'National Railway Societies'
Meetings and Events for Q1 2026
January to March 2026
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- Branch Line Society
- Historical Model Railway Society
- Inter City Railway Society
- Locomotive Club of Great Britain
- Railfuture
- Railway & Canal Historical Society
- Stephenson Locomotive Society
For Railway Correspondence and Travel Society go to www.rcts.org.uk/#news and scroll down
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Note this calendar is based on information provided as at 30 December 2025. 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.
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BRANCH LINE SOCIETY has the following events:
Saturday 24 January
Event: Tour
‘Whitestone Lakes Light Railway’
An opportunity to visit the 7.25 inch gauge private railway in Herefordshire, which is opened and operated by one of our members
Sunday 22 February
Event: Tour
‘The Chiltern Railways MK3 Farewell Tour’
Explore the Chiltern Railways network, with some exceptionally rare and much sought-after track coverage. In true BLS style, we will cover rare platforms, loops and plenty of crossovers, and give the Mark 3 coaches the proper send-off that they deserve.
HISTORICAL MODEL RAILWAY SOCIETY has the following events:
Thursday 8 January
Sussex Area Group: Talk
‘Lifting Containers - why was this Important'
Presented by Keith Harcourt
Venue: London Road Station, Shaftesbury Place, Brighton
Starts 8.10pm
Saturday 24 January
Bristol Area Group
Zoom session. Details from Area Organiser.
Starts 2.30pm
Wednesday 28 January
Bletchley Area Group: Talk
‘Shrewsbury’
Presented by Alan Rhodes
Venue: Whaddon Way Church Centre, Beaverbrook Court, Whaddon Way, Bletchley, MK3 7JS.
Starts 7.30pm
Thursday 12 February
Sussex Area Group: Talk
‘PO Wagons of the LCDR, SER & SECR'
Presented by John Arkle
Venue: London Road Station, Shaftesbury Place, Brighton
Starts 8.10pm
Saturday 21 February
Bristol Area Group
Zoom session.
Details from Area Organiser.
Starts 2.30pm
Wednesday 25 February
Bletchley Area Group: Talk
‘A Game of 2 Halves’ two talks by Bletchley AG Members
Venue: Whaddon Way Church Centre, Beaverbrook Court, Whaddon Way, Bletchley, MK3 7JS.
Starts 7.30pm
Thursday 12 March
Sussex Area Group: Talk
‘UK Heritage Railways - Slide Presentation’
Presented by Geoff Burton
Venue: London Road Station, Shaftesbury Place, Brighton
Starts 8.10pm
Wednesday 25 March
Bletchley Area Group: Talk
Details from Area Organiser.
Venue: Whaddon Way Church Centre, Beaverbrook Court, Whaddon Way, Bletchley, MK3 7JS.
Starts 7.30pm
Saturday 28 March
Bristol Area Group
Details from Area Organiser.
Venue Wansdyke Room, Saltford Hall, Wedmore Road, Saltford, BS31 3BY
Starts 2.30pm
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INTER CITY RAILWAY SOCIETY
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Saturday 14 March
Annual General Meeting and event at Severn Valley Railway
Details to be announced but will include visit to diesel and carriage sheds at Kidderminster Town
LOCOMOTIVE CLUB OF GREAT BRITAIN has the following presentations:
Tuesday 6 January
LCGB (Bedford branch)
‘Ashford to Hastings Revisited - a digital presentation’
Presented by Richard Crane
Venue: St John's Church Hall, St John’s Street, Bedford, MK42 0DL.
Start time 7.30pm
Tuesday 6 January
LCGB (North West branch)
‘The LCGB at the Red Lion’. Members' and visitors' digital photographs
Venue: The Red Lion Hotel, 9 Ash Brow (A5209), Newburgh, WN8 7NF
Start time 7.30pm
Thursday 8 January
LCGB (St. Albans branch)
‘The Restoration of Wheathampstead Railway Station’
Presented by Patrick McNeill
Venue: St Bartholomew's Church, 47 Vesta Avenue, St Albans, AL1 2PE
Start time 7.30pm.
Tuesday 13 January
LCGB (North London branch)
[To be announced]
Presented by:
Venue: The Parish Room, St Michaels Church, Bounds Green Road, Wood Green, London, N22 8HE
Start time 2pm.
Friday 16 January
LCGB (Central London branch)
‘New Zealand’
Presented by Adrian Palmer
Venue: Keen House (the Model Railway Club), 4, Calshot Street, London N1 9DA.
Start time 6.30pm.
Saturday 17 January
LCGB ‘Club 75th Annual Reunion 2025’
Venue: Gascoigne Suite at Union Jack Club, London SE1 8UJ
Times: 10am to 5pm
Includes:
11:00 Introduction to the event by Cedric Spiller, Club Chairman, followed by presentation on Pre-War Streamlined Services, including Mallard’s World Record Run, by Chris Nettleton, Chair of the Gresley Society.
14:20 Review of Club Overseas Tours held in 2024, including India, Bangladesh, Hungary, and IGE tours in Germany, followed by a preview of tours proposed for 2025.
15:40 Presentation telling the story of the LCGB, including a review of the Club and its support for our wonderful hobby, featuring images by Charles Firminger
Tuesday 3 February
LCGB (Bedford branch)
‘The Nidd Valley Railway’
Presented by Tony Manktelow
Venue: St John's Church Hall, St John’s Street, Bedford, MK42 0DL.
Start time 7.30pm
Tuesday 3 February
LCGB (North West branch)
‘The LCGB at the Red Lion’. Members' and visitors' digital photographs
Venue: The Red Lion Hotel, 9 Ash Brow (A5209), Newburgh, WN8 7NF
Start time 7.30pm
Tuesday 10 February
LCGB (North London branch)
[To be announced]
Presented by:
Venue: The Parish Room, St Michaels Church, Bounds Green Road, Wood Green, London, N22 8HE
Start time 2pm.
Thursday 12 February
LCGB (St. Albans branch)
‘The Great Central Railway Reunification Project’
Presented by Tom Ingall
Venue: St Bartholomew's Church, 47 Vesta Avenue, St Albans, AL1 2PE
Start time 7.30pm.
Friday 20 February
LCGB (Central London branch)
‘The work of Maunsell Locomotive Society’
Presented by Steve Pilcher
Venue: Keen House (the Model Railway Club), 4, Calshot Street, London N1 9DA.
Start time 6.30pm.
Tuesday 3 March
LCGB (Bedford branch)
‘The Last Years of Steam around North Wales’
Presented by Michael Clements
Venue: St John's Church Hall, St John’s Street, Bedford, MK42 0DL.
Start time 7.30pm
Tuesday 3 March
LCGB (North West branch)
‘The LCGB at the Red Lion’.
Venue: The Red Lion Hotel, 9 Ash Brow (A5209), Newburgh, WN8 7NF
Start time 7.30pm
Tuesday 10 March
LCGB (North London branch)
[To be announced]
Presented by:
Venue: The Parish Room, St Michaels Church, Bounds Green Road, Wood Green, London, N22 8HE
Start time 2pm.
Thursday 12 March
LCGB (St. Albans branch)
‘The Elizabeth Line’
Presented by: Howard Smith, OBE
Venue: St Bartholomew's Church, 47 Vesta Avenue, St Albans, AL1 2PE
Start time 7.30pm.
Friday 20 March
LCGB (Central London branch)
‘India and Pakistan Pt 2’
Presented by Peter Robins
Venue: Keen House (the Model Railway Club), 4, Calshot Street, London N1 9DA.
Start time 6.30pm.
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RAILFUTURE has the following meetings:
Thursday 8 January
Branch / Division: London & South East regional branch (Sussex & Coastway Division)
Event: Division festive season social
Venue: John Harvey Tavern, Bear Yard, off Cliffe High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2AN
Starts 6pm.
Wednesday 14 January
Branch / Division: London & South East regional branch (Herts & Beds Division)
Event: Division Meeting On-line
Starts 7.30am
Wednesday 14 January
Branch: West Midlands
Event: Open Meeting
Venue: Platform 3 meeting room, Birmingham Moor Street station
Starts 5.45pm
Thursday 22 January
Branch / Division: London & South East regional branch (London Metro Division)
Event: Division Meeting
Venue: Alan Baxter Gallery, Front Basement Meeting Room, 75 Cowcross Street, Farringdon, London EC1M 6EL
Starts 7pm.
Saturday 24/ Sunday 25 January
Railfuture London & South East regional branch Kent Division stall at annual Erith Model Railway Show. Venue: Harris Garrard Academy, Yarnton Way, Thamesmead, Kent, DA18 4DW
Tuesday 10 February
Branch / Division: London & South East regional branch (Herts & Beds Division)
Event: Division Meeting On-Line
Starts 7.30pm
Wednesday 11 February
Branch: West Midlands
Event: Open Meeting
Venue: Platform 3 meeting room, Birmingham Moor Street station
Starts 5.45pm
Thursday 12 February
Branch / Division: London & South East regional branch (Sussex & Coastway Division)
Event: Division Meeting Online
Starts 6pm.
Saturday 21 February
Branch / Division: London & South East regional branch (Kent Division)
Event: Division Meeting details to be announced
Saturday 28 February
Branch: East Anglia
Event: East Anglia Open branch meeting
Venue: Friends Meeting House, St. John’s Street, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 1SJ
Starts 2pm
Wednesday 7 March
Branch / Division: London & South East regional branch (Herts & Beds Division)
Event: Division Meeting
St Paul's Church, Hatfield Road, St Albans
Starts 11am to 1pm
Wednesday 11 March
Branch: West Midlands
Event: Open Meeting
Venue: Platform 3 meeting room, Birmingham Moor Street station
Starts 5.45pm
Thursday 12 March
Branch / Division: London & South East regional branch (London Metro Division)
Event: Division Meeting
Venue: Alan Baxter Gallery, Front Basement Meeting Room, 75 Cowcross Street, Farringdon, London EC1M 6EL
Starts 7pm
Thursday 26 March
Branch / Division: London & South East regional branch (Sussex & Coastway Division)
Event: Division Meeting (Online)
Starts 6pm.
RAILWAY & CANAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY has the following events:
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Saturday 3 January
North East Group: Lecture
'Historic Photographs of the Calder and Hebble Navigation'
Presented by Nick Higton
Venue: Marriott Room of the York Explore Library, Museum Street, York, YO1 7DS
Time: 2.15pm to 4pm
Friday 9 January
East Midlands Group: Lecture
Back to Beeching: A glance back’
Presented by David Amos
Venue: Beeston Methodist Church, Chilwell Rd, Beeston, Nottingham NG9 1EH.
Time: 2pm
Saturday 10 January
North West Group: Lecture
‘Boat Trains’
Presented by John Hooley
Venue: 6 Mount Street, Manchester
Starts 2pm
Tuesday 13 January
London Group: New Year Members Lunch
Venue: The Station House, Acton (at Acton Central station).
Members wishing to attend should email Andy Brown apbrown35@yahoo.co.uk by Friday 9th January.
Thursday 15 January
East Midlands Group: ‘East Midlands Group Annual Bus Tour’
A day out using service buses to the village of Thringstone in Leicestershire organised by Jeff Smith. Known in Victorian times for its manufacture of ‘baubles’ (alabaster ornaments), Thringstone has a long history and was mentioned in the Domesday survey of 1086. It was largely an agricultural community until the 18th Century when the village became concerned with the framework knitting industry which caused a significant growth in its population. The expansion of the local coal mining industry in the early 19th Century brought a further influx of families from northern England and Scotland as a result of colliery transfers.
Saturday 17 January
West Midlands Group: Lecture
‘Canal Surveying Techniques’
Presented by David Brown
Venue: Birmingham & Midlands Institute, 3 Margaret Street, Birmingham.
Time: 2pm to 4pm
Monday 19 January
London Group: Lecture
AGM followed by presentation ‘Lost stations of North London’
Presented by Jim Connor
Venue: Alan Baxter Gallery, 75 Cowcross Street (5 minutes walk from Farringdon Station) London EC1M 6EL
Time: 6.30pm to 7.30pm
Thursday 5 February
South West Group: Lecture
‘Taking Boats Uphill - Staunches, Stanches, Half Locks and Flash-locks’
Presented by Ivan Cane
By Zoom
Starts 6pm
Friday 6 February
East Midlands Group: Lecture
‘An A-Z Guide to GCR locomotives’
Presented by Bob Gellatly
Venue: Beeston Methodist Church, Chilwell Rd, Beeston, Nottingham NG9 1EH.
Time: 2pm
Saturday 7 February
North East Group: Zoom Presentation
‘Keep Track’
Presented by Colin Brading
Time: 2pm to 4pm
Saturday 14 February
North West Group: AGM
NW Group AGM and Members Miscellany
Venue: 6 Mount Street, Manchester
Starts 2pm
Monday 16 February
London Group: Lecture
‘The Lincolnshire canal that never was’
Venue: Alan Baxter Gallery, 75 Cowcross Street (5 minutes walk from Farringdon Station) London EC1M 6EL
Time: 6.30pm to 7.30pm
Saturday 21 February
West Midlands Group:
‘Kidderminster Railway Museum’
Presented by David Postle
Venue: Birmingham & Midlands Institute, 3 Margaret Street, Birmingham.
Time: 2pm to 4pm
Friday 6 March
East Midlands Group: Lecture
‘A journey from Penzance to Paddington Part One’
Presented by Richard Binding
Venue: Beeston Methodist Church, Chilwell Rd, Beeston, Nottingham NG9 1EH.
Time: 2pm
Saturday 7 March
North East Group: Regional Group AGM
Venue: Marriott Room of the York Explore Library, Museum Street, York, YO1 7DS
Time: 2pm to 4pm
Saturday 14 March
North West Group: Lecture
'The Canal & River Trust: Just Who & What Are They?'
Presented by Ian McCarthy
Venue: 6 Mount Street, Manchester
Saturday 21 March
West Midlands Group: AGM
Group AGM followed by Ray Shill's latest book
Venue: Birmingham & Midlands Institute, 9 Margaret Street, Birmingham B3 3BS.
Time: 2pm to 4pm
Saturday 26 March
North West Group: Walk
Lost Branches of the Ashton Canal, Part 3 (the Fairbottom Branch Canal)
STEPHENSON LOCOMOTIVE SOCIETY has the following presentations:
Thursday 8 January
SLS (Newcastle Centre)
‘Diesels 1954 - 1967 Photos from the CJB Sanderson Collection’
Presented by David Dunn
Venue: Conference Room, 1st Floor, Newcastle Arts Centre, 67 Westgate Road, Newcastle.
Start time, 1.30pm.
Saturday 10 January
SLS (Midlands, Kidderminster Centre)
‘Bristol Temple Meads through the Ages’
Presented by Gerry Nichols (SLS Librarian)
Venue: Kidderminster Railway Museum, Kidderminster DY10 1QX
Start time, 2pm.
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Monday 12 January
SLS (Ayr Centre)
To be advised
Presented by
Venue: Lauriston Hotel, 15 South Crescent Road, ARDROSSAN. KA22 8EA
Wednesday 14 January
SLS (South Lakes Centre)
‘Railway Operations in North America’
Presented by Martin Elson
Venue: Main Hall, Abbot Hall Social Centre, Dowker's Lane, KENDAL. LA9 4DN
Starts 7.15pm
Saturday 17 January
SLS (Manchester Centre)
‘The Highland Railway, Part 2’
Presented by Bill Jagger
Venue: The Friends’ Meeting House, Mount Street, Manchester.
Starts 2pm
Tuesday 20 January
SLS (Teeside Centre - Coulby Newham)
‘Rails across the North Riding Part 4’
Presented by Richard Barber
Venue: Langdon Square Community Centre, Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough TS8 0TF.
Start time is 2pm
Friday 6 February
SLS (Teeside Centre - Middlesbrough)
‘A cinder path leads to the shed’
Presented by John Hunt
Venue: Newport Community, Hub, Union Street, Middlesbrough.
Start time 7pm.
Monday 9 February
SLS (Ayr Centre)
To be advised
Presented by
Venue: Lauriston Hotel, 15 South Crescent Road, ARDROSSAN. KA22 8EA
Wednesday 11 February
SLS (South Lakes Centre)
To be advised
Presented by
Venue: Main Hall, Abbot Hall Social Centre, Dowker's Lane, KENDAL. LA9 4DN
Starts 7.15pm
Thursday 12 February
SLS (Newcastle Centre): AGM
‘Centre AGM and Members Evening’
Venue: Conference Room, 1st Floor, Newcastle Arts Centre, 67 Westgate Road, Newcastle.
Start time, 7pm.
Saturday 14 February
SLS (Midlands, Kidderminster Centre): AGM
‘Centre AGM and Members Presentations’
Venue: Kidderminster Railway Museum, Kidderminster DY10 1QX
Start time, 2pm.
Tuesday 17 February
SLS (Teeside Centre - Coulby Newham)
‘One Man's view of the East Coast Main Line Part 2’
Presented by Malcolm Paul
Venue: Langdon Square Community Centre, Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough TS8 0TF
Start time is 2pm.
Saturday 21 February
SLS (Manchester Centre)
‘Furness Railway Adventure’
Presented by Paul Salveson
Venue: The Friends’ Meeting House, Mount Street, Manchester.
Starts 2pm
Friday 6 March
SLS (Teeside Centre - Middlesbrough)
‘BR in transition Part 3’
Presented by John Clayson
Venue: Newport Community, Hub, Union Street, Middlesbrough.
Start time 7pm.
Wednesday 11 March
South Lakes Centre, Kendal
‘The Stately Trains Collection’
Presented by Stephen Middleton
Venue: Abbot Hall Social Centre, Dowker's Lane, Kendal LA9 4DN.
Starts 7.30pm
Friday 13 March
SLS (Newcastle Centre)
‘Railway Heavy Load Movements by Road’
Presented by Malcolm Paul
Venue: Conference Room, 1st Floor, Newcastle Arts Centre, 67 Westgate Road, Newcastle.
Start time, 7pm.
Saturday 14 March
SLS (Midlands, Kidderminster Centre)
‘Gems on Glass Plate Negatives’
Presented by David Postle, Kidderminster Railway Museum Curator
Venue: Kidderminster Railway Museum, Kidderminster DY10 1QX
Start time, 2pm.
Tuesday 17 March
SLS (Teeside Centre - Coulby Newham): Talk and Centre AGM
‘Deltics on Parade’ - to be followed by the Centre AGM
Presented by Trevor Ermel
Venue: Langdon Square Community Centre, Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough TS8 0TF
Start time is 2pm
Saturday 21 March
SLS (Manchester Centre)
‘Great Central Railway Reunification’
Presented by Tom Ingall
Venue: The Friends’ Meeting House, Mount Street, Manchester.
Starts 2pm
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