TVY Didcot

We are building a working steam locomotive as a National Memorial Engine, recreating a Remembrance link established after the Great War and lost in the 1960s. None of this type of express passenger locomotive – the London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) ‘Patriot’ class - survived when steam traction ended in the 60s on British…

The Somerset & Dorset Railway originally ran from Burnham-on-Sea to Wimborne, linking the Bristol and English Channels. In 1874 an extension opened from Evercreech Junction over the Mendip Hills to link with the Midland Railway at Bath which immediately became the main line. Passenger trains included through expresses from the Midlands and North to the…

Significant investment over recent years has radically changed the face of the Great Western, a railway so rich in history that parts have been considered worthy of UNESCO World Heritage status. Setting the scene with a brief look at today's railway, this talk ranges widely across the route, blending aspects of the speaker's fifty-year western…

A personal retrospective looking back over the last 50 years to date at the ‘Big Railway’, Main Line Steam, the maturing Preservation scene and with a little infrastructure and Overseas thrown in.

Please note that this is an afternoon Meeting Back in October 2019 Chris gave us Part 1 of this talk.  We are pleased that following an extended break due to Covid Chris is now coming back to give us Part 2 of this talk.  In Chris' first talk he took us on the Somerset and…

The presentation will initially look at how Cross Channel Train Ferries were first introduced during WW1 to move Railway Equipment to France. We will the look at the use in WW2 following commercial introduction of the Harwich Zeebrugge  and Dover Calais Train Ferries between the wars. There will also be coverage of British railway activity…

When Harry Roberts was appointed as Swindon Works Manager in the early 1970's many feared that this may be the end of Swindon Works.  However Harry was impressed with the capacity and skills available in the works, and set about finding new work for the works to undertake.  This included building small cabin cruiser boats, overhauling Bristol…

Part II of the North Staffs talk covers the line from Derby to Uttoxeter and then onwards to Stoke.  We then continue to Kidsgrove via the Harecastle diversions, and then run via Alsager to Crewe.  

Back in October 2019 Chris gave us Part 1 of this talk.  We are pleased that following an extended break due to Covid Chris is now coming back to give us Part 2 of this talk.  In Chris' first talk he took us on the Somerset and Dorset Railway from Bath Green Park to Evercreech…

The story of miniature railways from 7.25" up to and including the well-known and ever popular 15" gauge lines... fascinating tales, and a little different - but there's so much to see!  The motto of the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch railway (‘Multum in Parvo’ – ‘Much in Little’) says it all really.  These may be…