When our father, Ian Moss, passed away in 2022 aged 89, he left an archive of over 50,000 slides dating between the mid 1950s (when cameras were relatively uncommon) and the late 2010s (when he could no longer hold a camera steady). His primary interest was in Railway and Canal history with a sprinkling of family photo's
Unfortunately, he relied very much on his memory and encyclopedic knowledge when giving lectures and left few written notes - we have therefore been left the task of scanning and identifying many thousands of images before passing the relevant images to a suitable archive such as ROMA or the RCHS Online Media Archive (Ian was the President of the RCHS for many years).
It's possible that Ian's collection includes slides which were not taken by him, but bought, donated, lent or given. If we have infringed anyone else's copyright, please let us know. It was not intentional, but we will remove the image (and comments) from the site.
Unfortunately, he relied very much on his memory and encyclopedic knowledge when giving lectures and left few written notes - we have therefore been left the task of scanning and identifying many thousands of images before passing the relevant images to a suitable archive such as ROMA or the RCHS Online Media Archive (Ian was the President of the RCHS for many years).
It's possible that Ian's collection includes slides which were not taken by him, but bought, donated, lent or given. If we have infringed anyone else's copyright, please let us know. It was not intentional, but we will remove the image (and comments) from the site.
Stonehouse Bridge
Grid ref. SO 80493 04835. Also known as Bridgend Bridge or Downtown Road Bridge, part of the Phase 1A restoration of the Cotswold Canals, completed in 2018.Stonehouse Bridge
Whitminster Lock.
The first lock up from the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal, partial cosmetic restoration some years agoWhitminster Lock.
Whitminster Lock
Whitminster Lock on the Stroudwater Navigation taken a fair while after new top gates were fitted in 1996Whitminster Lock
Clyde Puffer "Vital Spark"
VITAL SPARK, (ex-EILEAN EISDEAL, ex-ELSEDA, ex-VIC 72), was built by Brown's Shipyard, Hull, in 1944, and was sold out of naval service at Devonport Dockyard (where she had been a stores carrier) in 1968, and was then motorised and renamed ELSEDA, based at Troon as a cargo vessel. In 1972, she was bought by an owner based on the Isle of Mull, and worked around the islands dredging coal from sunken vessels. In 1984, she was sold to an owner of Easdale Island, near Oban, and was renamed EILEAN EASDEAL to run a inter-island cargo service around the Western Isles until 1994 (when the Scottish Office withdrew its subsidy for Scottish Shipping). In 2001, she was brought to the Inveraray Maritime Museum, where she still is, and in 2006, she was re-registered as VITAL SPARK, the name of the fictional puffer that appeared in the Para Handy books by Neil Munro.Clyde Puffer "Vital Spark"
Bridge 32. Furness Vale.
Bongs Swing and Footbridge. Grid Ref: SK 0106 8316 [PF-023-160]. The frame is for a lift bridge, which a number of the swing bridges were converted to. The frame has now been removed.Bridge 32. Furness Vale.
Narrows near Strines. Circa 1969
The boat will be "Joanna", the woman steering is Vera Young, The other is Joan Moss (Vera's sister) and the little one is Patrick Moss. Grid Ref: SJ 9676 8666 [PF-016-580]. There are several of these narrow sections along the upper section of the canal and appear to be for stop planks.Narrows near Strines. Circa 1969
Marple. "Lock 17" - a floral display next to lock 13
Also on the route of the old branch to the lime kilns. Exact location not identified and the area indicated would have a major road in view on the immediate left.Marple. "Lock 17" - a floral display next to lock 13
Marple Aqueduct. Damage to the Spandrel Wall. 1962-63
A lack of maintenance in the first half of the 20th century led to water seeping into the puddling and stonework of the aqueduct and, during the very cold winter of 1961/62, freezing and thawing of the water resulted in the outer face of the north-east arch collapsing into the river below. On 09 January 1962, some 30 feet of the wall fell and further damage occurred during the winter of 1962/63, which was colder still. There was a strong movement from the BWB, and local politicians, at the time to demolish the viaduct but in the end it was repaired and was a major factor in the reopening on the Peak Forest Canal. Grid Ref: SJ 9552 9005 [PF-012-390]Marple Aqueduct. Damage to the Spandrel Wall. 1962-63
Marple Aqueduct. Circular opening in the spandrel wall. Winter 1962-63
A feature of all three spans, employed to reduce weight. Grid Ref: SJ 9552 9005 [PF-012-390]Marple Aqueduct. Circular opening in the spandrel wall. Winter 1962-63
Marple Aqueduct. Kayaks & Rowing Boats on the canal.
Grid Ref: SJ 9552 9005 [PF-012-390]. Not dated but the kayaks suggest 1960sMarple Aqueduct. Kayaks & Rowing Boats on the canal.
Marple Aqueduct. Decrepit boat coming off the Aqueduct
Grid Ref: SJ 9552 9005 [PF-012-390]Marple Aqueduct. Decrepit boat coming off the Aqueduct
Marple Aqueduct. Out of water. 1962-63
The damaged section of the spandrel wall can (just) be seen on the right-hand side of the viaduct, about half way along. The Society's own publication on the Peak Forest Canal (Grahame Boyes and Brian Lamb, The Peak Forest Canal: An Engineering and Business History, 2012, pp181-3) deals with the aqueduct's collapse and subsequent scheduling and restoration: 'on the night of 9 January 1962 the outer face of the north-east arch (the non-towpath side at the Marple end) was found to have collapsed. Stop planks were placed across each end of the aqueduct, which was then drained and a temporary pipe laid across to maintain the water supply. Grid Ref: SJ 9552 9005 [PF-012-390]. In the distance is Romiley Bridge, all that remains of the 91 metre long Rose Hill Tunnel.Marple Aqueduct. Out of water. 1962-63
Arch bridge over railway trackbed near site of Lambley Colliery (Grid ref: NY 668 588)
Arch bridge over railway trackbed near site of Lambley Colliery (Grid ref: NY 668 588)
Ulceby (BRI1 @ 100m 36ch). Class 60 locomotive hauling (probably) an Immingham to Scunthorpe iron ore train
Ulceby (BRI1 @ 100m 36ch). Class 60 locomotive hauling (probably) an Immingham to Scunthorpe iron ore train
Hellifield station (SKW1 @ 231m 20ch). Roof support spandrel (ref. 103274)
Hellifield station (SKW1 @ 231m 20ch). Roof support spandrel (ref. 103274)
Alston station (ALN2 @ 13m 12ch), from beyond the buffers looking South
Former North Eastern Railway station closed in 1976, now the terminus of the South Tynedale Railway, a preserved, 2 ft narrow-gauge heritage railway.Alston station (ALN2 @ 13m 12ch), from beyond the buffers looking South
Grange-over-Sands station (CBC1 @ 9m 43ch). Gas lamp bracket.
Grange-over-Sands station (CBC1 @ 9m 43ch). Gas lamp bracket.
Newport (High Street) (SWM2 @ 158m 50ch). West (Cardiff) end of Platform 1
Newport (High Street) (SWM2 @ 158m 50ch). West (Cardiff) end of Platform 1
Culham (DCL @ 56m 19ch), looking towards Oxford.
The hangar and other military buildings in view are part of the old Naval Air Station, HMS Hornbill. These are now in use as small businesses on what is known as No 1 Site.Culham (DCL @ 56m 19ch), looking towards Oxford.
Markinch (ECN2 @ 33m 20ch). The building is on the Down platform with the tracks in a deep cutting
Markinch (ECN2 @ 33m 20ch). The building is on the Down platform with the tracks in a deep cutting
Leeds & Liverpool Canal. Skipton, Springs Branch. Limestone Chute
Leeds & Liverpool Canal. Skipton, Springs Branch. Limestone Chute
Rufford Branch. Lathom Junction, Burscough Dry Dock
Junction with Rufford branch. Dry Dock in the foregroundRufford Branch. Lathom Junction, Burscough Dry Dock
Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Rufford branch, Bottom lock
Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Rufford branch, Bottom lock
Rufford Branch. Lathom Junction, Burscough Dry Dock
Rufford Branch. Lathom Junction, Burscough Dry Dock
