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Guests

Try out the Society as a guest.  Most of the meetings and events are open to visitors.  Donations appreciated.

The Railway Correspondence & Travel Society (RCTS) is Britain’s leading organisation for people interested in all aspects of railways past, present and future and is highly regarded by both professional railway people and enthusiasts, a position it has held since its formation in 1928.

A network of 28 local branches across Great Britain

National events and special interest meetings online

The Railway Observer - A high quality monthly magazine

Library and Archive (at Leatherhead station)

RCTS books, online publications, and clothing items available to purchase

Photographic, digital, and paper archives

Discounts from book publishers, magazine subscriptions, heritage railway travel, and other membership benefits

The RCTS is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, number 1169995.  Our VAT number is GB197343335. 

Click the image to view a sample edition from January 2024

The Railway Observer

All members receive the Society's magazine online, and a print edition (usually 72 pages) is posted to those choosing a "Printed" membership category.

The magazine covers the current railway scene, including extensive coverage of significant and interesting movements, plus an infrastructure and events update. Urban, Irish and International news is included, together with the latest news from Heritage lines.

Society activities, branch meetings, outdoor visits and rail tours are well represented, as are reviews of the latest publications.

Membership rates for new joiners

Printed RO Membership includes posting of the print edition of The Railway Observer

Online RO £11.00
Printed RO UK £29.00
Printed RO Europe £56.00
Printed RO Rest of World £78.00

New joiners are benefiting from a "Welcome" discount of £10. 

Volunteering

The Society is run entirely by volunteers, at branch level and nationally.  If you have some spare time, and maybe some specialist skills, there are many ways you can help

  • Publishing
  • Image preparation
  • Archiving
  • Speaking
  • Managing events
  • Software development
  • Administration
  • Research
  • Authorship
  • Librarianship

Members’ Weekend 2024 Report

21 Oct 2024

The 2024 Members’ Weekend and Officers’ Conference The Royal Maritime Hotel – Portsmouth Friday to Sunday 27th – 29thSeptember 2024 The annual Members’ Weekend and Officers’ Conference was based at…

Czech Holiday Plzeň June 2024

20 Aug 2024

For our third trip to Czechia, following on from Praha in 2022 and Ostrava in 2023, our base for this year was Plzeň.  Plzeň is a city in Western Bohemia…

Three new books for 2024

31 May 2024

We are delighted to announce three new pictorial volumes for 2024.  There are also some new bundles available that include the new volumes.  More information about each is available by…

RCTS and Mortons Media Photographic Competition Results

20 May 2024

The RCTS and Mortons Media are pleased to present fourteen stunning photographs.  They are the results of a photographic competition celebrating images captured from January 2022. There were four categories:…

Members’ Weekend 2024 – Portsmouth

20 May 2024

Friday 27th – Sunday 29th September The Great Waterfront City – Portsmouth has something to offer everybody The home of the Royal Navy, our hotel is literally a stone’s throw…

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Upcoming Events (All)

National meetings

National meetings are held on Zoom, typically twice a month.  They are listed in the Virtual Meetings calendar (below).  A ticket is required; open the event to find the registration link.

  • Non-members are welcome (£2.50 per meeting)
  • Members are encouraged to make a £2.50 donation to help defray the cost of the Zoom licence.

For 2024-25 we have a 500-seat Zoom licence.  How to use Zoom

Branch meetings

The 28 branches all have a monthly meetings programme.  Some branches switch to Zoom in the winter months, whilst others operate hybrid in-person+Zoom meetings all year round.  Members and guests are welcome at all meetings.

Please visit the branch pages (below) to view their calendars and for details of their meeting venues.

 

 

Virtual Events

The Society has a national network of 28 branches.  Each branch has its own committee and operates its own programme of events.  Members are assigned to a home branch but are welcome to take part in other branches' activities.

Guests are always welcome.

The latest edition of The Railway Observer, plus back copies from 2012

Details of benefits available to RCTS members

The directory of Society officers

Officers' administration tools

RCTS-branded clothing sales

Membership renewals for 2025 [opens November 2024]

Visitors can register to gain temporary 48-hour access.  Join the RCTS to be assigned a permanent account.

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Shop for Books

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Shipping

Shipping is charged on the whole order. There is a flat rate of £4 for UK addresses, or 40% of the order value for non-UK address, calculated as the basket is added to.

Payment can be made by credit/debit card into the Society's Paypal account. You do not need your own Paypal account to use this service.

RCTS members are advised to use the Shop pages in the Members' Area to gain access to exclusive products, including RCTS-branded clothing items, and special discounts.

RCTS Publications

RCTS has been a renowned publisher of definitive books on locomotives and other railway subjects since 1935. The books are available online and trade enquiries are welcome.  Many are now out of print but you can find a bibliography of all books by following More about RCTS Publications below.

Become an author? Click the button to find out more.

New printing technology means that it has become economic to republish some of the back catalogue, a process that is underway.  If you cannot wait, copies are available to view at the Society's library at Leatherhead and second-hand copies may be available to purchase from there.

RCTS Books on Amazon

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Many formerly out-of-print RCTS books are available to purchase from Amazon using their Print on Demand service.  This link will take you to the RCTS Digital Archive where every book available is listed.  Purchases are made via Amazon, not the RCTS shop.

RCTS books as PDF downloads

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The entire back catalogue of out-of-print RCTS books is available to purchase from the RCTS Digital Archive.  Orders are separate from the Members' Area shop, and can be downloaded immediately.

To plan your visit, please click the image above for more information

The library is open for personal visits by members and non-members.  We continue to open one day a week - see calendar.

 

LIBRARY CORRESPONDENCE must only be sent to the Chief Archivist:

Andy Davies, 34 Victory Park Road, Addlestone, KT15 2AZ – archive@rcts.org.uk

Letters or parcels MUST NOT be sent to Leatherhead as there is no facility to collect post sent there.

Location (click RCTS Library for more details)

Second-hand books are sold by the Library. The list of books available is updated regularly, and is not limited to RCTS publications.

Photographs

Over 57,000 images are available to purchase as prints or as digital downloads.

The archive also includes many thousands of non-RCTS copyright images.  They are available for people to view only online for their personal researches.  Users must register (i.e. obtain a Readers' Card) and sign in to gain access.

Books and Magazines

A complete collection of the Society's magazine The Railway Observer is available to read online and to purchase as PDF downloads. 1928-2011 is publicly available from the archive; 2012 onwards restricted via the Members' Area.

All of the Society's out-of-print books are available on a similar basis, including definitive series such as Locomotives of the LNER, Locomotives of the GWR, and Locomotives of the Southern.  Also locomotive and coaching stock books, traffic surveys and various individual locomotive histories.

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The Society has several online information services maintained by our dedicated and knowledgeable members.  The various features are regularly updated, and we welcome contributions from members and non-members alike.

Each feature has a editor.  Click the images to explore.

Modern Traction Loco Database

 locodata.org.uk - An allocation and history database covering every diesel, electric and gas turbine locomotive that has ever run on the national rail network. Register there to use it and please take the time to read the introductory notes which will greatly aid your interpretation of the information.

Query Corner

 

Written queries and answers are published here and in The Railway Observer

TOPS Reference Data

The Society maintains several datasets of TOPS data for Cl.01/5, Cl.89, Cl.97 and Cl.98 Locomotives, Depot Codes and Locomotive Pool Codes, all of which are regularly updated.

Diesel Dilemmas

Mysteries and anomalies in the modification and disposal history of British Railways diesel locomotives.

Carriage Conundrums

Mysteries and anomalies in the modification and disposal history of British Railways locomotive hauled coaching stock.

Preserved Coaches

Additions, deletions, movements and modifications to lists of preserved railway rolling stock, regularly updated.

Haulage Highlights

Seasonal services, relief trains, special events and unusual routes, mostly with diesel traction.

“Our” Locos

A number of locomotives have proudly carried The Railway Observer nameplate or been associated with the Society.  No, we don't own these locomotives, but they are thought of as "ours".

Database of Railway Photography

John Knight is a picture researcher.  His database of southern and western England records details of 172,000 images published in 6,500 books.

This RCTS Feature initially opens on an interactive map. When you zoom in, each yellow dot represents a camera location. The background can be changed between contemporary maps, satellite images, and historical Ordnance Survey maps - including the detailed 1:10,560 Series.  The dot has a reference number for subsequent searches. Please allow a few seconds for the map to load fully.

There are several other tabs alongside the map.  One is the User Guide which explains what data is available and how to undertake searches.

Other tabs are lists of books, authors, photographers, railway companies, locomotive classes, and the like.  All are searchable.

To report any issues with the website, please contact:

To avoid spam, email addresses only list the stem.  Please add: @rcts.org.uk

Board of Trustees

Chairman James Milne chairman
Secretary Richard Morris secretary
Treasurer Reg Wood treasurer
Branch Liaison Irene Rabbitts liaison
Commercial Officer Mike Robinson observer
Development Officer David Cross development
Trustee David Goddard membership
Trustee David Bird publications
Trustee Andy Davies archive
Trustee John Redgate john.redgate
Trustee Paul Chancellor liveries

Governance Groups

1 Administration
Group Leader Richard Morris (Society Secretary) (BoT) secretary
Deputy Chairman David Bird (BoT) publications
Minutes Taker Dave Elsdon hitchin
Chief Archivist Andy Davies (BoT) archive
Historic Timetable & WTT Curator - 1970 to date Kurt Sickelmore wttpost1969
Branch Liaison Officer Irene Rabbitts (BoT) liaison
Membership Secretary David Goddard (BoT) membership
Digital Officer Matthew Shaw digital
RCTS email addresses Matthew Shaw addresses
2 Financial
Group Leader Reg Wood (Society Treasurer) (BoT) treasurer
Assistant Treasurer - Branch Finances Chris Basford branchfinance
Assistant Treasurer - Renewals Steve Ollive renewals
Assistant Treasurer - Commercial Denis Horsman pubsfinance
3 Strategy
Group Leader David Cross development
Strategic Planning Officer Paul Chancellor liveries
Exhibitions & Events Officer Dr Steve Lacey hitchin.chairman
Publicity Officer Keith Merritt publicity
Publicity Communications Roger Sandford chichesterchair
Social Media Officer Tim Bellenger socaial_media
Nameplate Administrator David Cross nameplates
4 Commercial
Group Leader David Bird (BoT) publications
Publications - Trade Sales David Bird (BoT)
Publications - Sales VACANCY
Assistant Treasurer - Commercial Denis Horsman pubsfinance
Photographic Archivist c/o Andy Davies photoarchive
Photographic Portfolio Bob Avery folio
Liveries Library Paul Chancellor (see Strategic Planning Officer above)
Managing Editor - The Railway Observer (RO) Mike Robinson (BoT) observer

Railway Observer editorial

Operating Reports - Forward to the Regional Editor or Subeditor as appropriate
All Other Submissions - Forward to the appropriate Topic Editor or, if uncertain, direct to ropostbox@rcts.org.uk

Managing Editor Mike Robinson observer
Deputy ME David Bird publications
Imaging Editor Peter Hicks roimages
Features Development Assistant Evan Williams features
REGIONAL EDITORS – Operating Reports
Eastern & North Eastern Dafydd Wigley ro-eastern
London Midland - South Bob Ballard lmsouth
London Midland – North Vacancy westcoastnorth
Scotland Callum MacLeod ro-scotland
Southern Robert Payne ropostbox
Western Peter Everingham rowestern
Subeditor - South Wales Peter Fortune southwales
TOPIC EDITORS
Branch News Steve Batty branchnews
Fixtures & Ads Geoff Brockett roadverts&fixtures
Infrastructure Phil Deaves infrastructure
International Vacancy international
Nostalgia Corner Vacancy nostalgia
Preservation & Heritage Rail Richard Neale heritage
Publication Reviews Geoff Bannister pubsreviews
Query Corner Paul Chancellor querycorner
RO Index Paddy Carey roindex
T&RS - Coaching Stock Lawrie Bowles coachingstock
T&RS - Locos & Work Andrew Lait ourlocos
Urban & Other Railways c/o Richard Neale ro-urban

Branch Secretaries

Bristol & District Paul Udey bristol
Cambridge Tony Field cambridge
Cheltenham John Howland cheltenham
Chichester Roger Sandford chichester
Croydon & South London Rob Burridge croydon
East Midlands Dave Coxon eastmidlands
Furness, Lakes & Lune Alan Sattenstall furnesslakesandlune
Hitchin & Welwyn Garden City David Elsdon hitchin
Humberside Carey Vessey humberside
Ipswich & District Bev Steele ipswich.branch
Lancashire & North West Ian Derrick lancsnorthwest
Merseyside, Cheshire & North Wales Nigel Bowker merseyside
Milton Keynes Mark Richards miltonkeynes
North East Malcolm Hammond darlington
Northampton Roger Deacon northampton
Peterborough Colin Greatrex peterborough
Scottish Richard Thorburn scotland
Sheffield Jim Bryant sheffieldfixtures
Solent Denis Horsman solent
South Essex David Cope southessex
South Wales/De Cymru Philip Stallard southwales
Surrey Irene Rabbitts surrey
Thames Valley Ian Baird tv-secretary
Watford Rob Davidson watford
West of England Charles Woodland westofengland
West Midlands Derek Huntriss westmidlands
West Riding Peter Mann westriding
Windsor & Maidenhead Sally Goddard maidenhead

A brief history

The Society was founded in Cheltenham in 1928 at a time when there was little official information published about locomotive stock, their allocations or regular duties. The Society set about rectifying this by members writing to each other, the publishing of a magazine and some meetings organised around the country. The growth of the Society was such that it ran the first enthusiasts railtour in the 1930s but the war years effective stifled both the flow of information and the growth of the Society.

Ian Allan inspired a generation of post war youngsters to take up train spotting and many of those that stuck with it through maturity joined a railway society to gain first hand information on what was going on and to visit sheds in organised groups. The RCTS prospered running frequent shed visits, publishing its magazine The Railway Observer each month, running railtours and substantially expanding its branch network. Membership reached a peak however long after the end of BR steam.

Move on to the present day and the Society is still going strong with 3000 members- see below for what we can offer you.

RCTS Tour 1 Image 3_a

The Society today

Our monthly magazine, The Railway Observer, usually contains about 80 pages (it is also available in digital format) of news, articles and high quality photographs. The news covers details of train workings, infrastructure changes and general industry information as well as full details of stock and livery changes. The heritage scene and world railways also have their own sections.

There is a photographic portfolio group who circulate pictures amongst their members and critique them to improve the quality of images.

Our branches hold meetings at least monthly in the season at over thirty centres and in the course of a year host over 200 presentations on a vast range of railway subjects covering the modern scene as well as history and nostalgia subjects.
Branches also organise outdoor visits to both railway centres and locations not normally open to the public, such as maintenance facilities and signalling centres, and there is also the annual members weekend which includes a number of outdoor visits and also talks, the venue for which is moved around the UK.

The Society has an extensive library located at Leatherhead railway station providing excellent research facilities as well as postal loans of books and working timetables. The facility to buy back copies of The Railway Observer and other information in digital format is being developed.

If your interest is in railway photographs then there are many thousand available to purchases on line as prints or downloads from the society archive which continues to expand.

The RCTS has been noted for many years for the quality and detail of its publications and members are entitled to discounts on many of these titles. In addition we have negotiated discounts for books purchased from third parties, travel on some heritage railways and reduced prices for a range of photographic services amongst other things.

Finally there is the website which has much information on specialist topics such as liveries and ‘diesel dilemmas’.

Governance

The society became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation on 2nd November 2016.

The objects of the CIO are to advance the education of the public in the subject of historic and current railway operation, including by

  1. The publication of a regular monthly magazine, The Railway Observer; and associated websites
  2. The publication of books containing detailed historical records relating to railways, including locomotive classes, traction equipment and railway infrastructure
  3. The formation and support of local branches of the Society with a view to providing a programme of speakers and visits so as to enable the public to study and understand various aspects of the practice of historic and current railway operation and railway heritage
  4. The development and conservation of an extensive library/archival centre so as to advance the public knowledge and understanding of historic and current railway practice and railway heritage
  5. The dissemination to the public of photographic images of historic and current railway operation and railway heritage.

For the purposes of this objects clause “railway” includes:

  • Standard, broad, narrow and miniature gauge railways
  • Urban, Metro, Light rapid transit and tramways
  • Mainline and Preserved Railways
  • Any railway in the world though principally in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Governance documents

Constitution · November 2016

Rules · May 2022

Privacy Policy ·  June 2021

Meeting minutes

There is a more detailed section on Governance in the Members' Area where minutes of the AGMs, trustee meetings, and officers' conferences are published. A valid login is required to access the Members' Area.

Charity Commission

The public register is available to view at the Charity Commission..