NB. Publication of a letter does not imply that the Editor or staff of The Railway Magazine necessarily agree with its contents.
Preserving the photographic past
CHRIS Milner’s article on ‘Preserving the Past’(June issue) highlights the problem of photographic collections ending up at the tip and, perhaps with more recent images, being consigned to the computer ‘recycle bin’.
Colour-Rail has for many years given talks to railway societies around the country and has always highlighted the need to either find a good home for images whilst the photographer is still alive, or make provision in a will to ensure their survival. Understandably, many people just cannot bring themselves to part with, in many cases, a slide box full of memories. The majority of us also seem to have the unshakeable belief that they are not about to meet their maker – or at least not for many years yet, and so put off recording their wishes in writing. This leaves those who have to sort out estates an often huge task, with slides and negatives being perhaps the least of the
