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The History of Railway Photography

The master railway photographers - P. Ransome-Wallis

Despite his early ambitions to become a locomotive mechanical engineer, Ransome-Wallis followed his family's tradition and became a doctor. However his love of the railways always saw him take up appointments in areas that would allow him to indulge in his interest in photography. He eventually settled into a practice in Herne Bay, Kent, allowing him the opportunity to photograph the trains working the Kent Coast Line of the Southern Railways. His experiences in the Royal Navy saw him develop a love of overseas railways, and his collection held at the NRM contains photographs from all over the world - including places where his photography was not always welcome. During a trip to Eastern Europe he had a lump of coal thrown at him by the driver of a Czech locomotive and was arrested several times. A member of the Railway Photographic Society, Ransome-Wallis had notable achievements away from his camera. He was a prolific writer as well as being the presenter of the BBC's 'On Railways' series. His work provides a comprehensive coverage of railways in Britain between the early 1920s until his death in 1985, as well as his records of his intercontinental travels. While he preferred to take "technical rather than emotional" shots, his commercial work, provide some of the most striking shots in the NRM collection.

The Kent Coast Express

The Kent Coast Express by Patrick Ransome-Wallis, 1959.
ref no. Ransome-Wallis 11861 © National Railway Museum/Science & Society Picture Library

No. 6025 'King Henry III' runs along the sea wall at Dawlish, Devon

No. 6025 'King Henry III' runs along the sea wall at Dawlish, Devon by Patrick Ransome-Wallis, 1955.
ref no. Ransome-Wallis 10943 © National Railway Museum/Science & Society Picture Library