025.
Conqueror is here at Bowaters in img496 and 497. It’s a Bagnall 0-6-2T, works No 2192, of 1922. The photo is in 1966. Following closure of the railway in 1969 the loco went to Whipsnade then went to the Vale of Rheidol railway by way of Peter Rampton’s collection and from the VoR has been transferred to the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway.
img502 is of “Melior”, another Brazil Class 0-4-2ST of 1924, works number 4219 by Kerr, Stuart & Co. This loco was retained by the S & KLR when the Bowaters system closed.
Brian