North East [NEA]
Welcome to the North East Branch in Darlington. Darlington was in right at the very beginning of railways in England, being one end of the first public railway to use steam locomotives. The Stockton and Darlington Railway opened in 1825. Coal mines in the area needed to get their products to ships at Stockton and horse drawn waggons (two ‘g’s!) were not able to carry the rapidly increasing weights being demanded. Whilst coal was carried in wagons hauled by steam locomotives, passenger coaches were still hauled by horses until 1833 when carriages hauled by the steam locomotives were introduced. The S&DR was instrumental in determining the national – indeed international - standard track gauge of 4ft 8.5 inches, or 1435mm in modern day speak – that measurement being the width between the wheels of the horse drawn waggons running on waggonways, which preceded steel rail railways. Moving on, Darlington was established as a Locomotive Works, in 1863, for the North Eastern Railway turning out locomotives to the design of George Stephenson, Sir Vincent Raven and, once the London North Eastern Railway had been established, many of Sir Nigel Gresley’s designs were constructed at Darlington. Following nationalisation in 1947, Darlington was the works of choice for many Riddles Standard design.
The RCTS North East Branch was established in the late 1940s, initially in Newcastle, later bringing in the second meeting centre in Darlington. At present the Newcastle end of the operation is ‘out of service’, with indoor meetings centred on Darlington a short distance from the station.
Please see below for details of our next few meetings. We look forward to seeing you if you are able to come along.
Venues
Click the venue name to see more
Contacts
Fixtures Secretary – Darlington
tel: 01609 772115
email: darlingtonfixtures@rcts.org.uk
Brick House Farm, Danby Wiske Road, Northallerton, North Yorks DL6 2NT
Meeting reports
13th May 2021 · The Old Gentleman’s Saloon from “The Railway Children“
Presenter: Chris Lawson Chris Lawson concluded Newcastle’s season of talks in fine style when he presented, The Old Gentleman’s Saloon from “The Railway Children” on Thursday 13th May to an…
Read More8th April 2021 · Cromford and High Peak Railway, Part Two
Presenter: Brian Sullivan Our eleven months’ extra wait for this talk was very worthwhile when 52 members and guests finally enjoyed Brian Sullivan’s “return” to Newcastle on Thursday 8th April…
Read More11th March 2021 · How I Became A Railway Author
Presenter: Colin Alexander Colin Alexander did Newcastle proud on Thursday 11th March by volunteering at the E.G.M. to take over as Branch Secretary, following which he presented, “How I Became…
Read More11th February 2021 · The Rise, Wobble and Fall of the Commercial Light Railway, Part One
Presenter: George Falkner George Falkner presented “The Rise, Wobble and Fall of the Commercial Light Railway, Part One” to a 60 strong Zoom audience based in Newcastle on Thursday 11th…
Read More14th January 2021 · From Stone Blocks to Apps – The Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership
Presenter: Fiona Forsythe (TVCRP) TVCRP’s Fiona Forsythe resumed Newcastle’s talks on Thursday 14th January presenting, “From Stone Blocks to Apps – The Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership,” to a 40+…
Read More13th March 2020 · The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway
Presenter: Noel Coates Noel Coates presented “The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway” to a Newcastle audience of 22 on Thursday 12th March. Starting with the large, tiled map of the system…
Read MoreNewcastle 13th February 2020 · Prince of Wales – Brand New Steam for the 21st Century
Presenter: David Elliott David Elliott, the A1SLT’s Director of Engineering, presented “Prince of Wales – Brand New Steam for the 21st Century” at Newcastle on 13th February to the season’s…
Read MoreNewcastle 9th January 2020 · North East Photographers Visit Scotland, Part One, Newcastle to Aberdeen
Presenter: Richard Barber Richard Barber presented North East Photographers Visit Scotland, Part One, Newcastle to Aberdeen, to a Newcastle audience of 28 on Thursday 9th January. Using images mainly from…
Read MoreNewcastle 12th December 2019 · Stately Trains and the Autocar
Presenter: Stephen Middleton Stephen Middleton, Chairman of the NER 1903 Electric Autocar Trust, presented “Stately Trains and the Autocar” to 24 members and visitors at Newcastle on 12th December. Starting…
Read MoreNewcastle 14th November 2019 · A Record for Posterity: Underground Haulage at Thoresby Colliery, Nottinghamshire 2015
Presenter: Colin Mountford Colin Mountford presented “A Record for Posterity: Underground Haulage at Thoresby Colliery, Nottinghamshire, 2015” at November 14th’s meeting in Newcastle, having been privileged to make an underground…
Read MoreNewcastle 10th October 2019 · Rail Baltica – a Look at the Railways and Developments in Eastern Europe
Presenter: Phil Kirkland On Thursday 10th October, Phil Kirkland spent his final evening before retirement after 47 years’ continual railway service presenting “Rail Baltica – a look at the railways…
Read MoreNewcastle 3rd October 2019 · Newcastle Branch AGM and Members’ Night
Seventeen members attended the North East Branch (Newcastle) A.G.M. on Thursday 4th October, 30% more than last year. Newcastle’s and Darlington’s independent administrations have functioned successfully over the last twelve…
Read MoreNewcastle 12th September 2019 · An Introduction to the Maryport and Carlisle Railway
Presenter: Mike Peascod The Cumbrian Railways Association’s Mike Peascod began Newcastle’s indoor season on 12th September in fine style when he presented, “An Introduction to the Maryport and Carlisle Railway”…
Read MoreNewcastle 9th May 2019 · A DMU Miscellany
Presenter: Robert Warburton Robert Warburton’s talk, “A D.M.U. Miscellany”, most ably concluded the Newcastle Branch indoor meeting programme on Thursday 9th May. As the prime movers for the country’s secondary…
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