Author Ken Boyd signs his book “Historic North American Locomotives” after his presentation at the Mid-South Chapter of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society 10th anniversary celebration. Photo submitted

The Mid-South Chapter of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society celebrated its 10th Anniversary on Nov. 17 at a chapter program meeting held at the Historic Leeds Train Depot.  The “Leeds Depot” is an historic train station and is the oldest of only two train stations  remaining in the Birmingham District.  

The Mid-South Chapter meets at the depot, and its meetings are open to the public.  Upcoming meetings are listed on the chapter’s website at http://rlhs.org/Chapters/mid_south.shtml. The chapter maintains three rooms in the depot containing railroad artifacts, historic photographs, and an Agent’s Office set up as it was when the depot was in operation as a passenger train station. The former Baggage Room in the Depot is an event venue with an historic railroad theme and managed by the Leeds Historical Society.

A highlight of the chapter’s celebration was the cutting of the 10th Anniversary cakes bearing the chapter’s 10th Anniversary logo designed by Lamont Downs, chapter Board member. The celebration and meeting were led by the chapter’s Immediate Past President, John Browning who highlighted the chapter’s accomplishments and its 10 years of historic railroad research, documentation, and projects in the Leeds and Birmingham areas as well as throughout the mid-South region.

In addition to the celebration, award-winning photographer, author, and rail enthusiast Ken Boyd presented an excellent program entitled “Historic Locomotives” that explored the development of the locomotive from the diminutive steam engines of the early 1800s and the classically beautiful designs later that century through the spectacular behemoths of the 20th century and the high-speed rails of the new millennia. 

Following the meeting, a book signing was held for Boyd’s latest book, “Historic North American Locomotives.”  His previous book was a popular and internationally distributed book entitled “The Art of the Locomotive.”  His book about historic watermills is scheduled to be released in 2019.