The Railway Correspondence & Travel Society

Archive And Library Open Day
2026-04-08 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-02 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-03-28 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-03-17 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-03-11 11:00 - 16:00 (Europe/London) | RCTS Library, Leatherhead Station Approach, Leatherhead, KT22 7SQ, United Kingdom

WFD Branch Meeting - AGM, Followed by 'Railways from both Sides of the Fence', by Jason Cross, 7th April 2026
2026-04-07 18:45 - 21:30 | WFD Watford, Beechen Grove Baptist Church, Clarendon Road, Watford, WD17 1JJ, United Kingdom
Branch AGM, followed by: JASON CROSS – ‘Railways from Both Sides of the Fence’ – A slide show by a GBRf employee which includes an overview of joining the company, a detailed look at the Old Dalby test track and at other roles performed at other locations. This is then followed by a selection of railway images from outside the fence.
Please note this is a physical meeting and the slightly earlier start time of 18:45 is to allow time for the AGM. This is a very important AGM affecting the future of the branch, so please make every effort to attend. Doors will be open as usual at 18:30 and we hope to start the speaker’s presentation by 19:00. There will be a refreshment break at half-time and we aim to finish by 21:30.

Milton Keynes Branch Meeting - ‘The Southern End of the WCML, 1930s to Present Day’
2026-04-02 19:30 - 22:00 | MKY Milton Keynes, Network Rail - The Quadrant: MK, Elder Gate, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK9 1EN, United Kingdom
Rob Freeman presents ‘​The Southern End of the WCML, 1930s to Present Day’, featuring photos from the H C Casserley Collection, plus a selection of his own photos.

FLL - Steam and Diesels in the Northern Fells
2026-04-01 19:30 - 22:00 | FLL Carnforth, Royal Station Hotel, Market Street, Carnforth, LA5 9BT, United Kingdom
with Ian Pilkington

Navigation Road and all that by Ted Buckley
2026-04-01 13:30 - 15:45 | MCN Liverpool, Haig House Social Club, Woolton Road, Garston, Liverpool, L19 5NQ, United Kingdom

steam and diesels in the northern fells
2026-04-01 08:00 - 17:00 | station hotel carnforth, carnforth, United Kingdom

The Harwich Branch
2026-03-31 14:00 - 16:30 | HTC Welwyn, Digswell Village Church Hall, Welwyn, Hertfordshire, AL6 0DH, United Kingdom
A Hitchin & Welwyn Garden City Branch presentation by Dave Goodyear.
Details to follow.
Doors open 13:30 for 14:00 start.

"Freedom of Scotland 1961" Part 2 by John Sloane
2026-03-27 19:30 - 22:00 | Fulwood Lawn Tennis club Highgate Ave Preston PR2 8DY, Highgate Ave, Preston, Lancashire, PR2 8DY

Chasing Steam in Western Europe
2026-03-25 19:15 - 21:30 | CHR Bassil Shippam Centre, Tozer Way, St Pancras, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 7LG, United Kingdom
John Barrowdale writes:

The illustrated talk covers visits to western Europe for photographing remaining steam services organised by myself and friends and 5 short weekend visits organised by the LCGB between 1970 and 1974. During that time, we went on three fortnight visits to Europe in 1971, 1972 & 1973 visiting West Germany mainly, limited bits of France and Austria and included northern Italy on the 1972 and 1973 trips.

We did the 2nd, 3rd and 4th West Germany tours of four trips organised with the LCGB between 1970 and 1972 using the SS Avalon as overnight accommodation as follows:-

Rhein – Mosel 3rd Oct October 1970
Wesffalen & Weser 1st May 1971
Ems & Wupper 29th – 30 April 1972

We also did the 2nd & 3rd trips of four organised by the LCGB between 1972 and 1975 to Portugal flying out from Luton to Porto for two nights in a hotel as follows:-

Minho and Vouga 23-25th March 1973
Corgo and Tamega 22-24th March 1974

The Heritage Railway Association
2026-03-24 14:00 - 16:30 | CSL Redhill, Redhill Methodist Church, Gloucester Road, Redhill, RH1 1BP, United Kingdom
Chief Executive Steve Oates comes to tell us about The Heritage Railway Association, the UK-wide trade association and professional support body representing, protecting and promoting the interests of heritage and tourist railways, tramways, cliff railways, railway preservation groups and related museums.

!000 eggs on a bicycle - Colin Boocock
2026-03-24 14:00 - 16:00 | EMD Nottingham, The New Mechanics, 3 North Sherwood Street, Nottingham, NG1 4EZ, United Kingdom
70 years of railway photography
More details to follow

The Deltics - Worthy successors to the A4s
2026-03-23 19:30 - 22:00 | MHD Cox Green, Cox Green Community Centre, Highfield Lane, Cox Green, Maidenhead, SL6 3AX, United Kingdom
Both engines sprang from a quest for higher express speeds on the East Coast Mainline. They still grace main lines and heritage railways after years of success.

Nostalgia of Steam on 16mm Cine Film 1920-2003
2026-03-23 14:00 - 16:30 | NHN Northampton – Weston Favell, Weston Favell Parish Hall, Booth Lane South, Northampton, NN3 3EP, United Kingdom

WRD - Belgium - Trains, Trams and Beer
2026-03-19 19:30 - 22:00 | WRD Shipley, Saltaire Methodist Church, Saltaire Road, Shipley, BD18 3HJ, United Kingdom
with Peter Holden

Surrey Branch - The British Transport Police
2026-03-19 19:15 - 21:30 | SRY Woking, Woking United Reform Church, White Rose Lane, Woking, GU22 7HA, United Kingdom
The British Transport Police

CHM Branch - The Railway Scene around Cheltenham and Gloucester
2026-03-19 19:00 - 22:00 | CHM Cheltenham, Victory Club, Burlington House, Lypiatt Road, Cheltenham, GL50 2SY, United Kingdom
Mike Dodd from the Restoration and Archiving Trust at Toddington returns, this time to bring us images of the railways around our home area.

NEA Branch - A Northern View
2026-03-19 08:00 - 17:00 | NEA Darlington, Darlington Cricket Club, South Terrace, Darlington, DL1 5JD, United Kingdom
presented by RO Branch News Editor, Steve Batty

Tracks in the Mist - Volume 2
2026-03-18 19:30 - 22:00 | SOE Eastleigh, Junction Church (formerly Eastleigh Railway Institute), 2 Romsey Road, Eastleigh, SO50 9FE, United Kingdom

My Further Local Favourites
2026-03-17 19:30 - 22:00 | HSD Hull, The Highway, Willerby Road, Hull, HU5 5LH, United Kingdom

TVY - Britain's Changing Railway from Outside and In
2026-03-17 19:00 - 21:30 | TVY Didcot, Didcot Civic Hall, Britwell Road, Didcot, OX11 7JN, United Kingdom
Phil Deaves – a career railwayman, takes us on a journey looking at Britain’s changing railway.
Starting in the 1980’s, his early interest in railways with his local church Crusader group holidays,
visiting engine sheds and stations, through the various jobs and roles he has had in his railway
career. On the way we will look at some of the projects Phil has worked upon, with an ‘inside’ view
of some developments related to his employment.
Also, within this talk, Phil will give us an ‘inside view’ of his role as role as the infrastructure editor
for the RCTS Railway Observer magazine

The History and Development of Stratford Depot
2026-03-16 19:30 - 22:30 | ESX Shenfield, Shenfield Parish Hall, 60 Hutton Road, Shenfield, CM15 8LB, United Kingdom
This presentation outlines the history and development of Stratford depot, then describes the depot in the late 1980s and his experiences as an engineering trainee there. The various workings of the depot are detailed, together with the area it served at the time. It closes with the decline and eventual closure of the depot.

Hugh commenced his railway career in September 1987 as an engineering trainee. He spent his first 3 months in the training school at Derby Litchurch Lane works before moving to Stratford depot. After gaining his engineering qualifications and completing his training, he spent 2 years at Bounds Green Intercity depot working on class 91 locomotives and Mk4 coaches. He moved to Eurostar in May 1994 where he spent the majority of his career. He began at North Pole International depot as a technician and progressed through various supervisory and management roles. These involved the maintenance, fault finding, repair and reliability of class 373 units. After a stint with Network Rail, he returned to Eurostar to assist with the introduction of the class 374 units, liaising with SNCF, SNCB and the Dutch railways NS. He took early retirement from Eurostar Temple Mills International depot a few years ago, finishing his career as a senior electrical engineer.

Physical meeting at Shenfield Parish Hall also available on Zoom as a Hybrid Meeting.

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

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

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

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

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.
