As my photographic interests deepened I suppose it was natural to join a camera club, whilst not too many camera club types have an interest in railways these societies are a wonderful place to share knowledge and develop skills by mutual improvement.

Having got into the ways of camera clubs the then president of Ashford (Kent) Camera club John Wigmore, who just happened to have an interest in railways, suggested that I should join the Royal Photographic Society and seek to gain one of its distinctions. He felt that this would give me 'focus' and a challenge. I set about this using only black and white film as I felt it offered more opportunity to express the mood of the subject. To gain an Associateship of the 'Royal' requires a panel of 12 top quality images, so for the next couple of years I concentrated on producing these images.

I produced 18 prints in all, then with unfailing help from John, whittled these down to the final 12. This also involved reprinting some of the images to achieve an improved effect. The 'Royal' encourage applicants to seek help from existing members, John being a Fellow of the 'Royal' couldn't have been a better choice, and I'm sure that it was his good advice that helped me achieve the distinction A.R.P.S. at the first attempt.

I hope you enjoy these monochrome images as much as I enjoyed producing them.

If you have any comments or would like further information please email me on hotmetal@alancrotty.co.uk

Below are the usual thumbnails linking you to the main images and text.

DDR class 41 , East Germany.	SAR 19D , South Africa.	A pair of 0-8-0s , China.	Harz mallet ,East Germany.
Class A1X, England.	West Country Class, England.	0-8-0 on log train China.	Class 52 kreigslok Germany.
QJ class 2-10-2 China.	Darjeeling B class tank India.	Class 24 2-8-4 South Africa.	'Pines Express' England.

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