Description

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Coal-black starless nights, comfort only from the weak glow of station lamps. The velvet silence broken by a series of shrill ringing bells in the signal box, a flurry of activity; levers are pulled, wires sing, signals drop, and silence returns. In the far distance a quiet rhythmic beat, the gloom pieced by a star of light, glinting off silver rails. A sudden rush of billowing white steam, gleaming paintwork, polished brass, flying pistons, passengers snug and warm in their carriages. All over in a fleeting moment. A disappearing tail lamp is the only evidence of an everlasting memory. Robin and Taliesin have set out to capture in a series of evocative images the drama of railways between dusk and dawn. The selection illustrates behind the scenes shots of engine sheds, wayside halts, and busy city stations and the people who work the night shift; all captured in a series of beautiful photographs that will be revisited again and again.

About the Author

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Robin Coombes has now returned to full-time education as a PhD Student at BCRRE, University of Birmingham researching sustainability and governance of heritage railways. Robin is a retired Chartered Architect and Consultant. He was a Rail Manager for 8 years at Network SouthEast and partner with a national architectural practice for 25 years, the last 10 years as Chairman, a founding partner of the environmental and economic consultancy ERES and has served as a magistrate for 29 years. He has a lifelong passion for steam railways, traveling over one million miles, and is perhaps best known for his innovative photography for which he has won several awards and was recently invited to the US give lectures on his photography. Robin volunteers at Vintage Trains where he holds the position of Company Secretary. Taliesin Coombes is an exploration geologist, experienced in challenging remote and independent working, across the geological and remediation industries. He has always had a love of travel and exploring the world around him. This desire to travel has gone hand in hand with his passion for photography and wanting to capture from the smallest moments to the grandest vistas which few have seen before. Photography has not just been a personal passion but a commercial one as well, running a wedding photography business alongside his other professional activities, as well as publication with a wide range of photographs winning critically acclaimed awards such as the Sunday Times' "Take a View Young Landscape Photographer of the Year" in 2010 and being featured in National Geographic.