"I have much to do, gentlemen, and little time in which to do it". These words are attributed to Edward Thompson and have been taken in the past as meaning little time in which to enact change, specifically to the work of his predecessor, Sir Nigel Gresley. How far was this true, was the question…
Our 2025/26 season opens with a much-anticipated visit from Raymond Schofield who will take us through the history of the East Coast Main Line. The North-East of England was at the forefront of railway growth, starting some 300 years ago with colliery lines delivering coal to staithes on the Tyne and Tees. Early passenger lines…
A look back at what I was able to photograph in the early years of this century, both on preserved railways and the mainline. (This is a replacement for David Cable's presentation, previously planned for this meeting, which has had to be postponed until 14th April 2026).
Physical meeting at Shenfield Parish Hall which will also be available on Zoom as a Hybrid Meeting. Please note that this talk by Peter Robins replaces the originally listed talk on 21st Century Steam
Richard Antliff (Didcot Railway Centre Civil Engineering Adviser) returns to give us a further insight into some of the recent and future planned projects being undertaken at the Didcot Railway Centre site. In addition, as we celebrate Rail 200 this year, Richard will also show us some of the activities happening at other railway sites…
presented by Richard Barber
Our season opens with local railway enthusiast Ian Boskett taking a walk down memory lane. Expect many oohs and aahs as members and guests own memories are jogged.
Chief Executive of ‘Iarnrod Eireann’ from 2003 to 2013, Dick Fearn will describe the period of significant growth and change to the railway’s infrastructure, rolling stock, and passengers
This is a joint meeting with the Milton Keynes branch; the venue is Roade Village Hall.
Matt Parkin (Contractors Engineering Manager for the MMLE Electrification from Kettering to Wigston) from SPL Powerlines UK (SPL) will present a lecture about the challenges and innovation for new electrification schemes
A Hitchin & Welwyn Garden City branch presentation by Stephen Gay. Travelling from Frickley to Finningly, Mexborough to Moorends and Bentley, Bessacarr to Bawtry. This is a railway journey which criss-crosses the Doncaster borough. Using Stephen’s slides taken over the last 40 years, the presentation will also look at waterways and historic buildings. We will…
