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The History of Railway Photography

The master railway photographers - C. C. B. Herbert

Cyril Herbert was born into a long established railway family, and in 1925 he duly joined the LNER as a trainee at King's Cross, London. Unlike many of the other photographers of his era, Herbert favoured a small 35mm Leica camera, and was able to roam locations looking for images, taking spur of the moment shots when opportunities arose. He became a member of the Railway Photographic Society, but his pictures tended to represent atmospheric railway scenes rather than technical subjects. Today his photographs seem more journalistic than his colleagues. They mainly covered the work of the LNER in London, including a number showing the devastation caused by German bomb and rocket attacks on London during the Second World War. The NRM now holds his collection of work, including prints submitted to the Railway Photographic Society together with their accompanying criticism sheets.

Engineman by Cyril Herbert, 1948

Engineman by Cyril Herbert, 1948
ref no. Herbert R28 B4 26 © National Railway Museum/Science & Society Picture Library

A permanent way ganger patrols his 'length' on the main line near Manningtree, Essex by Cyril Herbert, May 1948

A permanent way ganger patrols his 'length' on the main line near Manningtree, Essex by Cyril Herbert, May 1948
Herbert M 4813-3 © National Railway Museum/Science & Society Picture Library