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Islington Tribune - by ED CUMMING
Published: 14 September 2007

Tracking rail history

WITH his distinctive bushy grey beard, short tunic, and the exotic backdrop for the photograph, you could be forgiven for thinking that he is a railway navvy from Victorian times.
In fact this is Liam, a modern Irish-born steel worker whose photograph will take pride of place in a remarkable exhibition next Tuesday.
To purchase an original print of Liam (right) is a mere £2,500 but the catalogue book to the exhibition of photos costs £20.
The distinctive photo of the three sikh workers (above) will also have a prominent part to play.
The event at St Pancras station is a celebration of the characters behind Britain’s first high-speed railway.
A series of 165 stunning portraits will be on show in the Gymnasium opposite the station forecourt.
The exhibition will depict everyone from the manual workers, canteen staff, and surveyors, to the chief executive of London and Continental railways Rob Holden.
The snaps are by Royal Photographic Society member Brian Griffin.
Mr Griffin said this week: “Everyone loves Liam. He seems to epitomises a railway worker. Even the tunic looks old, but in fact that’s just a modern security vest.
“The picture was taken inside the St Pancras hotel and the wall mural adds an extra mystery to the picture.”
The give-away, of course, is that Liam is holding a modern helmet and has a mobile phone in his pocket.
Griffin has the ability to carry out a “a magical metamorphosis of politicians, designers, singers, rugby players with his camera” according to the Sunday Times, and his vision has led him to become involved in some of the most well-visited photography exhibitions of recent years.
The Channel Tunnel Rail Link from St Pancras in London has taken nine years to construct, with 8,000 people working over 50 million hours to build it.

* Teamphoto. Exhibition from Tuesday September 18-November 18, at The Gymnasium at St Pancras. Teamphoto is also being published as a book on September 18 price £20.

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