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Fonds

The Wilson collection of railway photographs

Catalogue reference: The Wilson Collection

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This record is about the The Wilson collection of railway photographs dating from c1935-1955.

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Full description and record details

Reference
The Wilson Collection
Title
The Wilson collection of railway photographs
Date
c1935-1955
Description

Wilson's photographs comprise 35mm and medium format negatives, prints and albums that show railways in Scotland, particularly LNER and LMS lines in Fife, with coverage of lines in southern England.

Wilson's own handwritten registers are available on request but these are somewhat idiosyncratic. The prints are un-numbered, and it is very difficult to match these with the relevant negatives. The collection has also been partially listed by the NRM.

Held by
Search Engine (National Railway Museum)
Language
English
Creator(s)
<persname>Wilson, Gavin L, d 1976, mechanical engineer, railway photographer and author, member of the Railway Photographic Society</persname>
Physical description
Approx 3,000 negatives; Approx 2,500 prints, kept individually and in albums
Administrative / biographical background

Wilson took his first railway photograph in the 1930s, and was one of the earliest enthusiasts to use a 35mm film camera. He lived at an ideal location for railway photography, in a house in Dundee overlooking the south end of the Tay Bridge. From here he could watch trains tackling the gradient as they left Tay Station, crossed the bridge and then wound their way around the Fife shore.

Wilson was a member of the prestigious Railway Photographic Society founded by Maurice Earley, was an accomplished model maker, and an author who produced many articles for the railway press.

Record URL
https://beta.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/id/9ff732a3-ae2f-4fc7-afb6-0c6de213484f/

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The Wilson collection of railway photographs