Our interest in steam has its roots in childhood and is thus born out of nostalgia. The same can be   said of the early diesels: 'Westerns', 'Warships', 'Hymeks', 'Deltics', 'Whistlers', 'Hoovers', 'Claytons', 'Syphons', 'Peaks', 'Duffs' and 'Cromptons' chief amongst them. At first they were openly disliked by steam fans until we realised that they too had identities, and many examples have now been preserved as part of this nation's industrial heritage. This brings me to the railway photographs of Ian S Carr, because if I had to single out the cameraman who influenced my interest in diesels the most, then Mr Carr is my first choice. His photographs of railways in the north of England are well known by enthusiasts, not only because of the high quality of his work, but because he recorded even the most obscure branch lines, including several colliery workings now long since gone.  

(Above) Mention of the transition from steam is still liable to evoke strong emotions from a faithful band of enthusiasts, who remain unconvinced that steam had outlived its usefulness. At the time, BR was accused of placing too much emphasis on the procurement of diesels, and too little attention on providing adequate maintenance facilities - not surprisingly a high incidence of diesel breakdowns occurred, and when it did, steam was usually called upon to save the day - a point immediately seized upon by the die-hards of the steam faith. In this view, 'Britannia' class No 70027 Rising Star (devoid of both number and name plates) waits at Carlisle to assist ailing EE Co Type 4 No D341 on the 'up' 'Royal Scot' on April 4th 1966. A defect had been reported on the diesel approaching Carlisle, but in the event the fault was rectified and the EE Co Type 4 continued its journey unaided, albeit some 20 minutes late.

(Below) This is a typical three-quarter lineside view adopted by the mainstream steam railway photographer, yet Ian S Carr proves that with careful planning and a creative eye, photographs of diesel can still pack a mighty punch. With the absence of a smoke effect (an integral part of steam photography) composing shots of diesels requires a different technique since a picture of a diesel on its own is nowhere near as interesting. Here Deltic class D9005 The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire - a regimental name not previously carried by a locomotive - arrives at Sunderland  with the diverted 13.30 Newcastle-Kings Cross on Sunday, ist May 1966. At the time, the northern end of Sunderland station has been completely demolished and the area cleared as far as High Street West to allow for the integration of the station with redevelopment of the town centre. The whole station was decked over and developed at street level which has subsequently created a subterranean (tube-like) atmosphere at platform level.

THE IAN S CARR DIESEL GALLERY

THE IAN S CARR DELTIC GALLERY 

    

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