The Railway Correspondence & Travel Society

"Rail Days in Humberside and North Lincolnshire" by Dick Crane
2026-05-12 19:30 - 22:00 (Europe/London) | CBR Fulbourn, Cambridge, The Swifts, Haggis Gap, Fulbourn, Cambridge, CB21 5HD, United Kingdom

Against All Odds… Rebuilding the Welsh Highland Railway
2026-05-13 19:00 - 22:00 | SWL Radyr, Cardiff, Old Church Rooms / Hen Ysgoldy'r Eglwys, Park Road, Radyr, Cardiff, CF15 8DF, United Kingdom
For our May meeting, David Waldren will be giving what promises to be a fascinating talk on one of the largest railway projects in Wales in recent years, the rebuilding of the Welsh Highland Railway from Porthmadog to Caernarfon.
Doors open at 7 for a 7:30 start and our preloved bookstall will be available for you to get that vital addition to your library. We will also serving complimentary teas and coffees at half time, when you can also purchase a competitively priced Kit Kat

Here, There and Everywhere (evening meeting)
2026-05-18 19:00 - 21:30 | NHN Northampton – Weston Favell, Weston Favell Parish Hall, Booth Lane South, Northampton, NN3 3EP, United Kingdom
This event is not at the usual time, it is an evening meeting starting at 7pm.

The Seaton Tramway
2026-05-18 19:30 - 22:00 | MHD Cox Green, Cox Green Community Centre, Highfield Lane, Cox Green, Maidenhead, SL6 3AX, United Kingdom
Closed by BR in 1966, the branch became a tramway in 1970. The talk will cover the route and the trams and include a trip up the line with one of the drivers
The Zoom ticket link for this meeting will be available nearer the date of the event.

TVY - With Lance King in Ulster The Great Northern Line : 1957 – 1965
2026-05-19 19:00 - 21:30 | TVY Didcot, Didcot Civic Hall, Britwell Road, Didcot, OX11 7JN, United Kingdom
presented by Leslie McAllister

Euston Station from 1833
2026-05-20 19:30 - 22:00 | SOE Eastleigh, Junction Church (formerly Eastleigh Railway Institute), 2 Romsey Road, Eastleigh, SO50 9FE, United Kingdom

NEA Branch - Flying Scotsman in America and Beyond
2026-05-21 19:00 - 21:30 | NEA Darlington, Darlington Cricket Club, South Terrace, Darlington, DL1 5JD, United Kingdom
Presented by Richard Hinchliffe

Surrey Branch - East West Rail
2026-05-21 19:15 - 21:30 | SRY Woking, Woking United Reform Church, White Rose Lane, Woking, GU22 7HA, United Kingdom
East West Rail
Stuart Edwards – Engagement Manager Business, Industry and Academia.

WRD - A Tale of Two Stations
2026-05-21 19:30 - 22:00 | WRD Shipley, Saltaire Methodist Church, Saltaire Road, Shipley, BD18 3HJ, United Kingdom
Philip Lockwood explores the replacement station for Morley and the new station for White Rose Centre.

The Broad Gauge Way Gang - Didcot Railway Centre Saturday 23rd May 2026
2026-05-23 09:30 - 16:00 | Didcot Railway Centre, Station Road, Didcot, OX11 7NJ
Have you ever wondered what life was like in the mid-Victorian era working on the broad gauge
GWR? For a unique opportunity at Didcot Railway Centre (DRC). Would you like to experience the
reality of working for a day on some GWR broad gauge trackwork in a near authentic 1880’s railway
setting?
On Saturday 23 rd May 2026 a limited group of RCTS members (under the supervision of Didcot
Railway Centre staff) will be given the opportunity to carry out some basic light maintenance work
on and around the DRC broad gauge railway line. We will be based for this day in the DRC broad
gauge P.way cabin, complete with (weather permitting) coal fired heating and tea brewing facilities.
Starting at 9:30am, DRC will provide training for us to try our hand at carrying out a few (not to
strenuous) maintenance tasks on their authentic GWR broad gauge track layout. DRC will provide all
the tools necessary to undertake the work. As DRC will be open to the public on this date, it is
suggested that suitable 1880’s railway staff clothing should be worn (i.e. heavy work boots, large
black trousers with braces, white shirt (without collar), black jacket, waistcoat, and dark flat cap etc).
A donation of £5 per person will be taken on the to cover the DRC costs for basic materials used (i.e.
Coal).
As this date (23 rd May) is 134 th anniversary of the removal of the final section of GWR broad gauge
track in the South West of England. DRC may also provide some appropriate provisions (similar to
those provided to track workers back in 1892).
While on the site it should be possible to view other projects currently being undertaken, including
the reconstruction of the GWR Heyford station building (originally constructed is 1850).
For further details and to book your place for this day, please contact the Thames Valley Branch
Fixtures Secretary (Andrew Jenkins) by email at tv-fixtures@rcts.org.uk

Archive And Library Open Day
2026-05-23 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-28 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-06-03 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-06-09 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-06-20 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-06-25 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-07-01 11:00 - 16:00, 2026-07-07 11:00 - 16:00 and 2 more dates | RCTS Library, Leatherhead Station Approach, Leatherhead, KT22 7SQ, United Kingdom

The Railways of Austria
2026-05-26 14:00 - 16:30 | HTC Welwyn, Digswell Village Church Hall, Welwyn, Hertfordshire, AL6 0DH, United Kingdom
A Hitchin & Welwyn Garden City Branch presentation by Richard Morris.
Details to follow.
Doors open 13:30 for 14:00 start.

Signalling Topics
2026-05-27 19:15 - 21:30 | CHR Bassil Shippam Centre, Tozer Way, St Pancras, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 7LG, United Kingdom
Details to Follow

Milton Keynes Branch Meeting - The Brian Morrison Collection
2026-06-04 19:30 - 22:00 | MKY Milton Keynes, Network Rail - The Quadrant: MK, Elder Gate, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK9 1EN, United Kingdom
Richard Tuplin, editor of Railway Herald, presents a collection of images taken by the late photographer Brian Morrison.

London's Underground Trains of the Past
2026-06-09 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 Brian Hardy.
Details to follow.
Doors open 13:30 for 14:00 start.

Observation Night
2026-06-17 16:00 - 20:00 | Eastleigh Station, United Kingdom

WRD - Sir Thomas Bouch
2026-06-18 19:30 - 22:00 | WRD Shipley, Saltaire Methodist Church, Saltaire Road, Shipley, BD18 3HJ, United Kingdom
His background and history leading up to the Tay Bridge disaster and something of the present Tay Bridge.

Presented by Bill Jagger

An A-Z of Swiss Railways (Part 3)
2026-06-30 14:00 - 16:30 | HTC Welwyn, Digswell Village Church Hall, Welwyn, Hertfordshire, AL6 0DH, United Kingdom
A Hitchin & Welwyn Garden City Branch presentation by Steve Ollive.
Details to follow.
Doors open 13:30 for 14:00 start.

A Plug for Brunel
2026-07-14 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 Colin Brading.
Details to follow.
Doors open at 13:30 for 14:00 start.

Observation day
2026-07-15 08:00 - 17:00
Location to be confirmed.

Freight Trains around Britain in Recent Years
2026-07-20 19:30 - 22:30 | ESX Shenfield, Shenfield Parish Hall, 60 Hutton Road, Shenfield, CM15 8LB, United Kingdom
Our own Geoff Brockett looks out his images of Freight thorougout Britain.

Physical meeting at Shenfield Parish Hall.

Note that as Geoff’s presentation uses 35mm slides this meeting will not be available on Zoom.
