Bristol Branch

5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe on the up Bristolian at Bristol Parkway in 2010. Image credit Paul Udey
5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe on the up Bristolian at Bristol Parkway in 2010. Image credit Paul Udey

Welcome to the Bristol Branch page of the RCTS website.

We meet once a month from September to May, on the first Friday, at St. Teresa’s Church Hall, 71 Gloucester Road North, Filton, BS34 7PL, next to Esso Tesco.

Our meetings generally take the form of slide shows, videos or talks with lively discussion on all aspects of railway history and operational practice.

Our members' interests range from the pioneering years of the railway through to the present day, in the UK and overseas.

 

 

 

 

We have an extensive selection of new and second-hand railway books on sale at every meeting, at bargain prices.

 

Our current programme is detailed below. All are welcome to join us and to share their interest.

 

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What's on

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Venues

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BTL North Filton

Address
St Teresa’s Church Hall, 71 Gloucester Road
North Filton, BS34 7PL
United Kingdom
Phone
0117 983 3938
Website
https://www.stteresasfilton.org.uk/
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Contacts

Chairman
Brian Arman

 

Secretary

Paul Udey
tel: 01225 427779
email: bristol@rcts.org.uk
18 Hensley Road, Bath, BA2 2DR

Branch Observation Day at Stafford on 11th June 2026. 

Despite the generally wet weather, several members spent an enjoyable day at Stafford station on 11th June. From mid-afternoon, a bridge strike on the Trent valley line near Nuneaton unfortunately caused major disruption, with services being diverted via the Wolverhampton area, resulting in many delays and a few cancellations.  A full report of the day's observations by our member John Baxter can be found here.

    11th June 2026 Stafford. 807009 passes on the up main line with the 10.43 Liverpool Lime St. to Euston. Image credit: Stewart Jolly
    11th June 2026 Stafford. Brightening the very dull weather, 807010 passes with the 10.43 Euston to Liverpool Lime St. Image credit: Stewart Jolly
    66433 4M27 Coatbridge-Daventry. Image credit: Dale Robertson
    11th June 2026 Stafford. Traction highlight of the day, Locomotive Services 37667 and D1645 (47830) with 5K47, 09.42 Eastleigh Arlington to Crewe HS. Image credit: Stewart Jolly
    11th June 2026 Stafford. 90004/049 head 4M63, 09.12 Felixstowe Nth. FLT to Garston FLT. Image credit: Stewart Jolly
    11th June 2026 Stafford. Lumo 222601 passes working the 08.50 Stirling to Euston. 805009 stands at the platform, forming the rear portion of Avanti's 12.32 Chester to Euston. Image credit: Stewart Jolly
    11th June 2026 Stafford. Snap! 807006 working the 15.43 Liverpool Lime St. to Euston passes 807004 at the platform with the 14.43 Liverpool to Euston, delayed due to bridge strike near Nuneaton. The 14.43 had reversed near Polesworth and returned to Stafford for diversion via Wolverhampton area. Image credit: Stewart Jolly
    66543 4M52 London Gateway- Widnes. Image credit: Dale Robertson
    Avanti West Coast 805013+805003 call at Stafford on 11th June with the 12.48 Holyhead-Euston. Due to a serious bridge strike at Bedworth which closed the WCML the train terminated at Nuneaton. Image credit: Paul Udey
    West Midlands Trains 350123 departs Stafford with the 14.34 Birmingham New Street to Liverpool Lime Street train, 11th June 2026. Image credit: Paul Udey
    90007/011 4L67 Trafford Park- Felixstowe. Image credit: Dale Robertson
    66096 Trafford Park Euro - London Gateway. Image credit: Dale Robertson

Yatton and Taunton, 1st June 2026

    1st June 2026, Yatton. 37418 5Z31 Derby RTC-Penzance. Image credit: Dale Robertson
    1st June 2026, Yatton. 37418 5Z31 Derby RTC-Penzance. Image credit: Dale Robertson
    1st June 2026, Taunton. 221107 1M41 Paignton- Manchester P. Image credit: Dale Robertson
    1st June 2026, Taunton. 800011 2C73 Bristol TM - Exeter St D. Image credit: Dale Robertson
    1st June 2026, Taunton. 50049 0V50 Kidderminster- Bishops Lydeard. Image credit: Dale Robertson

Traction Variety at Westbury, 21st May 2026

    21st May 2026 Westbury. 70811. Image credit: Dale Robertson
    21st May 2026 Westbury. 70802 6M40 Westbury-Stud Farm, and 70806 . Image credit: Dale Robertson
    21st May 2026 Westbury. 158750 2M19 Westbury-Swindon . Image credit: Dale Robertson
    21st May 2026 Westbury. 70802 6M40 Westbury-Stud Farm. Image credit: Dale Robertson
    21st May 2026 Westbury. 59102 6A77 Merehead-Theale, and 70806. Image credit: Dale Robertson
    21st May 2026 Westbury. 59005 6V62 Southampton Up-Westbury Tarmac. Image credit: Dale Robertson
    21st May 2026 Westbury. 60099 6M51 Merehead- Quainton Road. Image credit: Dale Robertson

Christmas at the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway

On 29th December 2025, No. 6880 'Betton Grange' awaits departure from Toddington with the 12.15 Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse, as 4079 'Pendennis Castle' approaches with the 12.15 ex Cheltenham en route for Broadway. Image credit: Chris Brown.
At Cheltenham Racecourse on 29th December 2025, the station lights add to the late afternoon atmosphere as no. 4079 'Pendennis Castle' prepares to depart with the 15.25 to Broadway. Image credit: Chris Brown.

RCTS Members' Weekend 2025

The annual Society Members' Weekend for 2025 was held on 24th - 26th October, based in Darlington. Beamish Museum was visited on the Saturday, and 'Locomotion', Shildon on the Sunday afternoon.

..but first some architectural contrasts photographed while travelling on a Day Ranger Ticket on Friday 24th:

Ashington. 158853 awaits departure with the 11.00 to Newcastle, 24th October 2025. Image credit: Stewart Jolly
Middlesbrough station main building. 24th October 2025. Image Credit: Stewart Jolly
North Eastern Railway tiled map, Middlesbrough station down platform. 24th October 2025. Image credit: Stewart Jolly
Saltburn. 156480 awaits departure with the 13.59 to Bishop Auckland. The 156 carries a livery commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Royal Air Force. 24th October 2025. Image Credit: Stewart Jolly
Former station building, Saltburn. 24th October 2025. Image credit: Stewart Jolly
Darlington station - at the top of the bank. 24th October 2025. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

Beamish Museum, Saturday 25th October:

Sunderland Corporation tramcar no. 16, originally built by Dick, Kerr & Co, Preston in 1900, is pictured passing through the ‘1900s Town’ area of the Beamish museum site. 25th October 2025. Image Credit: Stewart Jolly
Sheffield Corporation tramcar no. 264, originally built in 1907 by the United Electric Car Company, Preston, heads through the '1900s Town'. 25th October 2025. Image Credit: Stewart Jolly
Beamish museum’s ‘Pockerley Waggonway’ features a ‘Puffing Billy’ replica in realistic, workaday condition, providing rides on a short length of track. 25th October 2025. Image credit: Stewart Jolly
Sunderland Corporation tramcar no. 16, Beamish. 25th October 2025. Image Credit: Stewart Jolly
Power controller, Sunderland Corporation tramcar no. 16, Beamish, 25th October 2025. Good, solid, Lancastrian engineering! Image Credit: Stewart Jolly
Seaham Harbour Dock Co. no. 18 'Lewin', built 1877 by Stephen Lewin & Co, Poole. Photographed in the engine shed at Beamish, 25th October 2025. Image Credit: Stewart Jolly
'Rowley Station', Beamish. 25th October 2025. Image Credit: Stewart Jolly

'Locomotion', Shildon, Sunday 26th October:

Photographs by Stewart Jolly

Activity at Swindon, 7th October 2025.

An interesting selection of workings at Swindon, including diversions due to an engineering blockade at Gloucester.  Recorded by Dale Robertson on 7th October 2025.

66057, 6V92 Corby -Margam. Image credit: Dale Robertson
43357, 3Z21 Derby RTC- Bristol Kingsland Rd. Rear power car ex XC . Image credit: Dale Robertson
66653, 6B33 Theale-Robeston. Image credit: Dale Robertson
66421, 4V44 Daventry-Wentloog. Image credit: Dale Robertson
66190, 6CO3 Northolt-Severnside. Image credit: Dale Robertson
66096, 3J41 Swindon T -Swindon T via B&H. Image credit: Dale Robertson

The Greatest Gathering, Derby, 1st - 3rd August 2025.

On 1st August, Bristol Branch member Chris Brown and Branch Chairman Brian Arman represented the Society on its stand at the Greatest Gathering in Derby.  Some time was available to browse the exhibits, during which Chris took these photographs, showing what a wide-ranging and well-supported event it was.

The Greatest Gathering, Derby, 1st August 2025. Image credit: Chris Brown
The Greatest Gathering, Derby, 1st August 2025. Image credit: Chris Brown
The Greatest Gathering, Derby, 1st August 2025. Image credit: Chris Brown
The Greatest Gathering, Derby, 1st August 2025. Image credit: Chris Brown
The Greatest Gathering, Derby, 1st August 2025. Image credit: Chris Brown
The Greatest Gathering, Derby, 1st August 2025. Image credit: Chris Brown
The Greatest Gathering, Derby, 1st August 2025. Image credit: Chris Brown
The Greatest Gathering, Derby, 1st August 2025. Image credit: Chris Brown
The Greatest Gathering, Derby, 1st August 2025. Image credit: Chris Brown

Branch Observation Day at Nuneaton on 15th July 2025. 

A drizzly start to the day was brightened by the appearance of 20007 and 20205 light engine, working the first of two return trips from Kings Norton via the Camp Hill line, which were assumed to have been for route learning. Having arrived 31 minutes early, the veterans are pictured departing from platform 2 as 0T31, nominally 12.14 to Kings Norton, about 40 minutes ahead of their booked time. Image credit: Stewart Jolly
68004 passes with 4M27, the 05.33 Coatbridge to Daventry International Railfreight Terminal. Image credit: Dale Robertson
The most interesting working of the day unfortunately coincided with a torrential downpour, though the spray and the use of monochrome have produced an image with good dramatic impact. 57003 heads 5M43, the 10.19 West coast Railways ECS from Southall to Carnforth. Behind the 57 are 37668 and 47484, while just visible at the rear is 33207. Image credit: Dale Robertson
By mid-afternoon the light had improved considerably. Running 17 minutes late, 390044 approaches the north end of the station at speed with the 11.36 Glasgow Central to Euston. Image credit: Stewart Jolly
All observed workings between Euston and Chester/North Wales were worked by class 805s. 805001/010 pass through with the 15.00 Euston to Holyhead. 805010 would detach at Chester and form the 17.32 thence back to Euston. Image credit: Dale Robertson
Appropriately-named 66750 ‘Bristol Panel Signal Box’ approaches from the Leicester direction with 6G16, the 15.15 Cliffe Hill Stud Farm to Bescot. The train is running ‘wrong line’ to pass a stationary intermodal train occupying the usual westbound line through platform 6. Image credit: Dale Robertson
Carrying its ‘Railway 200’ branding and symbolic running number 390200 on the cab side, 390016 passes with the 14.53 Euston to Manchester. Image credit: Stewart Jolly
10 minutes behind the engineers' working, 66709 approaches with 4M23, the 10.28 Felixstowe North to Hams Hall intermodal. Image credit: Dale Robertson
One of the few freights to be routed via the down main line, 66514 heads 4M56, the 12.56 London Gateway to Garston. Image credit: Dale Robertson
70017 arrives with 4M61, the 12.56 Southampton MCT to Trafford Park. Image credit: Dale Robertson
196006 is about to depart with the 16.37 to Leamington Spa, as 70017 restarts 4M61, the 12.56 Southampton MCT to Trafford Park freightliner, having paused for a crew change. Image credit: Stewart Jolly
70017 continues its smoky departure with 4M61, as 390134 speeds through with the 15.33 Euston to Manchester Piccadilly. It is interesting to note that the liner train was booked to pass through Piccadilly approximately an hour and a half after the arrival of the Pendolino. Image credit: Stewart Jolly

Meeting reports

6 March 2026, ‘A Short AGM followed by – ‘Midland Blue – Midland Railway Lines in the 1980s’ by Stewart Jolly.

By BTL Bristol | 2026-03-25

Our 6th March meeting opened with a short AGM where chairman Brian Arman reported on another successful year with interesting meetings which were well attended. During the last few weeks…

6 February 2026, ‘The Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Trust, 1979 to Date’ by Mark Bladwell.

By BTL Bristol | 2026-03-25

George Newnes, the publisher, had a holiday home in Lynmouth.  He financed a narrow-gauge railway from Barnstaple to Lynton. The line opened in May 1898. In 1923 the line was…

2 January 2026, ‘The Rise and Fall of Bristol Bath Road Depot’ by Roy Kethro.

By BTL Bristol | 2026-03-25

For our first meeting of 2026 Roy Kethro presented, ‘The Rise and Fall of Bristol Bath Road Disel Depot’.  In the nineteen thirties the GWR built the depot just west…

19 December 2025 – Christmas Buffet & Member’s Evening

By BTL Bristol | 2026-03-25

For our Christmas Buffet and Members Evening, Jacky & Reg Wood provided an excellent festive spread. Brian Arman started the evening off with slides of former GW & LMS steam…

5 December 2025, ‘The Swansea Vale Railway, by Professor John Miles.

By BTL Bristol | 2026-01-11

Charles Henry Smith and Sterling Benson proposed a railway starting at Swansea travelling northwards. The initial surveys were carried out in 1836 and 1840, the bill passed through parliament in…

7 November 2025, ‘That Was The Year That Was 1966, by Geoff Plumb.

By BTL Bristol | 2026-01-11

We welcomed Geoff for his fifth presentation. He started around the Sheffield area with several photos of LMS Royal Scots and Black 5s between Sheffield and Nottingham.  His presentation included…

3 October 2025, ‘The Adavnced Passenger Train’, by Kit Spackman.

By BTL Bristol | 2026-01-11

In the early 1970’s Kit was a key engineer in the development of a high-speed train (APT-P) to run on the ECML and the WCML. To be able to traverse…

5 September 2025, ‘South Wales Railways in the 21st Centuary by Stuart Warr.

By BTL Bristol | 2026-01-11

On 5th September Stuart Warr presented, ‘South Wales Railways in the 21st Century’. Stuart is a prolific and a very accomplished photographer and he was able to show us only…

2 May 2025, ‘Every Picture Tells a Story’ by John Baxter.

By BTL Bristol | 2026-01-11

John introduced himself with an old picture of the LNER station at Huntingdon where he first became interested in trains. The first locomotive that he remembered was Gresley A4 ‘Mallard’…

4 April 2025 ‘Gloucester to Gloucester’ by Brian Arman

By BTL Bristol | 2026-01-11

Gloucester to Gloucester via Bristol, The S & D Railway, The Southern and London presented by Brian Armen   The speaker booked for our April meeting was unable to travel,…

Links to Photographic Gallery