Mike, who is sadly no longer with us, was not one of the more flamboyant or better known photographers of the railway world. He was a self-effacing type yet his output was considerable and the quality of his photographs can stand comparison with the best. From the start of his photography, in 1956, he made it his mission to record the movement of railway traffic in certain districts over much of its journey.
His home county of Yorkshire inevitably received his earliest attention but it was the GC south of Nottingham that inspired his greatest enthusiasm and output, to be closely followed by the SMJ. One of his greatest delights was to seek out the wide open spaces and find the most obscure and remote hamlets and stations (often long closed) such as Cotes de Val, Wolfhampcote and Waddesden. Yet these were far from being the only areas he visited.
His coverage of the Midlands generally was extensive whilst the range was considerable, stretching from Kent to Northumberland and Cumbria. A writer wanting railway photos of some outlandish, unheard of spot would often find that Mike could solve his problem. Mike’s photographs have been published in numerous magazines and books over the fast 50 years and here is my old friend’s collection for you to enjoy.
Mike Kinder
2013
