Branch BTL Bristol

Bristol Branch

Welcome to the Bristol Branch page of the RCTS website.

We meet once a month from September to May, on the first Friday, at St. Teresa’s Church Hall, 71 Gloucester Road North, Filton, BS34 7PL, next to Esso Tesco.

Our meetings generally take the form of slide shows, videos or talks with lively discussion on all aspects of railway history and operational practice.

Our members’ interests range from the pioneering years of the railway through to the present day, in the UK and overseas.

We have an extensive selection of new and second-hand railway books on sale at every meeting, at bargain prices.

Our current programme is detailed below. All are welcome to join us and to share their interest.

What's on

Venues

Click the venue name to see more

Contacts

Chairman

Brian Arman

Secretary

Paul Udey
tel: 01225 427779
email: bristol@rcts.org.uk
18 Hensley Road, Bath, BA2 2DR

Sharpness 150 - 31st July - 2nd August 2026.

August 1^st this year saw the sesquicentenary of the opening of the Sharpness branch to passenger traffic in 1876. The event was commemorated by the Vale of Berkeley Railway, which ran its first scheduled passenger service over the surviving section of the branch on 31^st July and 1^st & 2^nd August. The service was worked by preserved ‘Pacer’ 143603 making six return trips each day from a temporary platform at Oldminster Sidings, the VoBR base and present operational limit of the branch, to a point close to the junction with the Bristol – Gloucester main line at Berkeley Road. Passengers assembled at the nearby dockers’ social club building and were transported by bus to Oldminster Sidings. Each return trip on the train took approximately 40 minutes with a brief reversal, and a commentary was provided, though understandably there were no opportunities to alight at any point during the journey.

: On 2nd August, preserved Pacer 143603 awaits its bus load of passengers at Oldminster Sidings, prior to making the final departure of the weekend at 15.45. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

: 143603 passes the site of Berkeley station with the final inbound working of the weekend on 2nd August. The now rarely used nuclear flask transfer terminal is out of shot, behind the trees to the right. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

Branch Observation Day at Swindon on 8th July 2026.

A selection of photographs from the Branch observation day at Swindon on 8th July is presented below. A full list of the day’s observations, compiled by Peter Davis, can be found here .

: On 8 July 158765 was working the Swindon-Westbury shuttles which normally terminate in the bay platform, however the 13.15 departure was booked into platform 3 which gives a better photo opportunity. Image credit: Paul Udey

: 66572 passes through Swindon on the up main line on 8 July with 4L33 the 09.14 Wentloog-London Gateway. Image credit: Paul Udey

: 66560 emerges from the Swindon down goods loop with 6V53 the 10.35 Oxford Banbury Road-East Usk Yard empty bogie boxes on 8 July. Image credit: Paul Udey

: Colas Ballast Tamper DR73924 awaits the signal to clear in order to gain access to the Swindon Transfer Siding on 8 July. The tamper had just completed two non-stop return trips between Swindon Transfer and Bristol East Depot Goods Loop. Image credit: Paul Udey

: Colas 70815 powers through Swindon on 8 July with 6M40 the 11.34 Westbury Down TC- Cliffe Hill Stud Farm empty ballast boxes. Image credit: Paul Udey

: 66106 approaches Swindon on the down main line with 6C03 the 09.57 Northolt Sidings-Severnside SITA loaded ‘binliner’. Luckily on a hot summers day the train passed through the platform rapidly without causing too much of a stink. Image credit: Paul Udey

Branch Observation Day at Stafford on 11th June 2026.

Despite the generally wet weather, several members spent an enjoyable day at Stafford station on 11th June. From mid-afternoon, a bridge strike on the Trent valley line near Nuneaton unfortunately caused major disruption, with services being diverted via the Wolverhampton area, resulting in many delays and a few cancellations. A full report of the day’s observations by our member John Baxter can be found here.

: 11th June 2026 Stafford. 807009 passes on the up main line with the 10.43 Liverpool Lime St. to Euston. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

: 11th June 2026 Stafford. Brightening the very dull weather, 807010 passes with the 10.43 Euston to Liverpool Lime St. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

: 66433 4M27 Coatbridge-Daventry. Image credit: Dale Robertson

: 11th June 2026 Stafford. Traction highlight of the day, Locomotive Services 37667 and D1645 (47830) with 5K47, 09.42 Eastleigh Arlington to Crewe HS. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

: 11th June 2026 Stafford. 90004/049 head 4M63, 09.12 Felixstowe Nth. FLT to Garston FLT. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

: 11th June 2026 Stafford. Lumo 222601 passes working the 08.50 Stirling to Euston. 805009 stands at the platform, forming the rear portion of Avanti’s 12.32 Chester to Euston. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

: 11th June 2026 Stafford. Snap! 807006 working the 15.43 Liverpool Lime St. to Euston passes 807004 at the platform with the 14.43 Liverpool to Euston, delayed due to bridge strike near Nuneaton. The 14.43 had reversed near Polesworth and returned to Stafford for diversion via Wolverhampton area. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

: 66543 4M52 London Gateway- Widnes. Image credit: Dale Robertson

: Avanti West Coast 805013+805003 call at Stafford on 11th June with the 12.48 Holyhead-Euston. Due to a serious bridge strike at Bedworth which closed the WCML the train terminated at Nuneaton. Image credit: Paul Udey

: West Midlands Trains 350123 departs Stafford with the 14.34 Birmingham New Street to Liverpool Lime Street train, 11th June 2026. Image credit: Paul Udey

: 90007/011 4L67 Trafford Park- Felixstowe. Image credit: Dale Robertson

: 66096 Trafford Park Euro – London Gateway. Image credit: Dale Robertson

Yatton and Taunton, 1st June 2026

: 1st June 2026, Yatton. 37418 5Z31 Derby RTC-Penzance. Image credit: Dale Robertson

: 1st June 2026, Yatton. 37418 5Z31 Derby RTC-Penzance. Image credit: Dale Robertson

: 1st June 2026, Taunton. 221107 1M41 Paignton- Manchester P. Image credit: Dale Robertson

: 1st June 2026, Taunton. 800011 2C73 Bristol TM – Exeter St D. Image credit: Dale Robertson

: 1st June 2026, Taunton. 50049 0V50 Kidderminster- Bishops Lydeard. Image credit: Dale Robertson

Traction Variety at Westbury, 21st May 2026

: 21st May 2026 Westbury. 70811. Image credit: Dale Robertson

: 21st May 2026 Westbury. 158750 2M19 Westbury-Swindon . Image credit: Dale Robertson

: 21st May 2026 Westbury. 70802 6M40 Westbury-Stud Farm, and 70806 . Image credit: Dale Robertson

: 21st May 2026 Westbury. 59005 6V62 Southampton Up-Westbury Tarmac. Image credit: Dale Robertson

: 21st May 2026 Westbury. 59102 6A77 Merehead-Theale, and 70806. Image credit: Dale Robertson

: 21st May 2026 Westbury. 70802 6M40 Westbury-Stud Farm. Image credit: Dale Robertson

: 21st May 2026 Westbury. 60099 6M51 Merehead- Quainton Road. Image credit: Dale Robertson

Christmas at the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway

: On 29th December 2025, No. 6880 ‘Betton Grange’ awaits departure from Toddington with the 12.15 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse, as 4079 ‘Pendennis Castle’ approaches with the 12.15 ex Cheltenham en route for Broadway. Image credit: Chris Brown.

: At Cheltenham Racecourse on 29th December 2025, the station lights add to the late afternoon atmosphere as no. 4079 ‘Pendennis Castle’ prepares to depart with the 15.25 to Broadway. Image credit: Chris Brown.

RCTS Members' Weekend 2025

The annual Society Members’ Weekend for 2025 was held on 24th – 26th October, based in Darlington. Beamish Museum was visited on the Saturday, and ‘Locomotion’, Shildon on the Sunday afternoon.

..but first some architectural contrasts photographed while travelling on a Day Ranger Ticket on Friday 24th:

: Ashington. 158853 awaits departure with the 11.00 to Newcastle, 24th October 2025. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

: Middlesbrough station main building. 24th October 2025. Image Credit: Stewart Jolly

: North Eastern Railway tiled map, Middlesbrough station down platform. 24th October 2025. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

: Saltburn. 156480 awaits departure with the 13.59 to Bishop Auckland. The 156 carries a livery commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Royal Air Force. 24th October 2025. Image Credit: Stewart Jolly

: Former station building, Saltburn. 24th October 2025. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

: Darlington station – at the top of the bank. 24th October 2025. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

Beamish Museum, Saturday 25th October:

: Sunderland Corporation tramcar no. 16, originally built by Dick, Kerr & Co, Preston in 1900, is pictured passing through the ‘1900s Town’ area of the Beamish museum site. 25th October 2025. Image Credit: Stewart Jolly

: Sheffield Corporation tramcar no. 264, originally built in 1907 by the United Electric Car Company, Preston, heads through the ‘1900s Town’. 25th October 2025. Image Credit: Stewart Jolly

: Beamish museum’s ‘Pockerley Waggonway’ features a ‘Puffing Billy’ replica in realistic, workaday condition, providing rides on a short length of track. 25th October 2025. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

: Sunderland Corporation tramcar no. 16, Beamish. 25th October 2025. Image Credit: Stewart Jolly

: Power controller, Sunderland Corporation tramcar no. 16, Beamish, 25th October 2025. Good, solid, Lancastrian engineering! Image Credit: Stewart Jolly

: Seaham Harbour Dock Co. no. 18 ‘Lewin’, built 1877 by Stephen Lewin & Co, Poole. Photographed in the engine shed at Beamish, 25th October 2025. Image Credit: Stewart Jolly

: ‘Rowley Station’, Beamish. 25th October 2025. Image Credit: Stewart Jolly

‘Locomotion’, Shildon, Sunday 26th October:

Photographs by Stewart Jolly

: NRM Shildon (‘Locomotion’), 26th October 2025. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

: NRM Shildon (‘Locomotion’), 26th October 2025. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

: NRM Shildon (‘Locomotion’), 26th October 2025. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

: NRM Shildon (‘Locomotion’), 26th October 2025. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

: NRM Shildon (‘Locomotion’), 26th October 2025. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

: NRM Shildon (‘Locomotion’), 26th October 2025. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

: NRM Shildon (‘Locomotion’), 26th October 2025. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

: NRM Shildon (‘Locomotion’), 26th October 2025. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

: NRM Shildon (‘Locomotion’), 26th October 2025. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

: NRM Shildon (‘Locomotion’), 26th October 2025. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

: NRM Shildon (‘Locomotion’), 26th October 2025. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

: NRM Shildon (‘Locomotion’), 26th October 2025. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

: NRM Shildon (‘Locomotion’), 26th October 2025. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

: NRM Shildon (‘Locomotion’), 26th October 2025. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

: NRM Shildon (‘Locomotion’), 26th October 2025. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

: NRM Shildon (‘Locomotion’), 26th October 2025. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

: NRM Shildon (‘Locomotion’), 26th October 2025. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

: NRM Shildon (‘Locomotion’), 26th October 2025. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

: NRM Shildon (‘Locomotion’), 26th October 2025. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

Activity at Swindon, 7th October 2025.

An interesting selection of workings at Swindon, including diversions due to an engineering blockade at Gloucester. Recorded by Dale Robertson on 7th October 2025.

: 66057, 6V92 Corby -Margam. Image credit: Dale Robertson

: 43357, 3Z21 Derby RTC- Bristol Kingsland Rd. Rear power car ex XC . Image credit: Dale Robertson

: 66653, 6B33 Theale-Robeston. Image credit: Dale Robertson

: 66421, 4V44 Daventry-Wentloog. Image credit: Dale Robertson

: 66190, 6CO3 Northolt-Severnside. Image credit: Dale Robertson

: 66096, 3J41 Swindon T -Swindon T via B&H. Image credit: Dale Robertson

The Greatest Gathering, Derby, 1st - 3rd August 2025.

On 1st August, Bristol Branch member Chris Brown and Branch Chairman Brian Arman represented the Society on its stand at the Greatest Gathering in Derby. Some time was available to browse the exhibits, during which Chris took these photographs, showing what a wide-ranging and well-supported event it was.