The Railway Correspondence & Travel Society

HSD branch - My medium format in the 90s
2024-09-17 19:30 - 22:00 (Europe/London) | HSD Hull, The Highway, Willerby Road, Hull, HU5 5LH, United Kingdom
Eddie Parker- “My medium format in the 90s”

The Ivatt LMS 10000 Recreation Project
2024-09-17 19:00 - 21:30 | TVY Didcot, Didcot Civic Hall, Britwell Road, Didcot, OX11 7JN, United Kingdom
The Ivatt Diesel Re-creation Society plan to recreate, and operate 10000.
In the first half of this presentation we look at the original twins LMS 10000 and 10001 (the first British mainline diesel electric locomotives), and their place in history. 10000 and 10001 were designed by H.G. Ivatt and built by the LMS at their Derby Loco Works in 1947 / 48. These locos proved many parts and concepts that are still in use on the railway network today. However before the preservation movement had started to take notice of historically important diesel locomotives, 10000 was scrapped in 1968.
In the second half of this presentation we look at the current project which is planning to recreate 10000. In recent years this has progressed to the construction of a locomotive chassis in 2022.

On Great Eastern Metals From 1991 to Date
2024-09-16 19:30 - 22:30 | ESX Shenfield, Shenfield Parish Hall, 60 Hutton Road, Shenfield, CM15 8LB, United Kingdom
Physical meeting at Shenfield Parish Hall
Our member, Geoff Brocket, is a prolific photographer, who always seems to be able to get the photos that no one else can. This outing covers photos on the Great Eastern Railway from 1991 to the present day. Like many of us, Geoff prefers locos to multiple units so expect to see the whole range of motive power used on this line over the last 25 years or so.
As these images are on 35mm slides, it is not possible to offer this talk via Zoom.

Merseyrail Class 777 Review
2024-09-16 19:30 - 21:45 | MCN Bromborough, The Bromborough Suite. The Merebrook, Greenfields Avenue, Bromborough, Wirral, Merseyside, CH62 6DD, United Kingdom

Images from Glass Plate Negatives - David Postle - Kidderminster Railway Museum
2024-09-16 14:00 - 16:00 | Cheylesmore Community Centre, Poitiers Road, Coventry 5JX, Poitiers Road, Cheylesmore,, Coventry, CV3 5JX
Our good friend, David Postle, from the Kidderminster Railway Museum will be presenting a selection of images scanned from original glass plate negatives. These images from the Museum’s archive have been restored to a very high standard.

Archive & Library Open Day
2024-09-14 11:00 - 16:00, 2024-09-03 11:00 - 16:00, 2024-08-28 11:00 - 16:00, 2024-08-22 11:00 - 16:00, 2024-08-17 11:00 - 16:00, 2024-08-06 11:00 - 16:00, 2024-07-31 11:00 - 16:00 | RCTS Library, Leatherhead Station Approach, Leatherhead, KT22 7SQ, United Kingdom

Welsh Narrow Gauge Railways : A Personal View 1990 - 2024
2024-09-11 19:00 - 21:30 | SWL Radyr, Cardiff, Old Church Rooms / Hen Ysgoldy'r Eglwys, Park Road, Radyr, Cardiff, CF15 8DF, United Kingdom
Alan Williams has been taking photos of the Welsh narrow gauge since I was a young lad, but it became a serious endeavour during the 1990s and since then I have accumulated a wealth of material, enough for a second show if the first one goes OK. It will be a personal view, not a potted history, and I will cover the developments and changes over the last 30 years as I saw them.

A Driver's Eye View - 48 Years on the Railway
2024-09-10 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 by Andy Grimmett.
In his own words –
My presentation looks mainly at the engineering side of my life on the railway, showing some of the areas l had to work at, plus a look at some of the various vehicles and equipment used, relative to the permanent way, spanning over 48 years in railway service at both Stratford MPD and Ilford Car Sheds.
Andy Grimmett
Doors open 19:00.

"Britain's Military Railways" by Clive Pepper
2024-09-10 19:30 - 22:00 | CBR Fulbourn, Cambridge, The Swifts, Haggis Gap, Fulbourn, Cambridge, CB21 5HD, United Kingdom
Many Military sites in Britain once had, and in a few instances still have, internal railway systems. Illustrated by visits made between 1970 and 2000, this presentation provides a rare photographic record and history of such locations.

Pictures from the Harold Clements Collection, Part 1
2024-09-10 19:30 - 22:00 | CSL Croydon, East Croydon United Reformed Church, Addiscombe Grove, Croydon, CR0 5LP, United Kingdom
Bryan Cross comes to present a selection of monochrome images, all scanned directly from the Harold Clements collection of original Lantern slides, Glass plates and large format negatives. These were taken by Harold Clements, his Father and Grandfather. This presentation starts with images around Luton – from MR days in the 1880s to BR(M) in the 1950s; then of the LMS around Bedford in the 1930s; the LNER at Foxton & Whittlesford c1946; and on the LNER & BR Eastern Region at Cadwell Crossing (North of Hitchin) 1937 – 1953, before concluding with images of the Folkestone Harbour Branch in the 1950s.

Afternoon Observation Meeting - Cardiff Central Station
2024-09-10 12:00 - 16:00 | Cardiff Station, Central Square,, Cardiff, Wales, CF10 1EP, United Kingdom

Observations at Tamworth & Water Orton
2024-09-10
Please note change of venue from the planned Heart of Wales Rover.

Railways Around Cambridge by David Scudamore.
2024-09-09 19:15 - 21:45 | Greenfinch Hall,Greenfinch Avenue Ipswich IP2 0SQ

'The End of Steam on British Railways 1966-67' by Michael Smyth.
2024-09-06 19:30 - 22:00 | BTL North Filton, St Teresa’s Church Hall, 71 Gloucester Road, North Filton, BS34 7PL, United Kingdom
Michael Smyth’s presentation covers steam in the Leeds, Bradford, and Wakefield areas plus the North East. Featured are the last working examples of many classes eg Jubilees, B1s, 2-6-4Ts, WDs, Q6s, & J27s.

Varamis Rail ‘Faster, Cheaper, Greener’
2024-09-05 19:30 - 22:00 | MKY Milton Keynes, Network Rail - The Quadrant: MK, Elder Gate, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK9 1EN, United Kingdom
Phil Read, Chief Executive Officer of Varamis Rail, gives a talk about The UK’s first high speed rail logistics company, providing fast, zero emission linehaul logistics services.

‘Those Were the Years Those Were’ Part 2, by Michael Reade, 3rd September 2024
2024-09-03 19:00 - 21:30 | WFD Watford, Beechen Grove Baptist Church, Clarendon Road, Watford, WD17 1JJ, United Kingdom
Please note there is no meeting in August!
‘Those Were the Years Those Were’ Part 2 (With Apologies to Geoff Plumb).
Michael was able, during extensive business travel by rail and road in the U.K., to capture the rail scene in colour from 1960 to the end of mainline steam in 1968. Opportunities arose during lunchtimes and summer evenings in various industrial locations, and together with a London Midland Southern Area lineside permit used in various exotic locations such as Bushey, he photographed many freight workings as well as the dying embers of steam hauled passenger trips. He eschewed the madding crowds in the North West as he preferred to be the last shutter clicker standing.
Please note this is a physical meeting to be held at our usual venue at Beechen Grove Baptist Church, doors open from 18:30.

Transforming the West Highland Line
2024-08-29 19:30 - 22:00 | Virtual Meeting, Virtual Meeting, United Kingdom
Former Society Chairman and British Rail Business Manager Highland Callum MacLeod joins us to tell of the challenges that faced the West Highland Line in the early 1980s, and the changes, upgrades and transformation that followed in meeting and overcoming these through that decade. These included the introduction of RETB signalling and DMUs, together with the “Jacobite” steam trains, and the opening/reopening of Loch Awe, Loch Eil Outward Bound and Falls of Cruachan stations.
For this virtual event, you will 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 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.

Visit to the East Lancashire Railway
2024-08-15
Please note the change of date.

Visit to Bradford Model Engineers
2024-08-14 18:30 - 20:30

Sheffield Branch : Observation at Chesterfield
2024-08-14 12:00 - 16:00 | Chesterfield Station, United Kingdom
You are welcome to join members of the Sheffield Branch at Platform 2/3 from 12:00.

Afternoon Observation Meeting - Eastleigh Station
2024-08-13 13:00 - 18:00 | Eastleigh Station, United Kingdom

Visit to the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway
2024-08-11 | Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway
This is the Hitchin & Welwyn Garden City branch summer outing.
An all-day visit to the C&PRR with added “extras” including the opportunity to visit the Princes Risborough North Signal Box. This is a “red timetable” day with both steam and diesel services operating. Currently the plan is to meet at Chinnor about 10:00-10:15 in order to take the 10:45 service to Princes Risborough. If travelling by national rail services it is also practicable to join the group at Princes Risborough – let the Branch Secretary know when making your booking. Latest date for confirming and paying for your booking – 30 July.
Places must be booked in advance – no on-the-day participation. Payment details are shown in the July issue of “Railway Ramblings” (the branch newsletter).
Confirm your place(s) with the Branch Secretary, Dave Elsdon, by phone (01438 714277) or email to Hitchin@rcts.org.uk.

Lineside Observation Bletchley Station
2024-08-01 18:00 - 21:00 | Bletchley Station, Sherwood Drive, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK3 6DZ, United Kingdom
Thursday 1st August 2024
Lineside Observation Bletchley Station
Itinerary

Travel by own transport to Bletchley station and meet on the platform from 18:00 for a couple of hours lineside observation.

Another Western European Miscellany
2024-07-30 14:00 - 16:30 | HTC Welwyn, Digswell Village Church Hall, Welwyn, Hertfordshire, AL6 0DH, United Kingdom
A Hitchin & Welwyn Garden City Branch presentation by Rob Freeman.
I will be showing a variety of themes from various countries from my collection of modern traction photos that I have been taking for the last 40 years or so. There will be scenes from France, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria and Switzerland. There are also sections on liveries, Eurosheds, unusual workings and number curiosities. Exact topics shown will depend on the time and the wishes of the audience!
The picture shows CC1451 at Richemont doing the sort of job it was designed for, hauling a heavy train of iron ore in 1990. The 102 locos of this class were very powerful, but had a maximum speed of only 60 kph, which was their downfall in later years.
Rob Freeman
Doors open 13:30
