The Railway Correspondence & Travel Society

TVY - Britain's Changing Railway from Outside and In
2026-03-17 19:00 - 21:30 (Europe/London) | 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

Archive And Library Open Day
2026-03-17 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-03-11 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-03-05 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-02-28 11:00 - 16:00 | RCTS Library, Leatherhead Station Approach, Leatherhead, KT22 7SQ, United Kingdom

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.

"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 more of his many days out around and about, including UK scenes in Brighton, Bristol and the London area, among others. West Germany features quite strongly, and the main event sees a visit to South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique for a feast of steam, in repose and in action! A great evening not to be missed!

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

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.

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

Visit to Doncaster
2026-03-10

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.

'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.

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

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

WFD Branch Meeting - 'From the Back of the Cupboard', by Steve Batty, 3rd March 2026
2026-03-03 19:00 - 21:30 | WFD Watford, Beechen Grove Baptist Church, Clarendon Road, Watford, WD17 1JJ, United Kingdom
Steve Batty heads south again to present ‘From the Back of the Cupboard’, because it’s made up of B&W shots he has always ignored before when putting a show together, but which he thinks really deserve a viewing. It also made him wonder why B&W gets ignored so much, so made the show entirely B&W. Some are 35mm but most are medium format 6×7. Steam and modern traction both feature in the presentation.
Please note this is a physical meeting, doors open from 18:30 for a 19:00 start, with a half-time break for refreshments, and we aim to finish around 21:30.

"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

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.’

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.

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

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

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

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!

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
