MKY Milton Keynes

Christian Wolmar, transport writer, broadcaster and author of numerous books, returns to present on his new book, the story of the railwaymen who rebuilt the lines after D Day, allowing the invasion of Northwestern Europe to be successfully completed.

Simon Lomax, Principal Inspector of Rail Accidents at the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, joins us to explain the work of the RAIB.

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.

Fraser Pithie gives a reflection on British Railways, privatisation and a look at where today’s railway is and which route it is likely to take over the next decade.

Peter Brabham from the Monmouthshire Railway Society will present images from Cardiff based photographers John Wiltshire and Derek Chaplin in the 1960s.

Joint meeting with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Mike Corbett gives a talk on the history and development of Birmingham based ‘Vintage Trains’ to Train Operating Company status, together with the Tyseley collection of steam and diesel locomotives, including the application of modern technology to heritage stock to enable main line operation.

Tom Ingall from the Great Central Railway gives a talk on possibly the UK’s biggest heritage railway project, the re-unification of the two halves of the preserved section of the Great Central and the connection with Network Rail.

Back by popular demand, our first face to face meeting of the season welcomes multi award winning photographer Jack Boskett, who has an extensive catalogue of railway images in his portfolio and regularly travels across the UK to follow different excursions and special train movements.