The photography of L Perrin

[Darwin4975]

This gentleman who may no longer with us was an unsung hero of LNER photography in the 1950s and early 60s. He lived near Boston and took many photographs in his local area but also the ECML especially favouring locations such as Grantham, Peterborough, Stoke, Barkston, Saltersford, and Newcastle. He also visited Edinburgh.

Mr Perrin had a good quality camera which gave excellent sharp pictures. The negative collection has been dispersed during the past year and I will be highlighting some of his photographic gems during the weeks ahead, three at a time.

First off is no 60002 seen at Edinburgh Waverley in July 1959 on the up Flying Scotsman which at that time was a regular Gateshead A4 working. Seen in typical filthy condition the brilliance of this image is the inclusion of the approaching B1 and the brightly shining colour light. The unkept state of the engine can clearly be seen by the dimly discernible but razor sharp cabside number.

Next, another grubby A4 -unusual for one based at Kings Cross. No 60006 approaches Grantham with an up train on Christmas Eve 1956. It is obviously a very dull and dismal day and at that time of the year taking photographs of moving trains is far from easy. Perrin was active in the period 1953-57 when none of the single chimney A4s had yet been converted to double chimney which makes his images even more interesting.

Finally a B17 entering Boston Station. March engines were obviously regular visitors to Boston as Perrin took many photographs of B17s while they were still active -another wonderful feature of his work. No 61638 was unfortunately one of the first to succumb to the blitz that this class encountered in the late 1950s. (If anyone can suggest a possible identity of the train, that would be appreciated.)

More to follow!!

[harvester]

Excellent photographs

[burnie]

Really nice sharp images.

[silverfox]

I would not complain should there be a surfeit of B17 locos, esp with the GE tender. Stacks of detail to assist me get the 5in one correct

[Darwin4975]

I have another B17 to show later on. Meanwhile here are three others.

Barkston South Junction was a popular spot especially on diversion Sundays when trains were re-routed through Lincoln.
First off is No 60003 Andrew K McCosh rejoining the main line with an up express on 27th May 1956. Not in pristine external condition but this engine often seemed to be relegated to the Kings Cross 'second rank' of A4s.

Another place much frequented by Mr Perrin was Saltersford, south of Grantham. Northbound trains ran down gradient with steam shut off as seen here on 20th August 1960 with Darlington resident No 60051 Blink Bonny working homewards.

Finally, Grantham station itself where engine changing was an extra attraction. Here is a lovely crisp portrait of an A3 in original single chimney condition. No 60069 Sceptre has arrived with an express from Newcastle on 30th March 1957. The fireman has just removed the nearside lamp from the front bufferbeam ready to place it at the tender rear before setting off for Grantham shed. This was a rather camera-shy A3

[strang steel]

Wonderful photos, and thanks for sharing. I always thought there must be some collections of Lincolnshire-based images waiting to be rediscovered, although much of the county does remain a Cinderella when compared with more urban regions.

The B17 at Boston is sporting a stopping passenger lamp, and so may just be a East Lincs line local service where Peterborough have borrowed a March allocated engine for the day.

[kimballthurlow]

This gentleman who may no longer with us was an unsung hero of LNER photography in the 1950s and early 60s...
Mr Perrin had a good quality camera which gave excellent sharp pictures. The negative collection has been dispersed during the past year and I will be highlighting some of his photographic gems during the weeks ahead, three at a time...

No 60006 approaches Grantham with an up train on Christmas Eve 1956. It is obviously a very dull and dismal day and at that time of the year taking photographs of moving trains is far from easy....
More to follow!!

Hello,
I am very interested in the quality of these photographs having used a camera in the same period.
It would be interesting to know about the camera itself, and even the film.
At the time Ilford ASA400 was widely available (at least in both 35mm and 6x6).
While it tended to process a little grainy it worked well for cameras achieving 1/250th of a second or better because the lens could cope with wider apertures.

Regarding the photo of 60006, if the train was slowing say to 25mph the shutter speed might work at 1/100 second to achieve a sharp enough image.
The shutter aperture could have been stopped down to f4 or less to allow as much light as possible to reach the film.
It is also likely that he achieved the obvious depth of field focus with a longer shutter opening and perhaps an f8 stop.
The result is excellent.

I had different problems here in sub-tropical Australia.
Dull days were few and far between, and the strong light and high sun mode it impossible to avoid dark shadows on parts of the locomotives.
It was difficult to achieve an image balance for a black locomotive requiring either low speeds or large apertures.
So much of the wheels and motion detail was lost unless the sun was at a low angle.
These conditions made for less appealing results in either lack of detail or poor depth of field images.

Dull days and low sun were possible in southern states (eg. Victoria) and resultant photography was much better.
To be honest I have always been jealous of the beautiful images that were achievable in southern states here and in UK, and Europe railway photography.

Kimball

[Darwin4975]

Unfortunately I know practically nothing about Mr Perrin -even his first name. I had been hoping that someone from the Forum could provide some information about him. Consequently, the camera used is also unknown apart from the obvious fact that it could produce some very sharp images. What adds to the mystery is that the negatives have all been sold with the description 'cut down', presumably from a larger negative. This is borne out by the evidence that the purchased negatives never have borders on all four sides and sometimes no borders at all. The cut down size is approximately 5 x 4 cm. Why they were cut down and by whom is anybody's guess.

Peterborough was much frequented by Mr Perrin to record trains entering the station from both directions. Here is a lovely view of 60044 Melton approaching from the south on 24th March 1957. This engine, an early Gresley pacific had been busy during 1953-56 period working the GC route but had been transferred back to the east coast in March 1956, currently based at Grantham but shortly to be reallocated to its final shed, Kings Cross.

Back to Grantham, 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley has arrived with an up express on 7th August 1957. Contemporary colour transparencies show that this A4 had nameplates painted with a bright red background at this time. As usual being a Kings Cross favourite, it is in immaculate condition despite being due a major overhaul in just 3 months time (when it would be fitted with a double chimney).

Mr Perrin lived in the Boston area so it is of benefit to us all that he took photographs in his own back yard - nobody else did!!
Here is a charming shot of a J6 taken near Boston working what was probably a Horncastle train in 1956. The beautiful manor house in the left background adds to this scene. (Sometimes Mr Perrin gave exact dates on his negative sleeves but this one did not, apart from the year.) Considering the size of this class of 0-6-0s, good quality action photographs of them are surprisingly few and far between. Close inspection shows a bowler hatted gentleman on board the locomotive. Another mystery that even Mr Perrin may not have been able to throw light upon.

[manna]

G'day Gents

Wonderful photos, looking forward to seeing more.

manna

[Darwin4975]

Only one Perrin image to display this time, but a fascinating photograph of the unique K5 2-6-0 No 61863, seen leaving Boston with a southbound freight on 9th August 1951. A beautiful summer's day though the engine was filthy (see below), but fortunately the number and shed plates are clean and bright -and of course sharp.

This was the unique Thompson rebuild of Gresley K3 No 206 into a 2-cylinder locomotive, in June 1945. It was an expensive rebuilding as the only retained parts were the cab and tender. Because the two cylinders had to share the work previously done by three, the boiler pressure was increased to 225lb sq in from 180 lb which required a new (diagram 96A) boiler. (Ten such boilers were constructed anticipating further rebuilds. The same 96A boiler was subsequently fitted to K3s but always working at 180lb sq in pressure). The cylinders were not K3 but of the new B1 type. It was to be the fore-runner of other such conversions but remained a one-off, possibly due to the expense involved. The fitters were apparently happy with the outcome and the crews reported good riding probably due to the heavier driving axle springing. (A big advantage over the K3s which were notoriously bad riders)

The locomotive became BR No 61863 and spent almost all of its 15 year existence either at New England or Stratford -two sheds in stiff competition with Gateshead for claiming the Filthy Engine Gold Star Award. Consequently the K5 received very little attention by the cleaners -ever. This is borne out by the (sparse) photographic record. The engine seems to have been very camera shy and this image by L Perrin is reproduced in Vol 6A of the RCTS 'Green Bible' fig 135. Some of the left hand side of the published picture has been removed in the cut down negative, if the two are compared.
Fig 136 of the same volume shows the K5 in even more filthy condition on a train of empty coaching stock at Hitchin. These are the only two images of this locomotive in action I have ever seen (and I've been on the lookout). Can anyone provide details of any others in existence? Mr Dimmer perhaps?

As this is such a lovely and rare photograph, you can all have a portion of the colour version too!

[silverfox]

Darwin

The lamps on the B17 and the A3 at Grantham..Are they black or ed?

I thinks his name was Les

[Darwin4975]

Yes it would appear that his name was Les, but precious little else seems to be known about this excellent photographer of LNER subjects. What a pity.

The absence of images of the K5 at work seems to be confirmed by the lack of response from the Gallery. Considering its unique status that must be surprising. I would have expected that some photographers might have sought it out for their portfolios. Mallard was also unique, and how many pictures of it working trains were recorded over the years? Many thousands.

Les Perrin certainly had an eye for a good action photograph. Here is a view taken at Edinburgh on 11th July 1959 of 'Hunt' No 62743 The Cleveland emerging from the Mound Tunnel at the head of a train of ECS. The coaches have plenty of brass work on show and are possibly elderly NBR stock. The elevated vantage point shows the northern approaches to Waverley station as seen through the tunnel.

Luck has played a large part in making this an excellent photograph with escaping steam from snifting and safety valves highlighting the locomotive chimney and giving an impression of movement. Imagine how this scene would have looked with no escaping steam at all, even though the train would have been in motion. By 1959 the D49s were becoming a rare breed and once again a pin sharp image has been produced of a rather camera shy (especially at work) class of 4-4-0.

The Perrin negatives attracted some high prices as you might expect which will have greatly pleased the dealer who was fortunate enough to have acquired them. Most were of subjects south of the border and here is No 60008 Dwight D Eisenhower on a northbound semi-fast about to leave Peterborough on 15th July 1953.

The A4 still has in place the long guard irons which would be removed a year later (all the A4s losing them at about this time), but it would be another 5 years and three more general overhauls before a double chimney was fitted. A V2 simmers in the shed yard and the attractive Peterborough North Signal box which had an excellent view of the station platforms can also be seen. Spotters very much in evidence here are missing out on a southbound departure as witnessed by the black smoke above the station.

Finally, another visit to Saltersford near Kesteven. Mr Perrin spent several hours here on 20th August 1960 and took a number of photographs including this one of No 60067 Ladas coasting downhill towards Grantham. The old gas lamp positioned next to the water column adjacent to the up freight loop shows nicely. This A3 was an early class casualty being withdrawn in December 1962.

[Darwin4975]

Southbound services passing Saltersford were always working hard as can be seen in this splendid Perrin shot of the Scarborough Flyer taken on 16th September 1960. In charge is Kings Cross V2 No 60800 Green Arrow in customary immaculate condition. This V2 spent its entire existence at Kings Cross (apart from a few weeks in mid-1953) but was withdrawn relatively early, for preservation, in August 1962.

The view below was taken near Firsby at the commencement of the branch to Skegness on 13th June 1956. The signal box visible behind the bridge is Firsby East Jct and the train is a Nottingham - Skegness excursion. The bridge carried the road from Firsby village to the railway station.

The B1 No 61376 from Colwick had an unenviable claim to fame being one with a remarkably short career. Built by NBL it was released to traffic on 12th April 1951 (one of the last built) but suffered very early withdrawal on 5th February 1962 - at an age of just 10 years and 10 months. Only three B1s managed less than this, at 10 years and 8/9 months.

Opinions vary, but some think the A4s looked their best in original single chimney condition. A fine portrait of No 60030 Golden Fleece was taken in June 1957 at Grantham on an up express. The A4 has just taken over the train for the final leg to Kings Cross. Mr Perrin's camera excelled at close-up studies like this with razor sharp results.

[upney sidings]

I, too, have bought a number of Les Perrin's negatives.
Mike M.

[Darwin4975]

Feel free to display them here!