Obituary: Renowned railway photographer Les Nixon dies aged 88

Renowned railway photographer Les Nixon died on February 17, aged 88.

Born in Barnsley in 1936, he took up railway photography in 1949, having gained an interest in the railways at a young age - driven by his father and mother both working on the railways.

He would regularly watch steam trains passing through the town, but despite his hopes of following in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps by becoming a driver, his parents dissuaded him from joining British Railways.

Accordingly, Les kept railways - and photography especially - as a hobby. He studied for a PhD in organic chemistry at Southampton University, and that led to a career

teaching at Sheffield Polytechnic. He would go on to author many pictorial railway books. He was also a regular contributor to railway magazines, including RAIL from its inception in 1981.

For the past 46 years, Les had lived in Hathersage in the Derbyshire Peak District with his wife Carol, whom he had met when they were both working for the National Coal Board.

She was his boss’s secretary, and for their first date he took her for a day in York as a pillion passenger on his motorbike. In later days, they would travel long distances together on the motorbike, including down to Italy.

He had a love of the railways - including many trans-Pennine routes, such as the now-closed Woodhead line.

Les was always incredibly helpful, and was still active into his 80s, but eventually old age caught up with him and he had to put his camera down a couple of years ago.

Sadly, dementia and Alzheimer’s caught up with him, and he stayed in a care home in Sheffield from November 2024.

Les leaves his wife of 64 years Carol, and a son David and daughter Louise.

By Pip Dunn