John Clemmens – Railway Magazine

John Clemmens 1934-2021

John Clemmens, a well-known photographer of British steam and, particularly, the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, has passed away after short period in hospital which was not Covid-related.

Born in London, John’s first contact with railways was visiting an aunt in Margate during the Second World War under cover of a special permit by train from Victoria during the school holidays.
His railway photography began in 1946, using early Kodak Box Brownies, followed by the brilliant Voiglander Bessa models.

Later John adopted a Hasselblad camera from the mid-1970s and continued to use them in a digital age.
In 1951, John was selected for an indentured apprenticeship with the de Havilland Engine Company and became involved with the gas turbine engines and for more than 50 years was a member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

After retiring in 1989, John embarked on an exclusive handwritten book of remarkable quality covering half a century of photographing the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, an area of India he knew intimately.
His images of the railway adorn the walls of his favourite hotel in the mountain town.

In 2015, his local station at North Queensferry became for one weekend ‘Darjeeling’ to mark the Forth Bridge having joined the DHR in securing UNESCO World Heritage status.

Well known by older members of the railway
photographic fraternity, John was a contributing member and supporter of the Rail Camera Club, and helped with its travelling exhibition some years ago.

John Clemmens with his own Darjeeling Himalayan Railway book, taken in September last year by John Yellowlees.

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