Historical Line Societies
Q2 2026
April to June 2026
Note this calendar is based on information provided as at 18 March 2026. As full details of meetings are not always published a full quarter in advance, up-dates to this calendar will occur periodically. Note Societies often change their events, often on little notice.
- Brighton Circle
Tri-annual Journal ’The Brighton Circular’ (April 2026) now due out
- Caledonian Railway Association
Quarterly Journal ’True Lines’ (April 2026) now due out
Talk season finished - resumes in Autumn
- Cumbrian Railways Association
Quarterly Magazine ‘Cumbrian Railways Journal’ (February 2026) now out
- Friends of Stockton and Darlington Railway
Tri-annual Journal ’The Globe’ (April 2026) due out soon
- Glasgow and South Western Railway Association
Annual Journal, ‘Sou’ West Journal’ is now out
Talk season finished - resumes in Autumn
- Great Central Railway Society
(Venue for all Talks and Events: Farm Road Sports & Social Club, Farm Road, Sheffield save where indicated otherwise)
(Starts 7.30pm)
Quarterly Journal ’Forward’ (March 2026) now out
Saturday 23 May
The 2026 Annual General Meeting
Venue: Chester Quaker Meeting House, Union Walk, Frodsham Street, Chester CH1 3LF
Thursday 2 April
Talk: 'A few more Heritage Lines'
Presented by Ken Grainger
Thursday 7 May
Talk: 'From Worksop to Mansfield by the Midland'
Presented by Chris Booth
Thursday 4 June
Talk: ‘George Hinchcliffe and Flying Scotsman'
Presented by Graeme Wade
- Great Eastern Railway Society
Quarterly Magazine ‘Great Eastern Journal’ (Spring 2026) now out
Quarterly Newsletter ‘Great Eastern News’ (Spring 2026) now out
- Great North of Scotland Railway Association
Quarterly Journal ’The Great North Review’ (February 2026) now out
Details of Spring Meeting to be released shortly
- Great Northern Railway Society
Newsletter: ’Great Northern News’ (March/ April 2026) now out
- Great Western Society -Bristol Local Group
[Note: Society Quarterly Magazine ‘Great Western Echo’ (Spring 2026) now out]
(Venue for all Bristol Talks: BAWA, 589 Southmead Road, Filton, Bristol, starts 7.45pm)
Tuesday 14 April
Talk: ‘Here, There and Roundabout (Doug Tritton's pictures)’
Presented by Brian Arman
Tuesday 12 May
Talk: ‘The World's Oldest Independent Railway Part 2: Revival, Expansion and Heritage (Ffestiniog Railway)’
Presented by Tim Maynard
- Great Western Society - Taunton Local Group
Venue for all meetings: Stoke St Mary Village Hall, near Taunton TA3 5BY, starts 7.30pm
Friday 17 April
Talk: ‘Steam in the 60s’
Presented by Alan Reeve
Friday 22 May
Talk: ‘Travel with a Dorset Man’
Presented by Simon Foote
Friday 19 June
Talk: ‘A Cornish Boy Goes Home’
Presented by Peter Triggs
- Highland Railway Society
Quarterly magazine ‘Highland Railway Journal’ (Spring 2026) now out
- Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Society
Quarterly journal ‘Magazine’ now out
- The LNER Society
Quarterly magazine ‘The LNER Society ‘Journal’ (Spring 2026) now out
- London & North Western Railway Society
Quarterly magazine ‘LNWR Society Journal’ (March 2026) now out
Saturday 11 April:
Event: LNWRS Open Day
Venue: 35 Vine Street, Coventry CV1 5NH
Booking essential. 9am to 4pm
Saturday 25 April
‘The Waverley Gathering’
Venue: The Waverley Hotel, 9 Pedley St, Crewe CW2 7AA, UK
10:00am - 6:00pm
Saturday 9 May:
Event: LNWRS Open Day
Venue: 35 Vine Street, Coventry CV1 5NH
Booking essential. 9am to 4pm
Saturday 13 June:
LNWRS Open Day
Venue: 35 Vine Street, Coventry CV1 5NH
Booking essential. 9am to 4pm
Saturday 28 June: AGM
Society Annual General Meeting
Venue: 35 Vine Street, Coventry CV1 5NH
Times: 11.15am - 1.45pm
- London Underground Railway Society
Monthly magazine ‘Underground News’ (April 2026) now out
Tuesday 5 May
Talk: ‘Photographing the London Underground - The Relentless Pursuit’
Presented by Jason Cross
Venue: Gallery at Alan Baxter, 77 Cowcross Street, London, starts 6.30pm
- M&GN Circle
Monthly Newsletter ‘The Bulletin’ (April 2026) now out
Saturday 25 April
Annual General Meeting
Venue: Methodist Church Hall, London Road, King's Lynn.
Starts 2pm
Saturday 27 June
Summer Meeting
Venue: Whitwell & Reepham Station
Starts 2pm
- Midland Railway Society
Tri-annual magazine ‘Midland Railway Society Journal’ now due out
Saturday 18 April
Annual General Meeting
Venue: Museum of Making, Silk Mill Lane, Derby, DE1 3AF
From 10am
- Monmouthshire Railway Society
Bi-annual magazine ‘Journal’ (March 2026) now out
Thursday 16 April
Talk: ‘Brecon & Merthyr Railway Pt2 (Pontsticill - Bedwas)
Presented by Ken Mumford
Venue: Lysaght Institute, Orb Drive, Newport NP19 0RA, starts 7pm
Thursday 14 May
Talk: ‘50th Anniversary of Western Region HST Introduction’
Presented by Roy Kethro
Venue: Lysaght Institute, Orb Drive, Newport NP19 0RA, starts 7pm
Thursday 18 June
Talk: ‘Railways in South East Monmouthshire’
Presented by Ray Viney
Venue: Lysaght Institute, Orb Drive, Newport NP19 0RA, starts 7pm
- North British Railway Study Group
Tri-annual magazine ‘Journal’ together with Newsletter (March 2026) now out
- North Eastern Railway Association
Quarterly magazine ‘North Eastern Express’ (February 2026) now out
Saturday 11 April
Talk: York Meeting and AGM
Venue: The Bar Convent Living Heritage Centre, 17 Blossom Street, York YO24 1AQ.
Starts 10am
Includes talks:
‘ The Photographic Collection of John Boyes’ by John Midcalf
‘Sir Thomas Bouch - Engineer’ by Bill Jagger
Wednesday 29 April
Talk: Newcastle Meeting
Venue: Newcastle Arts Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne
Starts 1pm
Saturday 2 May
Walk: Seaton Duval
Walk on the road past the former Hartley station and former Avenue Branch gatehouse. After a short road walk join the Avenue branch track-bed, after about a mile join the former colliery line to Seaton Sluice. Turn initially south then east on the road to view remaining abutment of aborted Collywell Bay branch, then north into Seaton Sluice for lunch. Walk back to Seaton Delaval Station. About 10-11 miles total length.
Darlington Meetings (book using the Hopetown website)
- Wednesday 1 April : ‘Darlington Locomotive Works: 60 years since closure’ by Richard Barber
- Saturday 6 June : ‘The Richmond Branch’ by Les Cairnes
- North Staffordshire Railway Study Group
Bi-annual magazine ‘Journal’ now out
Quarterly Newsletter ‘Loop Lines’ (April 2026) now due out
- Somerset and Dorset Railway Trust
Quarterly Magazine ‘Pines Express’ (Spring 2026) now out
- South Eastern & Chatham Railway Society
Bi-annual Magazine ‘Invicta’ now out
Details of the Spring AGM to be released shortly
- South Western Circle
Quarterly Magazine ‘South Western Circular’ (April 2026) now due out
Saturday 2 May
Talk: ‘Weybridge Lineman’
Presented by Stuart Isbister
Venue: Usual Salisbury venue, 2pm
- Southern Railways Group
Quarterly newsletter ‘Southern Notebook’ (Spring 2026) now out
- Welsh Railways Research Circle
Bi-annual magazine ‘Welsh Railways Archive’ (May 2026) due out soon
Quarterly Newsletter (Spring 2026) now out
Tuesday 14 April
Archiving Day at Rhiwderin Community Centre, Rhiwderin, Newport NP10 8RL
Saturday 18 April
Two talks on North Wales Railways
At 13:30; Alan Rhodes talks on an aspect of the Cambrian Railway
At 15:30; Second speaker - Chris Jones will give a talk on recent research on the Corris Railway
Location
Venue: The Loddon Room, Greyfriars Church, Friar Street, Reading RG1 1EH.
Starts 13:30
Tuesday 21 April
Zoom meeting
Stephen Bell on the Kerry Railway
Starts 7.30pm
Tuesday 19 May
Archiving Day at Rhiwderin Community Centre, Rhiwderin, Newport NP10 8RL
Saturday 6 June
Annual General Meeting and Members Day
Doors will be open from 10am with the AGM at 11am. Refreshment will be provided.
At 2pm there will be an illustrated talk by Dr. Adrian Humpage entitled 'TVR Railmotors'. Luke Gosling will be operating his layout Queen's Wharf which is based on Tywyn Wharf on the Tal-y-llyn Railway.
Further displays to be announced.
Tuesday 16 June
Archiving Day at Rhiwderin Community Centre, Rhiwderin, Newport NP10 8RL