To coincide with the publication of a book featuring photographs and paintings by renowned photographer and artist Eric Oldham, the Bahamas Locomotive Society is to auction one of Eric’s original paintings.

Published by Mortons Books and written by John Hillier, the book is titled The Eric Oldham Legacy Collection.

It has a published price of £35, and can be purchased from the Bahamas Locomotive Society website www.bahamas45596.co.uk

The painting to be auctioned measures 50 x 40 cm and is framed. It depicts Great Central Railway Class 9Q 4-6-0 No. 1167 Lloyd George climbing eastbound towards the Woodhead Tunnel, not far from Eric’s home at Hyde.

Eric Oldham died in 2008 aged 87. He was a founder member of the Guild of Railway Artists, an active member of the Railway Photographic Society, and a member of the Bahamas Locomotive Society for many years. Until now a lot of his fine work has not been seen by the wider public.

With The Eric Oldham Legacy Collection, John Hillier brings Eric’s photographs and paintings featuring the changing railway scene from the 1940s until the late-20th century to a wider audience.

John Hillier, Eric Oldham’s photographic mentor, was prompted to produce this book after fearing that Eric’s imagery had been lost.

Fortunately, John eventually tracked down the negatives and other ephemera, and The Eric Oldham Legacy Collection is the result.

Sir John Oldham, Eric’s nephew, currently holds the collection of Eric’s work and offered the painting in order to raise funds for the Bahamas Locomotive Society.

The Auction will start on Wednesday, 22nd January 2025, and the successful bidder will also receive a copy of The Eric Oldham Legacy Collection signed by the author, John Hillier, and Eric’s nephew, Sir John Oldham.

Earlier this year, the National Trust transferred its ownership of Coal Tank No. 1054
and historic 0-4-0 saddle tank Hawarden to the Bahamas Locomotive Society.