The Railway Correspondence & Travel Society

BRANCH AGM FOLLOWED BY ON MONA'S ISLE and THE STATFOLD BARN RAILWAY
2024-01-10 19:00 - 22:00 (Europe/London) | SWL Radyr, Cardiff, Old Church Rooms / Hen Ysgoldy'r Eglwys, Park Road, Radyr, Cardiff, CF15 8DF, United Kingdom
Following the Branch AGM we will feature two short presentations:

On Mona’s Isle by Nigel Wassell and
The Statfold Barn Railway by Phil Stallard

The Corris Railway - Past, Present & Future
2024-01-09 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.
THIS IS A CHANGE FROM THE PUBLISHED PROGRAMME
Presenter: Chris Jones.
Chris is stepping in at very short notice, as Richard Allen is unfortunately unable to attend.
Doors open 19:00

That was the Year that Was – 1966
2024-01-09 19:30 - 22:00 | Virtual Meeting, Virtual Meeting, United Kingdom
1966 was a busy year for Geoff: whilst still a schoolboy, he covered a considerable amount of the country. This presentation includes scenes on various North Wales Narrow Gauge Lines and the Cambrian Coast, holidays in the north west of England and several RCTS railtours. These include the ’Somerset & Dorset Farewell’, the ‘Longmoor Military Railtour’ (which ran twice), the ‘Eight Counties Railtour’ and ‘East Midlander No. 7’. A couple of visits to Crewe Works, Southern Region steam and lines out of Marylebone, a smattering of London Transport steam and scenes around Chester and Birkenhead – the vast majority of photos in colour.
Geoff Plumb is a lifelong railway enthusiast, born in Sheffield in March 1949. From an early age he took thousands of photos, the vast majority in colour, documenting the decline and fall of steam locomotives. Geoff’s interest in photography led to his forty plus years career in Television, starting with London Weekend TV as a cameraman in 1968, later with Granada TV and finally as a freelance ‘lighting cameraman’. Many of Geoff’s photos have been published in magazines such as The Railway Magazine and Steam World, and in books including Red Panniers – Last Steam on the Underground. The Royal Mail has even used a couple of his photos on specialist stamp issues! Geoff has an active photo gallery website at: www.plumbloco.co.uk where many of his pictures can be seen.

"March" by Richard Munns
2024-01-09 19:30 - 22:00 | CBR Fulbourn, Cambridge, The Swifts, Haggis Gap, Fulbourn, Cambridge, CB21 5HD, United Kingdom
March had a strategic position in the movement of coal and industrial products from the Midlands and North to the Home Counties, as well as outbound traffic in agricultural produce from East Anglia.
This talk traces the history of both the station and marshalling yards through to the present day.

The Ripley Rattlers - Kurt Hatton
2024-01-09 19:30 - 21:30 | EMD Nottingham, The New Mechanics, 3 North Sherwood Street, Nottingham, NG1 4EZ, United Kingdom

Irish Rail 2004-2008: A Period of Rapid Change
2024-01-08 19:30 - 22:00 | Virtual Meeting, Virtual Meeting, United Kingdom
David Allen was made aware of an ongoing programme involving resignalling and the delivery a large fleet of dmus, following a meeting in 2003 with the then Modernisation Manager Irish Rail, Oliver Doyle, The aim was to rid secondary routes of loco haulage and at the same time, replace traditional mechanical signalling by centralised control from Connolly (Dublin). In all, there was too much to see and too little time. For those not familiar with Irish Rail in 2003, loco haulage was the norm; steam heated ‘Cravens’ stock were still in everyday use and most of the network was semaphore signalled with single lines controlled by Tokens. The aim of this presentation is to look at the ‘old’ as it gave way to the ‘new’.
For this virtual event, you need to obtain a ticket. Free for RCTS members, but a £2.50 donation will be requested at the checkout. Non-member tickets are £2.50. (Or you can join the Society in the same transaction to take advantage of members’ benefits)
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 to RCTS-National+subscribe@groups.io.

Archive and Library Open Day
2024-01-06 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-12-20 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-12-14 11:00 - 16:00 | RCTS Library, Leatherhead Station Approach, Leatherhead, KT22 7SQ, United Kingdom

Hugh Ballantyne's Somerset & Dorset Railway
2024-01-05 19:30 - 22:00 | BTL North Filton, St Teresa’s Church Hall, 71 Gloucester Road, North Filton, BS34 7PL, United Kingdom
Hugh’s excellent pictures presented by his friend Hugh Pelham

Scenes from the 1960's in colour. By John Sloane
2024-01-05 19:30 - 22:00 | LNW Preston, Fulwood Lawn Tennis Club, Watling Street Road, Preston, PR2 8DY, United Kingdom
Featuring many images from around the North West including some fascinating industrial views as well as images from visits around the country.

Travels in 2023
2024-01-04 19:30 - 21:00 | Virtual Meeting, Virtual Meeting, United Kingdom
For our first meeting of 2024, please join us on Zoom with member John Tigg who will take us on his travels through 2023, from the lineside on the WCML to Fawley Hill, and from Tallylyn to Barrow Hill.

isle of man and irish peat bog railway
2024-01-03 19:30 - 21:30 | West Sussex
colin kenni9ngton will present a series of videos from the isle of man and irish peat bog railways

Northampton Gateway Strategic Railfreight Interchange, by George Collinson
2024-01-02 19:00 - 21:30 | Virtual Meeting, Virtual Meeting, United Kingdom
Northampton Gateway Strategic Railfreight Interchange – Project Overview and Construction Update, by George Collinson.
Note this is a Virtual Zoom Meeting for which you can register via the ‘Register with Zoom’ link below. There is no charge for this meeting but donations would be gratefully received, these can be made by following the ‘organiser’ link, also below.

Britain's Railways in the 1930s
2023-12-28 19:30 - 22:00 | Virtual Meeting, Virtual Meeting, United Kingdom
A presentation from the LCGB/NRM Ken Nunn collection, by Jeremy Harrison, of images from the 1930s.
Perhaps the zenith of Britain’s railways, marked by the new streamlined trains of the LNER and LMSR, the 1930s also saw them celebrate their history, marking the 50th anniversary of the ‘Race to the North’ with a recreated train of 6-wheel coaches behind GNR Stirling single No.1 – whose contemporaries were still in regular service. So we will be seeing a combination of the familiar, that lasted into the 1960s (even if we only remember it from its final days), and the unfamiliar, that didn’t see out the decade.

For this virtual event, you need to obtain a ticket. Free for RCTS members, but a £2.50 donation will be requested at the checkout. Non-member tickets are £2.50. (Or you can join the Society in the same transaction to take advantage of members’ benefits)
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 to RCTS-National+subscribe@groups.io.

International Railways
2023-12-21 19:15 - 21:30 | SRY Woking, Woking United Reform Church, White Rose Lane, Woking, GU22 7HA, United Kingdom
International Railways

The evening will commence with the Branch AGM and our popular Christmas buffet followed by a presentation, subject to be confirmed.
Please note that we have had to change the speaker due to being unable to contact the previously advertised speaker.

Great Western, The Hawksworth Years 1941-1947
2023-12-21 19:00 - 22:00 | CHM Cheltenham, Victory Club, Burlington House, Lypiatt Road, Cheltenham, GL50 2SY, United Kingdom
Frederick Hawksworth became the last CME for the Great Western Railway, taking up the reins in 1941. Although he had only a relatively short period ‘in the chair’, he contributed some fine locomotives to the GWR portfolio. Society President, Revd Canon Brian Arman, returns to Cheltenham to bring us this chapter in the history of God’s Wonderful Railway.

15 in 15
2023-12-20 19:30 - 22:00 | SOE Eastleigh, Junction Church (formerly Eastleigh Railway Institute), 2 Romsey Road, Eastleigh, SO50 9FE, United Kingdom
Members evening and Festive Buffet

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Railways following Branch AGM
2023-12-19 19:00 - 21:30 | West Sussex
In November 2022 Stuart Hicks and other railway enthusiasts made a maiden visit to the railways of Saudi Arabia, not long after the country had started welcoming tourists. His trip took him to all three standard gauge passenger routes, an after-hours’ visit to the metro in the Women’s university, to the trolley bus route and to passenger and freight depots. He also saw the remains of the Hejaz railway and some tourist sites as well. All this and more will be revealed in this show.

Industrial Action
2023-12-19 14:00 - 16:30 | HTC Welwyn, Digswell Village Church Hall, Welwyn, Hertfordshire, AL6 0DH, United Kingdom
A Hitchin and Welwyn Garden City Branch presentation.
This is a change from the previously advertised presentation.
Presenter: Geoff Plumb.
In the presentation Geoff will take a look at some industrial systems around the country, including steelworks at Corby and Staveley, paper mills in Kent, cement in Essex and a visit to Avonmouth Docks. Also, colliery workings in Derbyshire, Yorkshire, County Durham, Northumberland and South Wales plus slate in North Wales, together with a few other oddities. A variety of steam and fireless locos are seen hard at work and at rest, plus the odd diesel. These are presented in chronological order from 1962 to 1971.
Doors open: 13:30

Off the Beaten (Railway) Track 2023
2023-12-18 19:30 - 22:30 | Virtual Meeting, Virtual Meeting, United Kingdom
Our own Iain Scotchman will tell us about his 2023 travels over the railways in four less-travelled areas of the world: Cambodia, Alaska, Morocco and Argentina.
The AGM and Members slides previously scheduled for this meeting, will now be held on 18th March 2024 and will be a physical meeting at Shenfield Parish Hall

Branch Annual General Meeting
2023-12-18 19:30 - 21:30 | MHD Cox Green, Cox Green Community Centre, Highfield Lane, Cox Green, Maidenhead, SL6 3AX, United Kingdom
Our annual review of the year that has passed, and a look at what is to come in the new year.
Join us to have your say, or offer to help.
Please note this meeting is in person at Cox Green Community Centre only, it will not be available to join online

AGM and Members' Contributions Afternoon
2023-12-18 14:00 - 16:30 | NHN Northampton – Weston Favell, Weston Favell Parish Hall, Booth Lane South, Northampton, NN3 3EP, United Kingdom

An English Ramble - Robin Mathams
2023-12-18 14:00 - 16:00 | Cheylesmore Community Centre, Poitiers Road, Coventry 5JX, Poitiers Road, Cheylesmore,, Coventry, CV3 5JX
Having previously his ‘Scottish Ramble’ – an excellent presentation covering many interesting locations, Robin now turns his attention to journeys made over a number of years throughout England. This promises to be another interesting show by this very capable raconteur.

Christmas Buffet & Members Evening
2023-12-15 19:30 - 22:00 | BTL North Filton, St Teresa’s Church Hall, 71 Gloucester Road, North Filton, BS34 7PL, United Kingdom
Members Presentations of up to 20 slides or images

"Christmas Quiz + Bygone Memories" - Presenter John Holroyd
2023-12-14 19:30 - 21:30 | WRD Shipley, Saltaire Methodist Church, Saltaire Road, Shipley, BD18 3HJ, United Kingdom

Railways of Col Holman Stephens
2023-12-13 19:15 - 21:30 | CHR Bassil Shippam Centre, Tozer Way, St Pancras, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 7LG, United Kingdom
Colonel Stephens and the economical railway
While the ‘Colonel Stephens Railways’ have gained a reputation for being somewhat esoteric, down at heel and decrepit, this caricature is perhaps a bit unfair. The Victorian entrepreneur Lt-Colonel Holman Fred Stephens (1868-1931) was a great believer in the potential of low-cost railways, and was involved in upwards of 50 different projects, not all of which came to fruition. As opportunities for promoting new lines declined, his focus moved to running those that had been completed, managing a dozen or more standard and narrow gauge railways from an office in Tonbridge.
Stephens was always looking for ways to build and operate railways more economically, and willing to explore innovative alternatives including a pioneering fleet of petrol railcars. After his untimely death in October 1931, long-time assistant William Austen led the surviving lines through a period of difficult economic conditions to nationalisation and inevitable decline. Nevertheless, two remain in commercial operation today, while others are flourishing as part of the heritage railway sector.
A long-standing member of the Colonel Stephens Society, Chris Jackson is currently the editor of its quarterly magazine ‘The Colonel’, and an active volunteer at the Colonel Stephens Railway Museum in Tenterden. This talk will look at Stephens himself, the evolution of his railways, and the work of the CSS and CSRM in keeping the light railway flame alive.
This talk follows a short Branch AGM

Rail Freight in Great Britain Today
2023-12-13 19:00 - 22:00 | SWL Radyr, Cardiff, Old Church Rooms / Hen Ysgoldy'r Eglwys, Park Road, Radyr, Cardiff, CF15 8DF, United Kingdom
Rail Freight Group Director Maggie Simpson presents an update an overview of the situation regarding rail freight.
In addition, she will present the prizes from there Branch’s photographic competition.

Da train fo Bo …. [Commonwealth Heritage Forum event]
2023-12-13 18:00 - 19:30 | Virtual Meeting, Virtual Meeting, United Kingdom
Wednesday 13 December, 6pm GMT: Helen Ashby and Colonel Steve Davies, ‘Da train fo Bo ….’, chaired by Isatu Smith
Helen was Head of Knowledge and Collections at the National Railway Museum and is now a freelance heritage consultant. She was awarded the OBE for services to railway heritage in 2010 and in 2014 she helped set up the Friends of Sierra Leone National Railway Museum, of which Steve is the Hon. President. Steve is the former Director of the National Railway Museum in York and he is now Director of a private company operating a main line steam locomotive. Their talk will explore the extraordinary origin story of the National Railway Museum in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Construction of the Sierra Leone Railway was begun in 1896 by the British Colonial Government. Running directly from West to East for some 227 ½ miles, between Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown and Pendembu in the east, close to the Liberian Border, this 2ft 6in gauge railway was the longest of that gauge in the world. A branch line to the north from Bauya, 64 miles east of Freetown, terminated in Makeni, bringing the route milage to over 300. The main traffic on the railway was passengers, palm kernels and minerals.
For a combination of political and economic reasons, Sierra Leone closed the railway in 1975, selling the locomotives, rolling stock and rails for scrap and abandoning the rest of the infrastructure.
Fast forward to 2004, at the end of eleven years of civil war, Colonel Steve Davies arrived on military service in Sierra Leone. A railway enthusiast all his life, his explorations of the route of the old railway led him to Cline Town, where he found an astonishing collection of locomotives and carriages that had escaped the gas axe. Thus the National Railway Museum came into being.
Now almost twenty years later, it is a thriving cultural hub, offering engaging displays, community activities and a vibrant education programme.
The Friends of the Sierra Leone National Railway Museum was founded in 2014 to provide advocacy and support for the museum. They invite you to join them to learn more about their incredible journey.

A Decade of Home and Away
2023-12-12 19:30 - 22:00 | HTC Hitchin, St Mark's Church, St Mark's Close, Lancaster Avenue, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG5 1UR, United Kingdom
A Hitchin and Welwyn Garden City Branch presentation.
Presenter: David Jackman
In “A Decade of Home and Away” David Jackman will illustrate some of the things that have changed, as well as some that haven’t, on the railway over the last decade or so, starting in the UK and then moving to Europe.
In the photo, 43277 approaches Oakleigh Park with a southbound express on 15th September 2016, in the days of the short lived Virgin Trains East Coast when HSTs were still part of the core ECML fleet.
Doors open: 19:00
