Steam in the North-Midlands during the 1950s The Enefer Collection.

[@amethyst9998]

Absolutely wonderful pictures, and perfect accompanying music. Thank you so much.

[@davidahugill99]

A great collection of photographs by a skilled cameraman , and a labour of love to scan and preserve the memories of a great era in our lives . Those who lived through the fifties and sixties will never forget those times . The soundtrack was brilliant too , perfect for those times . Cheers DaveH

[@keithgrafton3067]

Absolutely stunning photos and to think they we.re taken in the 1950's it is even more amazing with the limitations of black and white film. Thanks for bringing them to light for our enjoyment.

[@barryknapper]

Cheers Keith

[@mrhearse777]

Thankyou for taking the time out to do invaluable work to preserve a man's work , and a big piece of History . RESPECT

[@barryknapper]

Thank YOU for your kind comments. All the best.

[@rogerredding5269]

💕 loved the video 📸 stunning photos and relaxing music 🎶 brilliant would go back to those days in a heartbeat 💓 many thanks 👍.

[@leeslater2168]

Thanks Barry. takes us straight back to the halcyon days. 20,000 locos everywhere in the country 24/7 driven & maintained by artisans, based on 100's of Motive Power depots in every corner of the country. We thought the euphoria would never end!!! 50 years later who'd have thought there'd be a thriving heritage industry with over 100 locos saved & several still running on today's modern railway!!! PS & there are would you believe a dozen or more new replica projects!! Lee RDG/81D

[@ronaldpainting5614]

Jeez, the photographs, the background music, you had me welling up. A number of these locomotives i saw on a regular basis. School prize giving i selected Ian Allens 1948 British Railways Locomotives, combined volume, a reprint. The presenter asked "you a train spotter i did this when i was a boy" Yes sir we are still going strong, i replied. Standing at Water Orton peg box pulling freight through, the fire box an inferno in the cab, the smell, the music of the mechanics and power. I was born in 1953 and was fortunate to see these masterpieces before the demise of steam. Fortunately i now live in Nort Wales where many steam specials come through to Holyhead. Who said the future will be better, they did not have a crystal ball, diesel, Bah Humbug.

[@barryknapper]

Thanks Ronald. Couldn't have put it better myself. :-) Cheers

[@stuartpottinger542]

Wonderful collection of beautiful photos taken at the time when I would have been busy trainspotting, brought back memories, thanks for sharing.

[@martindavies8326]

Thank you, fantastic photos, brings back childhood memories, when the world was a better place.👍

[@floor993]

Wonderfull video, and superb quality scans from these high quality photos!! And last but not least relaxing music.

[@clivecottingham2043]

Wonderful to see these mighty locos again.The only 2 Scots I never saw 46112 Sherwood Forrester and 46133 Green Howards.Such great days.Thank you so much for showing these fantastic pictures.

[@davidwallis866]

Absolutely wonderful! TOP quality all round.

[@barryknapper]

Thank you David. Kind words. Cheers

[@davidhodkinson5164]

Brill that took me back ,wonderfull photographs, thank you for taking your time compiling editing and music🚂👍

[@barryknapper]

Thanks David. Took time but worth it to get these sort of comments. Cheers

[@steverowe8785]

They are really good Barry Knapper. Lucky they came to you. Nice job with the slide show. The locos appear to be maintained better than I would have expected. Thank you for sharing this outstanding collection.

[@allanarpollock9683]

Great job at rescuing these photos…very atmospheric

[@keithratcliffe5576]

An outstanding feature of these pictures is that they are pre-electrification so there are no ugly wires to spoil them.

[@Unkidi]

Thanks Barry For Sharing Michael's Amazing Photos' Wonderful Memories Of When Steam Was King.

[@alanclarke7581]

Posted by Alan M Clarke - Michael Enefer was an accomplished photographer you were lucky to acquire these images, thanks for sharing

[@barryknapper]

Thanks Alan. I agree. I have acquired another massive collection of slides taken by various photographers from the 60's onwards so will be doing another video show when scanned. Cheers

[@andrewganley9016]

Great images back in the day when we had a 'proper'railway and the trains were friendly

[@robingibbons2218]

The loco at 6.10 is 46100. The nameplate is distinctive. 46130 had a circular crest.

[@barryknapper]

Oops! Typo error I think. :-)

[@railbug6281]

Your video/pic compilation is fantastic. Also, enjoyed the accompanying music, it didn't compete with the presentation , thanks👍

[@barryknapper]

Thanks very much. Appreciated. Best regards.

[@bhajojaswal8046]

I was serving my apprentiship at Bunbury Wolverhampton LMS depo from 1955 - 59 also spent time at Crewe and Darby. Then left join design team at W. G. Bagnel at Stafford working on Diesel locos for Industry. Eventuley I ended my ears in N. IRELAD as a consultant on heavy Eng. Now 83 retired. I often think of planes I worked at all over Europe.

[@GeordieGroundwater]

Tremendous pics. Especially interesting to see 45532 at 8'12" - I believe this was a Nottingham locomotive in c 1959-61. It was certainly used a lot on the Midland. Some years ago, in the early days of the internet on the early LMS group, a former footplateman (I think it was) at Nottingham wrote that this was their best locomotive - it lived up to its name, he said. The piccie of 45655 Keith is definitely not Central. My immediate reaction was London Road, but Stephen Heaton has said it's Exchange, and he could well be correct - looking in from the west. What a locomotive, looking immaculate. I wonder, would this be a Manchester - Glasgow working? Or perhaps an evening peak to Blackpool?

[@johnedwards2537]

What a great collection! Thank you for your hard work on cleaning and presenting the photographs. Can't help with locations, but I am not sure that it is Central Station that 45655 is seen at. I may be wrong but the station was and still is famous for its large single span across the platforms. Lots of sunshine and clean locomotives too! Those 'Duchess' class were pulling some very long trains, as they were built to do. Once again thank you.

[@barryknapper]

Thanks John. All comments received on here will be investigated in due course and the video will be updated to incorporate the changes if necessary. Won't be yet awhile though. :-) Thanks again.

[@noeldunford4955]

It brings tears to my eyes of a wonderful era of steam locomotives they are. So alive golden days sadly all gone i lived next to newengland MPd in Peterborough England sad to se it built on industrial units now

[@barryknapper]

Indeed so. Cheers

[@harrymartin3747]

Lovely photos of proper locomotives doing their work unlike today it just a bit sad really and I wish we’d kept steam instead of gettting rid of it in the 1960s

[@johnheyworth6001]

Excellent images especially enjoyed the chinley shots 👍

[@neiljohnson2633]

Evocative.

[@anthonymould]

Fantastic Barry .Well done .

[@lesbird2074]

Superb

[@johncavill3398]

sad to see all those great locos gone forever on one survivor duchess of sutherland

[@paulbrent7293]

As far as I’m aware Stanier Pacific 46235 City Of Birmingham is still stuffed and mounted in the city’s Think Tank museum. I’ve no idea why she’s not been recommissioned.

[@tango6nf477]

Fantastic, thank you.

[@stephenheaton3435]

Great trip down memory lane. 2 small points: Photo 29 is actually 46100 Royal Scot [check out the size/shape of the nameplate] and photo 55 is Manchester Exchange, not Central.

[@barryknapper]

Thanks Stephen. I was aware of the Central point as others also commented but was not aware of 46100. On closer examination of the negative you are probably right. So thanks for pointing it out. Will correct on the full update when I do it.

[@allanarpollock9683]

And immaculate permanent way!

[@hornet1068]

What an absolutely stunning collection of B&W photographs, enjoyed every minute of your video, and the background music suited it so well, unfortunately I cannot help with locations but I did notice that a fair few pictures earlier in the video particularly of the LMS locos, Duchesses of note appeared to have been taken in the same area, note the cutting and the tree line. It moves up and down as if the photographer was shooting from numerous locations. If we can identify one area that may help locate quite a few other photographs. I was thinking Bromsgrove, But I saw no sign of bankers, although I did note the long straight incline in a few shots. Looking forward to part 2. Regards David.

[@barryknapper]

Thanks David. Glad you enjoyed it. When I eventually get round to part two I will update some of the locations in part one.

[@samharv8076]

Brilliant

[@GeordieGroundwater]

Photo 121, the Standard 5, looks to have "The Palatine" headboard. Very unusual to have a 5MT on this train, normally a 5X as a minimum, more often or not a Britannia or Scot - makes me suspect it was a late substitute for a failure. It also feels like somewhere near Chinley to me - and this would be the up Palatine, I think, which was something like 14.25? out of Manchester Central.

[@barryknapper]

Thanks a lot for your comments.

[@ronaldgamble8739]

BRILLIANT

[@barryknapper]

Addendum1;- Plate 16 60140 Balmoral, is at Chaloner Whin Junction.

[@DunstableDasher]

I think 60006 Sir Ralph Wedgwood is passing Naburn swing bridge signalbox not Selby.

[@barryknapper]

Thanks for the info

[@patrickmarshall15]

A superb collection, many thanks for sharing

[@robertemerson2184]

I think the photo of 70004 William Shakespeare on the Palatine was taken at Hazel Grove on the Midland Line. I think the train has just passed Hazel Grove Midland Signalbox (signal in the background) and is heading towards Disley Tunnel. The electricity pylon in the background was I think a 33000 volt line which ran from Stockport to Macclesfield through Hazel Grove

[@barryknapper]

Thanks Robert.

[@barryknapper]

Thanks Robert I think you are correct there. Thanks for informing. Barry

[@robertemerson2184]

@@barryknapper Barry I have had a further look. I think that photos 23 and 24 are taken at the same place as 21 which is Hazel Grove because the ballast is the same even though you cannot see the electricity pylon and the signal in the back ground.. I think that 22, 24 and 25 are taken further towards Disley Tunnel past Hazel Grove Golf Club access bridge.The girder bridge is a footpath linking the the sides of the golf club. The bridge in the distance behind the girder bridge is Threaphurst Lane Bridge, High Lane. Disley Tunnel Entrance is behind this bridge. The signal on the up line is I think the Disley Signalbox distant signal. Disley Signal box was at the other end of the tunnel. I lived in Hazel Grove from 1958 when I was six. When I was eleven one of the signalmen at Hazel Grove Midland Box would let me in the box and teach me how to work the bells and signals which was fascinating. By that time Peaks were on the mainline trains. Summer Saturdays still saw Jubilees and B1s. And the 1810 to Buxton was usually headed by 46129. This was the 1720 evening commuter train from Manchester Central. The engine returned on the morning working Excellent photos Robert

[@dwayneday2895]

Holyhead plate 1926 locamotive CiSR RR will welcome a purchase in memory of lehigh granite railway iron duke locamotive second choice

[@АлександрНетребин-н4х]

👍

[@barryknapper]

Thanks to all who contributed updates. I am not able to incorporate them just yet due to other pressing matters but when I can do it I will post a notification here as I probably will have to upload a new video copy with a new link. Thanks for your patience.

[@williamwoolhouse3702]

Wonderfully iconic Black and White photographs.Shame about the awfully cheesy music !

[@barryknapper]

Hi William. I am now deaf so cannot realistically judge the background music. I just had to choose something and that was the only piece that fitted the video length. But others have commented favourably on it.

[@roya2498]

Very very interesting Barry. The vegetation on the cutting banks reminded me of the most comfortable lying places from my spotting days. Loved the music - classical pieces - by James Last perhaps ?

[@barryknapper]

Thanks Roy. Yes you are correct with the music. :-)

[@Knappist]

Some great photos Barry, thanks for posting them 👍

[@kennethcliff2564]

Just found this set of photos,BRILLIANT. WELL DONE.

[@lawrencecody9316]

I watched this slide show a while back, and today found my note, of the pics I would like,are any of the pics still available?...excellent quality pics..

[@barryknapper]

Hi Lawrence. Please e-mail me on [e-mail] Cheers