Catalogue description The Wilson collection of railway photographs

Wilson's photographs comprise 35mm and medium format negatives, prints and albums that show railways in Scotland, particularly LNER and LMS lines in Fife, with coverage of lines in southern England.

Wilson's own handwritten registers are available on request but these are somewhat idiosyncratic. The prints are un-numbered, and it is very difficult to match these with the relevant negatives. The collection has also been partially listed by the NRM.

Wilson, Gavin L, d 1976, mechanical engineer, railway photographer and author, member of the Railway Photographic Society

• Railway transport

Wilson took his first railway photograph in the 1930s, and was one of the earliest enthusiasts to use a 35mm film camera. He lived at an ideal location for railway photography, in a house in Dundee overlooking the south end of the Tay Bridge. From here he could watch trains tackling the gradient as they left Tay Station, crossed the bridge and then wound their way around the Fife shore.

Wilson was a member of the prestigious Railway Photographic Society founded by Maurice Earley, was an accomplished model maker, and an author who produced many articles for the railway press.