A 10th Colour Rail Journey
2023-06-13 19:30 - 22:00 (Europe/London) | 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 Paul Chancellor.
Paul tells us that this presentation covers all regions and motive power from 1955 to the present day using over 300 colour and black and white images exploring how different photographers approached the subject of recording the daily railway scene.
Whilst running Colour-Rail Paul also volunteers for the RCTS as a member of the Strategy Committee and the Publications Committee as well as being the minute taker for Trustee meetings and developing a Modern Traction database for the Society.
Doors open at 19:00.

Blue Diesel Days
2023-06-14 19:00 - 22:00 | SWL Radyr, Cardiff, Old Church Rooms / Hen Ysgoldy'r Eglwys, Park Road, Radyr, Cardiff, CF15 8DF, United Kingdom
The Second Rowland Pittard Memorial Lecture

Michael Robinson, Editor of the Railway Observer will present a show featuring his own photographs of a selection of blue livereied diesel locomotives

"Sheffield to Carlisle by Steam" - Roger Hepworth
2023-06-15 19:30 - 21:30 | WRD Shipley, Saltaire Methodist Church, Saltaire Road, Shipley, BD18 3HJ, United Kingdom

The Lost Railways of Essex
2023-06-19 19:30 - 22:30 | ESX Shenfield, Shenfield Parish Hall, 60 Hutton Road, Shenfield, CM15 8LB, United Kingdom
This will be a ‘Double Header’ presentation with contributions from both Tony Crosby and Tim Murphy.

Tony Crosby will examine the history, archaeology and heritage of the three main branch lines of the north-west of the county – the Bishop’s Stortford, Dunmow and Braintree Branch, the Saffron Walden Branch and the Elsenham & Thaxted Light Railway. He will also look at some of the present structures at risk on both closed lines and on some of the currently operational lines. There may be time to also feature a lost miniature railway!
Tony’s first career was in local authority social services, towards the end of which time he studied Industrial Archaeology at the Ironbridge Institute. Since graduating he has undertaken historic surveys of industries and individual buildings on industrial sites in Hertfordshire and Essex, including two railway lines in Essex. He has published a number of articles in Industrial Archaeology Review, other history journals and has contributed to four books. He is a Council member of the Association for Industrial Archaeology, having been a former Chairman of the AIA, and is Chairman of the Essex Industrial Archaeology Group. He retired from the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2013 where he was a policy advisor on industrial, maritime and transport heritage.
Tim Murphy will outline the history of three branch lines and the existing remnants which survive. The first is a line which was never actually fully realised-the Mistley, Thorpe and Walton Railway. The second and third are the former Maldon branch lines from Witham and South Woodham. Tim will also examine some of the challenges of preserving and reusing some of this historic infrastructure today.
Tim is an archaeologist and historic building consultant. He manages the Built Heritage and Archaeology Team at Essex County Council. Prior to this he worked in the private sector as a heritage consultant across the UK and Ireland during which time he was involved in the regeneration of many industrial heritage assets. Tim has an interest in railway heritage and his work involves the management of change to assets on existing and former rail infrastructure.

Observation Day at Newport
2023-06-20 | Newport Station, Newport Station, Newport

Observation Evening - Eastleigh Station
2023-06-21 16:30 - 20:00
This coincides with the RCTS Solent Branch Observation Evening

Observation Evening - Eastleigh station
2023-06-21 16:30 - 20:30 | Eastleigh Station, United Kingdom
Come along and view the rail activity.

Observation Evening - Reading Station
2023-06-22 17:00 - 20:00

Eastleigh Arlington Works Visit
2023-06-24 10:00 | Arlington Works, Campbell Road, Eastleigh, SO50 5AD, United Kingdom
BOOKING NOW CLOSED

A visit has been booked for Arlington Works for between 15 and 25 people. Details below, to book and arrange payment, up to 2 weeks before or until the visit is full, contact
John Godfrey
tel: 07850 220009
email: solent@rcts.org.uk
9 Duddon Close West End Southampton SO18 3QA

The cost is £10 per person. All money goes to the Arlington nominated charity which changes each year. There is a minimum charge of £150 per group.
Tours start at our new entrance gate on Campbell Road promptly at 10:00 with a Safety Briefing from our Lead Guide. Visitors should arrive at least 15 minutes before. Minimum age is 12 and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult who agrees to take full responsibility for the young person. Our yard has 750V electrified 3rd rail which will be on during the tour. Traffic on site can be busy with many vans and HGVs present. Tours typically last between one and two hours.
All visitors should wear stout footwear and a hi viz jacket. The site will be working during the tour and all instructions from our guides must be followed without question. Anyone without a hi viz jacket will be restricted to just the roadways and walking routes. We are unable to supply hi viz jackets.
We aim to show visitors as much of the site as possible but we cannot guarantee access to any particular area or item of rolling stock during the tour. Some of our tenants do not allow visitors to enter their areas so the guide will show the best viewing points to see as much as possible in those areas.
Photography is allowed for the most part and the Safety Briefing at the start will identify any rolling stock or areas where photography is not allowed. All photographs and video taken during the event must be for your own use ONLY and cannot be published in any media, printed or online.
There is no car parking available on site, except for Disabled badge holders. There are plenty of car parks in Eastleigh town centre. Just follow the signs. The nearest ones to the Works are opposite the station and just further down the main road at the Swan Centre. There is also a small pay and display car park just south of the Campbell Road junction, between the main road and the railway line.

Archive and Library Open Day
2023-06-24 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-06-29 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-07-05 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-07-11 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-07-27 11:00 - 16:00 | RCTS Library, Leatherhead Station Approach, Leatherhead, KT22 7SQ, United Kingdom

Mangapps Farm Railway
2023-06-27 14:00 - 16:30 | HTC Welwyn, Digswell Village Church Hall, Welwyn, Hertfordshire, AL6 0DH, United Kingdom
A Hitchin & Welwyn Garden City Branch presentation by John Jolly.
Members of the branch may recall the most enjoyable visit we made to Mangapps Farm railway a couple of years ago. John is the owner.
Doors open 13:30.

Günter Oczko's World Steam - a Further Selection
2023-06-29 19:30 - 22:00 | Virtual Meeting, Virtual Meeting, United Kingdom
Our member Günter Oczko brings us a further selection of his photographs of steam around the world, from all five continents. Those who have attended his previous presentations will be aware of the treat in store, while we are promised a largely new selection of images.

To avoid disappointment, don’t leave registration to the last minute.

For this virtual event there is a suggested donation of £2. If you wish to contribute just follow the National Meetings link below.
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.

'That Was the Year That Was - 1971'
2023-07-04 19:00 - 21:30 | WFD Watford, Beechen Grove Baptist Church, Clarendon Road, Watford, WD17 1JJ, United Kingdom
Our Chairman Geoff Plumb takes his usual July spot, this time presenting ‘That Was the Year That Was – 1971’. A very busy year covering railways in the UK, including British Railways, industrials, some North Wales narrow gauge, last of steam on London Transport, Humber paddle steamers, and the Bulmer’s Cider Train return to steam. Interspersed with several trips to West Germany and also East Germany.
Venue doors open around 18:30 for a 19:00 start, there will be a halftime break for refreshments and finish time will be around 21:30. All welcome!

92 Squadron – from rust to renaissance
2023-07-06 19:30 - 22:00 | MKY Milton Keynes, Network Rail - The Quadrant: MK, Elder Gate, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK9 1EN, United Kingdom
The Battle of Britain Locomotive Society owns and operates ex-British Railways Bulleid ‘Battle of Britain’ class pacific locomotive No.34081 ’92 Squadron’, named after the famous Spitfire squadron based at Biggin Hill during the Battle of Britain in 1940. Kevin Wilkins and Steve Lacey will outline the history, restoration and operation of this historic locomotive.

Visit to Hull
2023-07-11
Proposed itinerary….
Liverpool South Parkway D 08.30
Doncaster A 10.35
Doncaster D 11.28 [Hull Trains via Selby]
Hull A 12.18
Hull D 14.26 [via Goole]
Doncaster A 15.19
Doncaster D 15.42
Liverpool South Parkway A 17.49
LPY – DON day return £18.55 (with railcard)
DON – HUL day return £15.00

Re-Creating the Past
2023-07-11 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 Des Shepherd.
Doors open 19:00.
Details to follow.

Observation Day at Oxford
2023-07-12 | Oxford & Didcot Stations, United Kingdom

Summer Social
2023-07-12 19:00 - 22:00 | SWL Radyr, Cardiff, Old Church Rooms / Hen Ysgoldy'r Eglwys, Park Road, Radyr, Cardiff, CF15 8DF, United Kingdom

The Year 2000 - UK and Overseas
2023-07-17 19:30 - 22:30 | ESX Shenfield, Shenfield Parish Hall, 60 Hutton Road, Shenfield, CM15 8LB, United Kingdom
Adrian’s talk comprises of a chronological tour of pictures worldwide and in the UK in the first half of 2000. It visits: Cambodia, Myanmar, Denmark, Cuba and Canada. Interspersed are numerous UK scenes, many of which are not repeatable due to replacement by more modern stock. The preserved scene is also covered. Adrian has over 50 years experience of being a railfan. Occasional his work took him overseas. His first, self-lead, trip abroad for steam was to West Germany in 1975. He organises overseas tours for the LCGB and he has a second tour coming up to Japan later this year.

Observation Afternoon Evening - Banbury Station
2023-07-18 14:00 - 20:00

Observation Evening - Reading station
2023-07-19 16:30 - 19:30

Outside Visit - Bradford Model Engineers - Please note change of date to Wednesday 19th July
2023-07-19 18:30 - 20:30
Bradford Model Engineers
Northcliff Woods Park
Shipley
BD18 3DD

RCTS West of England Branch Sales Stand
2023-07-22 10:00 - 17:00, 2023-07-23 10:00 - 16:00
Come and meet the branch!
On 22/7 and 23/7 the branch will have a sales stand at the Exe Model Railway Exhibition at the Matford Livestock centre.
Come and meet the committee and purchase from the well stock sales stand which will be selling books magazines, photographic prints and other items, all in aid of branch funds
https://www.exemrs.co.uk/exhibition/

Archive and Library Open Day - CANCELLED
2023-07-22 11:00 - 16:00 | RCTS Library, Leatherhead Station Approach, Leatherhead, KT22 7SQ, United Kingdom
Archive and Library Open Day
Cancelled due to railstrikes making it difficult for volunteers and visitors to get to Leatherhead.

The GER - Rarely Other than Idiosyncratic
2023-07-25 14:00 - 16:30 | HTC Welwyn, Digswell Village Church Hall, Welwyn, Hertfordshire, AL6 0DH, United Kingdom
A Hitchin & Welwyn Garden City branch presentation by Ray Schofield.
Doors open 13:30.
Details to follow.
