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

Archive and Library Open Day
2023-12-14 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-12-09 11:00 - 16:00, 2023-11-28 11:00 - 16:00 | RCTS Library, Leatherhead Station Approach, Leatherhead, KT22 7SQ, 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

Branch AGM and Members' Contributions
2023-12-12 19:30 - 22:00 | CBR Fulbourn, Cambridge, The Swifts, Haggis Gap, Fulbourn, Cambridge, CB21 5HD, United Kingdom

Stuart Underdown’s Southern Memories
2023-12-12 19:30 - 22:00 | CSL Croydon, East Croydon United Reformed Church, Addiscombe Grove, Croydon, CR0 5LP, United Kingdom
The late Stuart Underdown was a Society member and an accomplished photographer, who put together a number of presentations, including this one, of his ‘Southern Memories’, of his own photographs covering the period from the early 1960s through the 1970s, together with some much older images that he had collected, and ranging from Kent to the ‘withered arm’ lines in Devon and Cornwall.
Note: Since the start of this season, we are meeting in the Primary Room at the East Croydon URC (rather than the Small Hall)

Branch AGM and members contributions
2023-12-12 19:00 - 21:00 | EMD Nottingham, The New Mechanics, 3 North Sherwood Street, Nottingham, NG1 4EZ, United Kingdom

Sheffield Branch Christmas Social
2023-12-12 14:00 - 16:00 | SFD Sheffield Farm Road Sports & Social Club, Farm Road, Sheffield, S2 2TP, United Kingdom
Our traditional pre-Christmas social: Sheffield branch committee members will present a variety of photos, some seasonal, plus at least one quiz!

HSD branch - Hull to Whitby a scenic journey
2023-12-12 13:30 - 16:00 | HSD Hull, The Highway, Willerby Road, Hull, HU5 5LH, United Kingdom
Hull to Whitby a scenic journey

Wrexham & Shropshire – a Photographic Retrospective
2023-12-11 19:30 - 22:00 | Virtual Meeting, Virtual Meeting, United Kingdom
Geoff Plumb gives us a comprehensive look at this short-lived open access operator which nevertheless made a great impact in terms of quality travel. Photographic coverage, with privileged access, from the first crew training turns to the last public run and final empty stock working from Wrexham to Wembley Depot.

For this virtual event, you require a ticket. Free for RCTS members, but a £2.50 donation will be requested at the checkout. Non-member tickets are £2.50. (Or join in the same transaction, and 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.

AGM:Followed by images from the 60s and 70s Midlands and South Yorkshire by Keith Partlow.
2023-12-11 14:15 - 16:30 | IPS Ipswich, Greenfinch Church Hall, Greenfinch Avenue, Ipswich, IP2 0SQ, United Kingdom

RCTS West of England Branch Meeting Hydraulic Delights by Steve Crowther
2023-12-09 19:00 - 21:30 | WEN Exeter [Mint Methodist Church], Fore Street, Exeter, EX4 3AT, United Kingdom
West of England Branch December Meeting will feature Steve Crowther who will be entertaining us with a miscellany of Hydraulic Delights, from his extensive collection of images.

Milton Keynes Branch Annual General Meeting
2023-12-07 19:30 - 22:00 | MKY Milton Keynes, Network Rail - The Quadrant: MK, Elder Gate, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK9 1EN, United Kingdom
AGM and member’s presentations. Further details to be confirmed nearer to the date.

agm and quiz for the machell trophy
2023-12-06 19:30 - 21:30 | Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom
our annual agm (brief) will be followed by the stephen machell trophy quiz

Leeds Engines of Empire [Commonwealth Heritage Forum event]
2023-12-06 18:00 - 19:30 | Virtual Meeting, Virtual Meeting, United Kingdom
Wednesday 6 December, 6pm GMT: John McGoldrick, ‘Leeds Engines of Empire’, chaired by Rowenna Malone
The city of Leeds is perhaps not as well-known as it should be as an industrial powerhouse. A major engine of the city’s prosperity was the railway locomotive building sector. Exports to former British and other colonies filled company order books as domestic markets became increasingly saturated. Leeds products fuelled Empire building projects in the areas of docks and harbours, extraction of natural resources and the movements of military forces. The talk will highlight how colonial orders helped shape the communities and urban fabric of the colonial metropolis. The talk will also examine the areas of specialisation covered by individual companies and chart the journeys of specific locomotives, including the return to the UK from India of the John Fowler locomotive ‘Cheetal’. The talk addresses case studies evidencing the human aspects of Leeds’ railway connections with former colonial territories.
John McGoldrick is Curator of Industrial History at Leeds Museum and Galleries. A major engine of Leeds’ prosperity was the railway locomotive building sector and exports to former British and other colonies filled company order books. John’s talk will chart the journeys of specific locomotives, evidencing the human aspects of Leeds’ railway connections with former colonial territories.

Steam in North Wales since 2010
2023-12-06 13:45 - 15:30 | MCN Liverpool, Haig House Social Club, Woolton Road, Garston, Liverpool, L19 5NQ, United Kingdom

SCT Glasgow Suburban Electrification
2023-12-05 19:30 - 21:30 | SCT Edinburgh, Scots Guards Club, 2 Clifton Terrace,, Edinburgh, EH12 5DR, United Kingdom
Glasgow Suburban Electrification
The talk describes the origins of Glasgow’s ’Blue Trains’. The scale and complexity of the project(s) will be described, including initial teething problems causing total withdrawal of the fleet, the talk concluding with an explanation of how the Class 303 at Bo’ness was modified to operate with Blue Star fitted locomotives

‘Members’ Presentations’, plus Lizzie’s Mince Pies and Sausage Rolls!
2023-12-05 19:00 - 21:30 | WFD Watford, Beechen Grove Baptist Church, Clarendon Road, Watford, WD17 1JJ, United Kingdom
Another chance for Watford Branch members to show off your prowess with a camera (but don’t worry about the quality, feel the width!) – stills or videos, film or digital. Please bring along some 35mm slides or image files on a memory stick or DVD disc and we’ll endeavour to treat everyone to your photographic efforts – any railway related subjects welcome! Branch members will be given priority, visitors are welcome to bring material as well. Festive refreshments will be available at the half-time break.
Doors open from 18:30 for 19:00 commencement of proceedings.

Steam in Southern Africa Through 26 Years
2023-12-01 19:30 - 22:00 | BTL North Filton, St Teresa’s Church Hall, 71 Gloucester Road, North Filton, BS34 7PL, United Kingdom
Long time branch member Roger Griffiths presents images of Steam Trains taken on numerous visits to South Africa.

Narrow Gauge in the British Isles
2023-11-30 19:30 - 22:00 | Virtual Meeting, Virtual Meeting, United Kingdom
James Waite is well known as an enthusiast for narrow gauge railways, and has explored them all around the world, but tonight he is staying close to home, and confining himself to the British Isles, but covering both well and lesser known lines.
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 will be 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 to RCTS-National+subscribe@groups.io.

Refurbishment of the old Railway Bridges at Rail Corridor Singapore [Commonwealth Heritage Forum event]
2023-11-29 13:00 - 14:30 | Virtual Meeting, Virtual Meeting, United Kingdom
Wednesday 29 November, 1pm GMT, Wong Kia Fu: ‘Refurbishment of the old Railway Bridges at Rail Corridor Singapore’, chaired by Kelvin Ang
In 2011, the former Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) railway line ceased operations at the Tanjong Pager and Bukit Timah stations and the land was returned to Singapore. This presented an extraordinary opportunity to reimagine how to best make use of the uninterrupted 24km- long stretch of land, from Woodlands in the north all the way to Tanjong Pagar in the south.
Following extensive engagements with the community on the 24km-long strip of land now called ‘Rail Corridor’, the feedback was distilled into a set of goals for the Rail Corridor’s transformation. Agencies embarked on efforts to carefully plan and enhance the Rail Corridor into a place that everyone can enjoy. A three-way balance between the different goals was achieved by preserving the Rail Corridor as a continuous green artery and community space for users of all ages and abilities, celebrating the heritage by conserving, restoring and repurposing key railway buildings and elements, and developing the parcels of land adjacent to the Rail Corridor to meet Singaporean’s’ needs for homes, jobs and amenities.
To demonstrate the approach, the Urban Redevelopment Authority and National Parks Board drew up the implementation plan and carried out the improvement works for a 4km-long central stretch of the Rail Corridor, between Hillview and the conserved Bukit Timah Railway Station. The project was completed in two phases, with work on the paved trail and restoration of bridges that formed the connectivity done in 2021, and environmental improvement works to the nodes at both ends of the trail a year later.
Two steel truss bridges, one steel girder bridge, and one reinforced concrete bridge were sensitively restored and refurbished. The conserved Bukit Timah Railway Station building, along with its key architectural and railway elements, was carefully restored and repurposed as a heritage gallery. The conserved Railway Staff Quarters, a former staff housing block, has been repurposed into a café with a rustic, relaxed ambience. The 4km-long trail was strengthened with more durable pavement materials and finishes that complemented the character of the route at different stretches.
Wong Kia Fu is a civil engineer at the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore and a part-time lecturer at Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority Academy. In his talk, Wong will share his experience of working on the Rail Corridor project, Singapore, which has seen the preservation of the Rail Corridor as a continuous green artery and community space, celebrating the heritage by conserving key railway buildings and developing the parcels of land adjacent to meet Singaporean’s needs for homes, jobs, and amenities.

Railways at the dawn of Nationalisation - Robin Mathams
2023-11-28 19:30 - 21:30 | EMD Nottingham, The New Mechanics, 3 North Sherwood Street, Nottingham, NG1 4EZ, United Kingdom

An A-Z of Switzerland
2023-11-28 14:00 - 16:30 | HTC Welwyn, Digswell Village Church Hall, Welwyn, Hertfordshire, AL6 0DH, United Kingdom
A Hitchin & Welwyn Garden City Branch presentation
Presenter: Steve Ollive
In the second of three parts describing the Railways of Switzerland, Steve will cover the railways from D to M inclusive, starting with the Dolder Bahn in Zurich and ending with the Transport Montreux-Vevey-Riviera now part of the MOB organisation. As with part one, he will give a brief overview of the history of the railway and a map of the route, followed by some 21st Century photographs of the rolling stock, along with any updates about changes to the stock.
Doors open: 13:30
Details to follow.

The Great Train Robbery
2023-11-27 19:30 - 22:00 | MHD Cox Green, Cox Green Community Centre, Highfield Lane, Cox Green, Maidenhead, SL6 3AX, United Kingdom
Ian Boskett visits to tell the story of the most famous crime to occur on the railways, in this sixtieth anniversary year.
Please note that this presentation will be in person only at Cox Green Community Centre. The meeting will not be available to join online.

Branch AGM followed by members and visitors digital images (no slides please)
2023-11-24 19:30 - 22:00 | LNW Preston, Fulwood Lawn Tennis Club, Watling Street Road, Preston, PR2 8DY, United Kingdom

The Brecon & Cambrian Lines in the Sixties
2023-11-22 19:30 - 22:00 | SWL Swansea, Dyfatty Community Centre, Chapel Street, Dyfatty, Swansea, SA1 1NB, United Kingdom
John Davies will give us a photographic tour of these historic lines, including the lines through Talyllyn Junction shown in Sid Rickard’s image of 46518 bringing in the 1325 train from Brecon to Moat Lane Junction on 2 May 1959
