Community Rail Lancashire and Clitheroe Castle Museum, in partnership with Ribble Valley Rail, are proud to present ‘Tracks of Life: Trains, Places, People’, an exhibition celebrating the life and work of talented professional railway photographer Ken Roberts (1928–2024).

The exhibition, located in Clitheroe Castle’s Steward’s Gallery, showcases a remarkable collection of Ken’s images, capturing the essence of railways, landscapes and communities across Lancashire and beyond.

Supported by the Community Rail Development Fund and timed to coincide with Railway 200 celebrations nationwide, the exhibition highlights Ken’s lifelong dedication to documenting Britain’s railways and his contribution to railway heritage.

The official launch took place on Monday 13 October and was attended by Nigel Harris, custodian of Ken’s photographic archive and co-presenter of the Green Signals railway podcast. He expressed his delight that Ken’s work is now being exhibited in his home area.

The ‘Tracks of Life’ exhibition is housed in the Steward’s Gallery at Clitheroe Castle Museum and is free to enter during regular museum hours from 11 October 2025 until 26 April 2026. Further details can be found here.

Mike Cliffe, chair of the Clitheroe Line CRP and rail development manager at Lancashire County Council, said: “We are delighted to be showcasing the beautiful photographs of trains, people and places taken by Ken Roberts. He spent a lifetime living alongside the Clitheroe Line and played a key part in the campaign to reopen it.

“Ken is well known in the railway world, with his photographs often published and it is well overdue to showcase his work in Clitheroe thanks to his friends at Ribble Valley Rail and Nigel Harris, the custodian of his collection. His photographs will resonate with many, providing an illuminating reminder of just how the railways and this part of the world used to be.”

Claire Sutton, Clitheroe Castle Museum manager, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to host this special exhibition of Ken Roberts’ remarkable railway photography. His images capture not only the technical beauty of the railways, but also the everyday experiences of passengers and the enduring appeal of rail travel. It’s a real privilege to share his work with the community.”

Pete Eastham, chair of Ribble Valley Rail, said: “Ken Roberts took up railway photography as a hobby following medical discharge from the Army in 1949 following a spinal injury in service. Over the next five decades he produced some excellent photographic records of the local trains, railways, people and places, winning the national Ian Allan Railway Photographic award for a photo taken at Hellifield. He became well known in railway publication circles, contributing many photographs for books and magazines.”

Community Rail Lancashire is also pleased to share the details of a further exciting event on Saturday 15 November, 11.30am-12.30pm. Lancashire author Susan Brownrigg will be delivering a lively and entertaining talk on how early railway history and the true events of the Rainhill Trials inspired her critically praised children’s book, Wrong Tracks. Tickets are £6 per person, including refreshments and a free pass to visit the museum. Book your place here.

Clitheroe Castle Museum is operated by the Lancashire County Council Museum Service on behalf of Ribble Valley Borough Council. For more information about the museum – and opening hours to plan your visit to the exhibition – please visit the Clitheroe Castle Museum website.

Keep up to date with future news, projects and events from Community Rail Lancashire via their website.