The Railway Correspondence & Travel Society

Swiss Railways A-Z Part 2
2026-02-18 19:30 - 22:00 (Europe/London) | SOE Eastleigh, Junction Church (formerly Eastleigh Railway Institute), 2 Romsey Road, Eastleigh, SO50 9FE, United Kingdom

Lance King in Ulster, 1957-1970, The NCC in Action
2026-02-19 14:00 - 16:30 | CHR Bassil Shippam Centre, Tozer Way, St Pancras, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 7LG, United Kingdom
The NCC (“Northern Counties Committee”) was the Irish arm of the LMS (and the MR before that). The talk is mainly 1958 – 1970 when the NCC ran the last mainline steam in these islands. Using the slides of the late Lance King, I will take you on a trip along the lines still open from Larne Harbour (ship to Scotland) to Belfast, then from Belfast to Londonderry and Portrush. Along the route, a few flasbacks to earlier days in Black and White. A short diversion to show NCC locos on the former Great Northern. We finish with an extensive coverage of “The Spoil Trains”: Thousand ton trains of stone worked by a 2-6-4T at each end – lots of lovely action shots. Steam’s Last Challenge”

WRD - Steam to Scarborough
2026-02-19 14:00 - 17:00 | WRD Shipley, Saltaire Methodist Church, Saltaire Road, Shipley, BD18 3HJ, United Kingdom
with Colin Smith

NEA Branch - Producing the RO and a Few of his Travels
2026-02-19 19:00 - 21:30 | NEA Darlington, Darlington Cricket Club, South Terrace, Darlington, DL1 5JD, United Kingdom
presented by Railway Observer Managing Editor, Mike Robinson

CHM Branch - 50 Years of the High Speed Train
2026-02-19 19:00 - 22:00 | CHM Cheltenham, Victory Club, Burlington House, Lypiatt Road, Cheltenham, GL50 2SY, United Kingdom
Alex Wood comes to Cheltenham to review what is probably the most iconic train which rode the rails of the UK.

Surrey Branch - In search of Narrow Gauge steam – from Damascus to Dunedin
2026-02-19 19:15 - 21:30 | SRY Woking, Woking United Reform Church, White Rose Lane, Woking, GU22 7HA, United Kingdom
In search of Narrow Gauge steam – from Damascus to Dunedin
By James Waite

Locomotive & Coach Liveries, Part 3
2026-02-20 14:30 - 16:30 | SCT Edinburgh, Scots Guards Club, 2 Clifton Terrace,, Edinburgh, EH12 5DR, United Kingdom
Note change of date for this meeting. Stuart Malcolm returns to delve into his Locomotive and Coach Livery archive, this time covering the last thirty years which has seen an hitherto unprecedented variety of changes a private companies come and go!

Railways in the Cornish Landscape
2026-02-23 14:00 - 16:30 | NHN Northampton – Weston Favell, Weston Favell Parish Hall, Booth Lane South, Northampton, NN3 3EP, United Kingdom

Toil and Triumph - an appreciation of the Settle and Carlisle Railway
2026-02-23 19:30 - 22:00 | MHD Cox Green, Cox Green Community Centre, Highfield Lane, Cox Green, Maidenhead, SL6 3AX, United Kingdom
An expert on the S&C, Colin will trace its origins, construction and eventual history

Monorails of the 19th Century - Adrian Garner
2026-02-24 14:00 - 16:00 | EMD Nottingham, The New Mechanics, 3 North Sherwood Street, Nottingham, NG1 4EZ, United Kingdom
More details to follow

Appalachian Wanderings
2026-02-24 14:00 - 16:30 | HTC Welwyn, Digswell Village Church Hall, Welwyn, Hertfordshire, AL6 0DH, United Kingdom
A Hitchin & Welwyn Garden City Branch presentation by Tony Field.
Details to follow.
Doors open at 13:30 for 14:00 start.

Stratford Upon Avon to Cheltenham 1904 -1979
2026-02-25 19:15 - 21:30 | Virtual Meeting, Virtual Meeting, United Kingdom
‘Although Cheltenham opened in 1847 and Stratford in 1859, it was nearly another 50 years before the 20 mile gap between Honeybourne & Cheltenham was filled. This show covers the whole route from a little north of Stratford station to Lansdown Junction in Cheltenham, the vast majority of which no longer forms part of the national network.’

"Modern Railways unconventional views" by Nigel Capelle
2026-02-27 19:30 - 22:00 | Fulwood Lawn Tennis club Highgate Ave Preston PR2 8DY, Highgate Ave, Preston, Lancashire, PR2 8DY

Archive And Library Open Day
2026-02-28 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-03-05 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-03-11 11:00 - 16:00 | RCTS Library, Leatherhead Station Approach, Leatherhead, KT22 7SQ, United Kingdom

My All-Line Rover Routes in Earlier Days
2026-03-04 19:00 - 22:00 | SWL Radyr, Cardiff, Old Church Rooms / Hen Ysgoldy'r Eglwys, Park Road, Radyr, Cardiff, CF15 8DF, United Kingdom
Taking place a week earlier than normal owing to availability issues at our regular venue, the march meeting of the South Wales/De Cymru branch of RCTS will feature a presentation by Noel Thompson on his travels round the UK using an All Lines Rover Ticket. As usual, our well stocked preloved book stall will be open for you to make that vital addition to our library and will be be serving complimentary tea and coffee at half time, when our competitively priced Kit Kats will be available.
Doors open 7pm for a 7;30 start

Railways around Londoen and the SE
2026-03-04 19:30 - 21:30 | station hotel carnforth, carnforth, United Kingdom

FLL - Railway Around London and the South East
2026-03-04 19:30 - 22:00 | FLL Carnforth, Royal Station Hotel, Market Street, Carnforth, LA5 9BT, United Kingdom
with James Sutcliffe

'All Things Freight' by Maggie Simpson
2026-03-05 19:30 - 22:00 | MKY Milton Keynes, Network Rail - The Quadrant: MK, Elder Gate, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK9 1EN, United Kingdom
A presentation by the Director General of the Rail Freight Group, Maggie Simpson OBE.

Bristol Meeting - 'Midland Blue - Midland Railway Lines in the 1980's by Stewart Jolly.
2026-03-06 19:30 - 22:00 | BTL North Filton, St Teresa’s Church Hall, 71 Gloucester Road, North Filton, BS34 7PL, United Kingdom
After a short A.G.M. Branch Treasurer Stewart Jolly will present ‘Midland Blue, covering Midland Railway lines in the 1980’s.

Swindon to Swindon via Swindon - Richard Binding
2026-03-10 14:00 - 16:00 | EMD Nottingham, The New Mechanics, 3 North Sherwood Street, Nottingham, NG1 4EZ, United Kingdom
‘Swindon– Swindon via Swindon – incorporating Swindon – Badminton – Gloucester – Sapperton – Swindon – Westbury – (Reading) – Didcot – Swindon’
More details to follow

Timetable Planning - A Dark Art, Plus More.
2026-03-10 14:00 - 16:30 | 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 Dave Hepper.
Details to follow.
Doors open 13:30 for 14:00 start.

Robin Gibbons - The 1923 Grouping
2026-03-10 19:00 - 21:00 | SFD Sheffield Farm Road Sports & Social Club, Farm Road, Sheffield, S2 2TP, United Kingdom
We have all heard of the Grouping but how much do we really know about it? Robin Gibbons takes a deep dive into the Grouping including looking at the development of the railway companies in Great Britain up to that point, their uneasy relationship with Parliament, the background to the Grouping including the impact of the First World War, how the Grouping was implemented and a brief look at how the “Big Four” fared from a financial viewpoint

"1972 – That Was The Year That Was" by Geoff Plumb
2026-03-10 19:30 - 22:00 | CBR Fulbourn, Cambridge, The Swifts, Haggis Gap, Fulbourn, Cambridge, CB21 5HD, United Kingdom
We are delighted to welcome Geoff Plumb again for another of his selections of images covering the wide variety of motive power at work on the railways, this time in the year 1972.

Croydon & SL Branch AGM and Members’ Images
2026-03-10 19:30 - 22:00 | CSL Croydon, East Croydon United Reformed Church, Addiscombe Grove, Croydon, CR0 5LP, United Kingdom
Our Annual General Meeting, to be followed by Members’ Images. Your chance to speak up and show off!
Since our last AGM a year ago, it is fair to say the Branch has had another somewhat problematic year, struggling to keep going. So I would urge you all to attend, to discuss the future of the branch. While our three active committee members – Rob Burridge, Robert Bourton and Jeremy Harrison – are all willing to continue as Branch officers, subject to your approval, we really need some new blood on the committee to help take the branch forward. As Rob has put it:
PLEASE COME AND SUPPORT THE BRANCH. BRING YOUR IDEAS, AND HELP IT GO FORWARD.
Following the business part of the meeting, there will be a presentation of members’ images – an opportunity for you to contribute, and show off what you have done. Both conventional 35mm slide and digital projectors will be available.

Paddle Steamer Waverley - 50 years of preservation
2026-03-12 14:30 - 16:30 | SCT Edinburgh, Scots Guards Club, 2 Clifton Terrace,, Edinburgh, EH12 5DR, United Kingdom
Ian Quinn will tell us the story, recollections and memories of keeping the LNER’s 1947-built PS Waverley afloat during her preservation years and beyond. A book based on the presentation title, written by the speaker and featuring over 200 photos from around Britain, including the Forth, will be available @ £20.00, sales of which will be in aid of the Waverley.
The PS Waverley om a typical cruise

East Midlands Railways 1970-2000
2026-03-12 19:00 - 21:30 | PBR Peterborough, St Luke’s Church, Mayor's Walk, Peterborough, PE3 6EZ, United Kingdom
Brian visits us with a pictorial presentation of images taken in the East Midlands area in the latter part of the 20th Century

WEN Branch Meeting : Chris Holland - A Railway Life
2026-03-14 19:00 - 21:30 | WEN Exeter [Mint Methodist Church], Fore Street, Exeter, EX4 3AT, United Kingdom
Chris Holland returns to entertain us with a selection of images from his extensive collection
As a life long railwayman, who was involved in many projects during his career Chris plans to show us a glimpse of these with a selection of stunning images.
It promises to a fascinating evening entertainment

Railways Remembered - Lake District and North Lancashire by Charles Roberts
2026-03-16 13:30 - 15:45 | MCN Bromborough, The Bromborough Suite. The Merebrook, Greenfields Avenue, Bromborough, Wirral, Merseyside, CH62 6DD, United Kingdom
