Archive and Library Open Day
2023-09-05 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-09-16 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-09-21 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-09-27 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-10-03 11:00 - 16:00 (Europe/London) | RCTS Library, Leatherhead Station Approach, Leatherhead, KT22 7SQ, United Kingdom

The Route of 'The Canadian' and its Branches, by John Day
2023-09-05 19:00 - 21:30 | WFD Watford, Beechen Grove Baptist Church, Clarendon Road, Watford, WD17 1JJ, United Kingdom
Please note: There is no meeting scheduled for August as the branch takes a summer break!

JOHN DAY, from the Ipswich Branch, pays another visit, the last one being over ten years ago, to present ‘The Route of The Canadian and its Branches’ – taking a look at the route from Toronto to just east of Vancouver and north to Churchill, Manitoba. This presentation has had to be postponed several times due to various circumstances, so we look forward to seeing John once again!
This is a physical event, doors open at the venue from around 18:30 for a 19:00 start, there will be a midway break for refreshments and we aim to finish around 21:30.

The Midland Main Line Electrification Upgrade’
2023-09-07 19:30 - 22:00 | MKY Milton Keynes, Network Rail - The Quadrant: MK, Elder Gate, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK9 1EN, United Kingdom
Gavin Crook (Network Rail Principal Programme Sponsor) and Duncan Cale (Infrastructure Interface Lead East Midlands Railway) will outline the development of the route over recent years, including the introduction of 4-tracking, electrification, platform extensions, new maintenance facilities and traincrew depots

Lost Railways of Suffolk by Nathan Dodd
2023-09-11 19:15 - 21:45 | IPS Ipswich, Greenfinch Church Hall, Greenfinch Avenue, Ipswich, IP2 0SQ, United Kingdom

Railways in Italy in the 1990s
2023-09-12 19:30 - 22:00 | CSL Croydon, East Croydon United Reformed Church, Addiscombe Grove, Croydon, CR0 5LP, United Kingdom
Jeremy Harrison made a number of visits to Italy in the 1990s, travelling on and photographing the railways, and today comes to show us some of the fruits of this, with images of steam, electric and diesel traction.
Note: From this meeting (start of season) we will be meeting in the Primary Room, rather than the Small Hall.

"Railways to the Coast" by Tony Kirby
2023-09-12 19:30 - 22:00 | CBR Fulbourn, Cambridge, The Swifts, Haggis Gap, Fulbourn, Cambridge, CB21 5HD, United Kingdom
The earliest railways to the coast were built for freight rather than passenger traffic but companies soon realised there was a potentially lucrative passenger market. This talk examines both aspects from the 1840s to the present day. Freight by rail has vanished from some once important ports eg Wisbech whilst others eg Felixstowe originate heavy flows. Likewise the development of holiday and excursion traffic is illustrated with the GWR’s promotion of Cornwall and the NER’s of Scarborough through to a zenith in the 1950’s and then subsequent decline.

The Last Four Years of Steam
2023-09-12 19:30 - 22:00 | HTC Hitchin, St Mark's Church, St Mark's Close, Lancaster Avenue, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG5 1UR, United Kingdom
A Hitchin & Welwyn Garden City Branch presentation by George Howe.
An introduction by George:
1964 saw me making a change from black and white prints, to colour slides. This just happened to be four years before the end of steam on British Railways, hence the title, The last 4 years of Steam. I travelled the British Isles to many areas where steam was still well in evidence. I travelled by train quite often, to most of the country where steam was on the decline, but some trips were by Vespa 150cc scooter. The trips, by whatever mode, mostly included many loco shed visits, very handy by scooter.
As steam was nearing the end it was mostly in the North West of England – Crewe, Manchester, Liverpool, Preston areas. The Scooter also had a ride then, quite often on the 05:26 from Bedford to Manchester Central, visiting several sheds, and back on the 17:30 from Preston alighting at Bletchley at 20:13, and back home on the scooter.
Wonderful days; come along to see what I saw.
Doors open 19:00.

The Vale of Rheidol & Welshpool & Llanfair Railways
2023-09-13 19:00 - 22:00 | SWL Radyr, Cardiff, Old Church Rooms / Hen Ysgoldy'r Eglwys, Park Road, Radyr, Cardiff, CF15 8DF, United Kingdom
Dave Waldron returns to the branch to provide us with an evening of his memories of two of the iconic narrow gauge lines in Wales, the Vale of Rheidol and the W & LLR.
Image shows VoR No 8 Llewelyn climbing to Devils Bridge.

Hitchin & Welwyn Garden City Branch Visit to Epping Signalling Museum
2023-09-17 | Epping Signalling Museum, Station Road, Epping, CM16 4HW, United Kingdom
An opportunity to visit the Epping Signalling Museum.
This museum opened a very short while before the start of the Covid-19 restrictions and has therefore only been going properly again for just over a year. Situated alongside live running Central Line trains on the approach to Epping station is this unique LONDON TRANSPORT signal cabin. It is the only Cabin on the entire Underground network in preservation and open to the public. It is this signal cabin and Locomotive L11 that together make up Epping Signalling Museum.
A Sunday afternoon visit (17th September) has been arranged. Car parking would be in the station car park at Epping (£6 for the day). Access to the museum is from the car park. Depending on numbers, a larger group will be split so that all can get the most from the visit. The museum makes no admission charge but donations are very much welcomed. Tea/coffee and biscuits will be provided (without charge) during the visit!
Please let Dave Elsdon (Hitchin@rcts.org.uk ) know, ASAP, if you are interested.
Members from any RCTS branch are, as usual, most welcome to join this visit but must also contact Dave to book their place(s).

British Steam 1962-1970 - Tony Bowles
2023-09-18 14:00 - 16:00 | WMD Coventry, Cheylesmore Community Centre, Arundel/Poitiers Road, Coventry, CV3 5JX, United Kingdom
Archivist of the Restoration and Archiving Trust based at Toddington, Tony Bowles presents UK images taken by himself between 1962 and 1970. Also included are pictures taken in Northern Ireland.

The New Essex Lines of the GER
2023-09-18 19:30 - 22:30 | ESX Shenfield, Shenfield Parish Hall, 60 Hutton Road, Shenfield, CM15 8LB, United Kingdom
Nathaniel has be interested in railways for all of his life. From early days of ‘Thomas the Tank Engine’ he has been hooked on railways and their history. He became a station adopter at Battlesbridge station in 2003. His railway career started with National Express East Anglia as a train dispatcher at Southend Victoria – a period that included the hectic weeks of the 2012 Olympics involving 12 hour shifts. He is a volunteer at Mangapps Railway Museum, one of the best parts of which is listening to stories of former BR staff who visit the site – probably the best kind of information source. Since 2010 Nathaniel has been a member of the GER Society and actively helps in providing information for the Society’s publications. He is currently a Customer Service Assistant for TFL working at Stratford Underground station.

The Bluebell Railway
2023-09-19 14:00 - 16:30 | CSL Redhill, Redhill Methodist Church, Gloucester Road, Redhill, RH1 1BP, United Kingdom
An illustrated presentation on our local preserved railway by excellent photographer, and Bluebell Railway loco driver, Ian Wright. His role on the railway, over many years, has let him know what to photograph, and where to go for the best images.

Swindon Works - The Final Years
2023-09-19 19:00 - 21:30 | TVY Didcot, Didcot Civic Hall, Britwell Road, Didcot, OX11 7JN, United Kingdom
When Harry Roberts was appointed as Swindon Works Manager in the early 1970’s many feared that this may be the end of Swindon Works. However Harry was impressed with the capacity and skills available in the works, and set about finding new work for the works to undertake. This included building small cabin cruiser boats, overhauling Bristol Buses, and manufacture of cooling groups for Class 56 locos. Swindon Works was awarded the contract for the refurbishment and rebuilding of the Kent Coast EMUs, as well as maintenance work on DMUs, and Class 03 and 08 diesel locos. During this time Harry also managed to increase the workforce from 2,000 to over 4,000 staff. Swindon Works even built (under licence from Hunslet) 0-8-0 diesel hydraulic shunters for Kenya Railways. Swindon Works finally closed in 1987 when Tarmac took over the site for redevelopment. However some of the works buildings still remain today as part of the “Designer Outlet Village” and the Swindon Steam GWR Museum.

HSD branch - 40 years of change in Lincolnshire
2023-09-19 19:30 - 22:00
40 years of change in Lincolnshire

The Development of Eastleigh
2023-09-20 19:30 - 22:00 | SOE Eastleigh, Junction Church (formerly Eastleigh Railway Institute), 2 Romsey Road, Eastleigh, SO50 9FE, United Kingdom

NEA York to Edinburgh
2023-09-21 19:00 - 21:00 | NEA Darlington, Darlington Cricket Club, South Terrace, Darlington, DL1 5JD, United Kingdom

Fun with Southern Steam in the 1960s
2023-09-21 19:00 - 22:00 | CHM Cheltenham, Victory Club, Burlington House, Lypiatt Road, Cheltenham, GL50 2SY, United Kingdom
We are looking forward to the weather playing nicely for Malcolm Garner to come with a digital presentation on his time chasing steam around the Southern Region in the 1960s. Malcolm was due to come in December last year, but heavy snow put that plan in the bin!

How we built the Watercress Line: the Preservation Venture 1973-1985 - HYBRID Meeting
2023-09-21 19:15 - 21:30 | SRY Woking, Woking United Reform Church, White Rose Lane, Woking, GU22 7HA, United Kingdom
How we built the Watercress Line: the Preservation Venture 1973-1985

This event will be held in person at Woking and online via Zoom.

"The Keith Pirt Collection" - Presenter Bob Gellatly
2023-09-21 19:30 - 21:30 | WRD Shipley, Saltaire Methodist Church, Saltaire Road, Shipley, BD18 3HJ, United Kingdom

Six Decades of Steam Photography by Tony Storey
2023-09-25 14:00 - 16:30 | NHN Northampton – Weston Favell, Weston Favell Parish Hall, Booth Lane South, Northampton, NN3 3EP, United Kingdom
Tony will present photographs of steam around the country in BR days as well as a selection from the early days of preservation.

Railway at a Junction
2023-09-25 19:30 - 22:00 | MHD Cox Green, Cox Green Community Centre, Highfield Lane, Cox Green, Maidenhead, SL6 3AX, United Kingdom
A reflection on British Railways, privatisation and a look at where today’s railway is and which route it’s likely to take over the next decade

The Line from Doncaster to Hull
2023-09-26 14:00 - 16:30 | HTC Welwyn, Digswell Village Church Hall, Welwyn, Hertfordshire, AL6 0DH, United Kingdom
A Hitchin & Welwyn Garden City branch presentation by Stephen Gay.
Doors open 13:30.

The History of the Mansfield to Worksop Railway
2023-09-26 19:30 - 21:30 | EMD Nottingham, The New Mechanics, 3 North Sherwood Street, Nottingham, NG1 4EZ, United Kingdom
Denis Hill will take a brief look at how different railways had already reached Mansfield and Worksop but had not joined the two together. We look at the fight to make that connection and to see just what it provided and how it boosted the local economy.

Irish Narrow Gauge
2023-09-27 19:00 - 21:30 | SWL Swansea, Dyfatty Community Centre, Chapel Street, Dyfatty, Swansea, SA1 1NB, United Kingdom
Branch Sales Officer and Fixture Secretary Nigel Wassell relaunches our Swansea programme with a series of images capturing the variety of narrow gauge in Ireland.

Outside the Foyle Valley Railway Museum, Londonderry The locomotive in the image is a 3ft narrow gauge locomotive built for the County Donegal Joint Railways Committee (CDJRC) in 1907 by Nasmith and Wilson, originally numbered No. 16 and named “Donegal”. She was superheated in 1926 and then renamed and renumbered as No. 4 “Meenglas” in 1937. The locomotive was withdrawn from service on the 31-12-1959, when the CDJRC ceased to exist as a railway company.

An American Rail Rover
2023-09-27 19:15 - 21:30 | CHR Bassil Shippam Centre, Tozer Way, St Pancras, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 7LG, United Kingdom
John’s talk will look at railway operations across the USA from the East Coast across to Chicago, the Mid-West to the rocky mountains. North to the Canadian border and south through the Sierra Nevada’s, the high desert to the Californian Tehachapi range to San Francisco and through the Cajon mountains towards Los Angeles. Featuring long freight trains, locals, Amtrak and regional passengers trains, light rail, street running at La Grange Kentucky and some main line steam. All taken from the 1990s through to the mid 2010s.

The World beyond our Shores - Part 1
2023-09-28 19:30 - 22:00 | Virtual Meeting, Virtual Meeting, United Kingdom
Tony Bowles of The Restoration & Archiving Trust returns with what promises to be another excellent prestation from their collections, featuring the work of the late Gerald Dixon, taken between 1960 & 1976 in chronological order. It starts in Australia & ends in Argentina via parts of Europe, Africa & Asia, in some cases returning to a country in different years. A globe trotting treat!
For this virtual event, you require a ticket, via the ‘Buy Zoom Ticket’ link – there is no need to register with Zoom. RCTS members are free-of-charge, but are invited to make a £2.50 donation at the checkout. Non-member tickets are £2.50. Or sign up for membership and a ticket at the same time, and benefit from the members’ rate!
To receive information on coming National (and other) Zoom meetings, please join the RCTS National Zoom E-mail List (RCTS-National@groups.io) by visiting https://groups.io/g/RCTS-National , or by e-mail.
