Summer 2022 Newsletter
Railway Correspondence & Travel Society Solent Branch
Summer 2022 Newsletter
Following the re-establishment of physical meetings in September 2021 a year has passed by in which the Branch has had two AGM’s (the first being an interim to replace the usual meeting in January each year) together with 2022 meeting. At both of these the key topic was that of dwindling numbers attending and the resulting decrease income from attendance fees and from attendance at exhibitions and the sale of society publications and second-hand books. Sitting at my computer a full year on little has regretfully changed. On the upside the uncertainty of the meeting venue seems to have been resolved for the forthcoming season, and we will continue to hold meetings every third Wednesday at the Railway Institute, Romsey Road, Eastleigh. What will happen after May 2023 is, at this stage, uncertain however we intend to carry on. It is with this positive reflection that I am very pleased to announce that the Solent Branch will once again start their new season on 21/09/22.
With the reduction in income, it was agreed at the 2022 AGM that the newsletter and programme should be distributed, where possible, by electronic means and therefore reducing the printing and postage costs dramatically. As you have previously provided the society with an email address all future branch newsletters and programmes, together with AGM papers will be sent vis this method. There are a number of branch members who have not provided an email, and these will continue to be sent via hard copy however, if you are prepared to receive future correspondence electronically, please let me have an email address by return.
The programme for the first few months of the 2022/2023 season looks like this:
21/09/22 – Steve Bigley will present an illustrated talk on steam charters - “Steam from the Lineside”.
19/10/22 – “Transport of the Isle of Man” will be the subject of David Mead’s presentation. 16/11/22 – Philip Haines will enlighten us with an illustrated talk on Peterborough & Werrington.
21/12/22 – Members Night – A chance for members to take the floor for 15 minutes and show a range of slides/digital photographs from their own collections. A festive buffet will be provided by the Branch for those attending.
The remainder of the programme will be confirmed in the Winter newsletter (scheduled for release just before Christmas).
All meetings will be announced in the Railway Observer and on the Society’s website (www.rcts.org.uk)
As many of you will know the Solent Branch attends a number of local exhibitions each year which gives us the opportunity sell books and promote the Society. Unfortunately, the impact of COVID has reduced our attendance to one single day back in July 2022 when we were present at the Southampton Model Railway exhibition at Barton Peveril College, Eastleigh. This was a re-arranged event following the cancellation of their January two day event. Attendance at the event was well
down on previous years and our net income was virtually nil. However, without being too negative we did manage to sell some society publications along with a handful of second-hand books. Our location in the main hall was not our usual one and it was difficult to display books as well interacting with visitors to the event. Thankfully our invitation to the January 2023 includes a larger space back in the corridor where we have fared far better in previous years!
On the railway front I cannot report as much of my time is spent working and I have managed to squeeze only one UK rail-tour earlier this year (BLS – “The Ore no more”). As far as overseas trips I did spend a week with the family in Turkey in early June – this being my only trip outside the UK since June 2019!! It seems a lifetime ago that I was travelling around eastern Europe however this will be remedied next year!
On the domestic front the branch held two observations events back in June (Eastleigh – 11 members attending) and July (Reading – 4 members attending). Both events were interesting with the star of the June evening being 69004 on the Mountfield, and a stone ‘jumbo’ train with two Class 59’s being the stars of the July afternoon/evening.
As far as interest locally is concerned Arlington works continues to repaint a variety of motive power and stock and the Airport sidings continue to operate as a storage area for new SWR Class 701 units.
Solent Branch visit to Arlington Works – 01/10/22
Following discussions at the AGM in January 2022 it was agreed that the branch should enquire to see if it would be possible visit to the works. This has been booked on Saturday 1 October 2022 @ 10:00am. Meet at the Campbell Road entrance @ 09:45am. Stout footwear should be worn. Photography is allowed but only for personal records – no social media or mainstream publication. Fee: £10.00. Bookings to myself as soon as possible – only 8 spaces remain as at 31/08/22. Bookings close 17/09/22.
The next newsletter, due out around Christmas, will include details of the programme from January – May 2023 plus the observation events in June & July. One date I can confirm is the AGM which will be held at 18:45pm ahead of the monthly meeting on 18/01/23 thus reducing the cost of an additional room hire fee.
Members are very welcome to bring along guests/colleagues to the meetings which are held in conjunction The Watercress Line – Southampton & Waterside group.
Important web links:
RCTS – www.rcts.org.uk
The Watercress Line – www.watercressline.co.uk Regards and stay safe.
John Godfrey
Chair, RCTS Solent Branch