Bassetlaw Museum is excited to welcome a new exhibition titled ‘Power Station Coal Trains. The End?’ by the renowned railway photographer Dafydd Whyles. This exhibition showcases Dafydd’s exceptional photography skills and highlights the significance of railways in serving the collieries and coal-fired power stations of Bassetlaw and the surrounding areas.
Dafydd grew up in South Wales and North Derbyshire and developed a keen interest in the railway network while traveling between the two. He started trainspotting at the age of seven and began taking photographs a few years later. Having completed a training with the London Evening Standard copywriting-advertising department, he worked as a photographer around the country, including a stint with the Retford Times.
In 1997, Dafydd followed his dream and trained at Crewe to be a signalman. Since then, he has worked at various locations, including Ollerton Colliery, West Burton Power Station and Gainsborough Trent Junction.
Dafydd captures dramatic and stunning images with a medium format film camera, but occasionally uses digital cameras depending on the situation. His atmospheric and evocative photographs showcase the beauty and importance of railways in the industrial history of the region.
Dafydd said: “I am very fortunate in that my partner Dorothy also loves the railway. So much so, that she followed me in having a career in signalling. Today our spare time is taken up traveling around the country, photographing the railway and seeking out tea shops and second-hand book shops!”
The exhibition is a must-see for all photography lovers and railway enthusiasts. The show is on at Bassetlaw Museum, 40 Grove Street, Retford until 20th May 2023.