I’m sure i am not alone in being constantly nagged by the other half to “get rid of that crapp”. The “crapp” is a serious collection of timetables, magazines, tickets, moves books, spotting books and umpteen photo albums amongst other treasures amassed from my early days starting the hobby in 1969 right through to 2025.
Uncovering one shoe box marked for “relocation” saw at the bottom, neatly protected in a plastic wallet were 6 SBLC Journals dating from 1972-1974. Tidying up finished! I engrossed myself in the feast of early 70s gen, an interesting mix of local and not so local information. I was a member of the SBLC for a few years in the early 70s doing a good few of the SBLC depot tours by coach and train. In the 60’s the SBLC had run 1 or 2 classic Railtours each year using power and track long confined to history by 1972.
The tours were brilliantly arranged by messrs Brian Lockey and Jim Dennis using their brilliant local knowledge to get a big Tricentrol coach to the likes of lonely Westhouses or the delights of Frodingham in the depths of winter. The SBLC had veterans, middle aged, older kids and us kids, a good mixture which gelled well with our common passion for the railways. The top man Brian Lockey probably didnt get any cops on a multi depot tour of South Yorkshire but this didnt dent his enthusiasm , i got over 100 Cops! On one trip Brian found a tenner in the street, ( a tenner was a lot of money in 1973) and he bought the whole tour party (of 30) a soft drink to celebrate!
Two members of the SBLC Brian Ashby and our leader Brian Lockey became well involved with the Class 45’1 Preservation Society’s early days, as did Jim Dennis’s son Peter. Sadly Brian died in 2015 and the class 45’1’s preserved 45133 was renamed Brian Lockey for a good while in 2016 as a tribute to all that Brian had done in securing 45133 for the group and us all.
The late Brian Lockey enjoying the push pull 31’s 31601 and 31452 at Bletchley after working the 1546 from Bedford on May 1st 1999
Full detail and memories of the SBLC trip to East Anglia, May 73
SBLC Journal 1972 no 4- highlights
The wealth of information packed into these 16 pages is incredible, its an easy read, just gen and more gen!
Page 1 – New publications
Page 2 – Eastleigh Open Day and LNER “North Yorkshireman” tour
Page 3 – Luton Town FC Charter Specials to Birmingham and Middlesborough
Page 4 – Southport Merrymaker
Page 5 – Preservation Notes
Page 6 – Preservation Notes and Steam on BR
Page 7 – The LNER “Keighley Flyer”
Page 8 – Leeds Merrymaker and End of Brighton Belle
Page 9 – Bournemouth Merrymaker
Page 10 – Regional Notes – Fantastic local gen, loads of class 25 passenger workings
Page 11- Regional Notes – Chester depot and more local gen
Page 12 – Industrial Notes and more depot reports
Page 13 – Birmingham and Crewe Area SBLC Tour reports
Page 14 – West Country notes and Sewindon Works
Page 15 – Cardiff Merrymaker – full report
Page 16 – Future SBLC Tours
Page 17 – Pendon Museum and Didcot GWS
Page 18 – rear cover
SBLC Journal 1972 No 5 – highlights
Page 1 – Events and Preservation notes
Page 2 – Preservation notes
Page 3 – Scarborough Merrymaker and more, incl Knottingley’s 1890 on passenger
Page 4 – Isle of Man ect
Page 5 Snowdon Mountain Railway and Holyhead
Page 6 – North Wales and Birmingham
Page 7 East Anglia and Crewe Works
Page 8 Scotland, Sheffield and Toton
Page 9 Local observations incl 5216 on passenger, again!
Page 10 Local observations incl “namer” 1660 on 4S32
Page 11 Steam trips and forthcoming Open Days
Page 12 – Forthcoming Tours
SBLC Journal 1973 no 1
Cover – Brian Lockey’s nice sketch of class 47 1973
Page 1 – Proposed tours/club meetings
Page 2 – DY works report, also gen on 5034 working 1M15 to St Pancras
Page 3 – more local failures gen, loads of class 25 rescues!
Page 4 – Local notes incl several Western stone workings
Page 5 – more local notes and last minute reprieve for the Bedford – BY branch
Page 6 – Crewe Works Report and preservation notes
Page 7 – Proposed depot visits for 1973
Page 8 – SBLC Meetings ect
end – more journals to follow..
Leighton Lists 