'National Railway Societies'
Meetings and Events for Q2 2026
April to June 2026
- 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
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.
BRANCH LINE SOCIETY has the following events:
Thursday 2nd April
‘The One : One Collection Tour, Margate’
Saturday 4th April
‘Alstom's Depot Dash main line tour’
Monday 6th April
‘Scunthorpe Spring Steeler No. 32’
With over 100 miles of standard gauge track to choose from; a great way to see an operating steel works and 24-hour industrial railway at close quarters set in 2,800 acres.
Saturday 25th April
‘Gerald of Wales / Y Gerallt Gymro’
Teamed up with the 225 Group and Transport for Wales to offer a special one-day excursion using a Class 67 locomotive and Mark 4 set.
Sunday 26th April
‘The Paxman Quarrier’
Friday 1st May
‘The North-South Connection’
Saturday 2nd May
‘The Welsh Dragon’
Sunday 3rd May
‘The Banbury Mountain Climber’
Friday 8th May
‘Pecorama Visit’
A private day at the site, which will of course include rides on their ‘now closed to the public’ 7.25 inch railway.
Friday 8th May
‘Fawley Museum and Railway visit’
A rare chance to visit the Fawley Museum and private railway.
Saturday 9th May
‘Metro-Land Signal Cabins Revisited’
Sunday 10th May
‘The Best of Both Worlds’
Monday 18th May
‘London Underground (Earl's Court & West Kensington) Mini Tour’
Friday 22nd May to Sunday 24th May
‘The Gosh Ness Monster’
Class 201 Tonbridge to Inverness via Bo’ness
Saturday 6th June to Monday 8th June
‘Lord of the Isles’
No further details are available at present.
Saturday 13th June to Monday 15th June
‘The Braunschweig & Hannover Explorer’
Progress on this Branch Line Society European Railtour has now reached the point where we feel we can provide dates.
Saturday 13th June
‘Richmond Light Railway visit’
We are pleased to offer an ‘all available track’ visit to the Richmond Light Railway in Headcorn, Kent.
HISTORICAL MODEL RAILWAY SOCIETY has the following events:
Thursday 9 April
Sussex Area Group: Talk
‘Shrewsbury’
Presented by Alan Rhodes
Venue: London Road Station, Shaftesbury Place, Brighton
Starts 8.10pm
Saturday 25 April
Bristol Area Group
In Person Meeting; Details to be announced
Starts 2.30pm
Wednesday 29 April
Bletchley Area Group: Talk
Details to be announced
Starts 7.30pm
Thursday 14 May
Sussex Area Group: Talk
‘Southern Moguls'
Presented by Gerry Nichols
Venue: London Road Station, Shaftesbury Place, Brighton
Starts 8.10pm
Wednesday 27 May
Bletchley Area Group: Visit
Evening Out: The Bletchley to Oxford Line
Saturday 30 May
Bristol Area Group
In Person Meeting; Details to be announced
Starts 2.30pm
Thursday 11 June
Sussex Area Group: Talk
'What Wagons, When and Where'
Presented by Stephen Lea
Venue: London Road Station, Shaftesbury Place, Brighton
Starts 8.10pm
Wednesday 24 June
Bletchley Area Group: Talk
Zoom Meeting: 'All Things LNER'
Starts 7.30pm
INTER CITY RAILWAY SOCIETY
Saturday 4 April
‘FL Leeds Midland Road’
Cost £15 payable on the day with visit fee going to Rob Burrow Charity MND. Meet 09.30 for 10.00 start. Approx 1 hour tour.
Saturday 18 April
‘Tour of East Lancashire Railway’
Max 20 per visit. Cost: £15 payable on the day.
Start 10.30, duration 3 hours.
Saturday 25 April
‘Dean Forest Railway’
Max 40. Cost £20 payable on the day.
Arrive 10.00 for 10.30 start at Norchard Station off the B4234.
Saturday 2 May
Event: Tour
‘Ecclesbourne Valley Railway and Peak Rail’
Max 40 for each visit. Cost: £20 for each visit to EVR & PEA payable on the day
Arrive 08.30 at Wirksworth EVR with shed / yard tour start at 08.45 followed by return train ride to Duffield leaving at 10.15 and arriving back at 11.56. The tour of the shed / yard at Rowsley South PEA will start at 12.30 /12.45 followed by visit to HST sheds at 14.00 which will require an extra donation of £5. This will be followed by a return train ride to Matlock at 15.00
Saturday 16 May
‘Battlefield Line’
Meet at 09.30 at Shackerstone. Cost £20 payable on the day which includes train ride, 3 services from Shackerstone 11.00, 12.30, 14.00 and tour of shed, signal box & sidings which, though they are private, will include the long storage siding north of the station
Saturday 16 May
‘RSS Wishaw (Goodmans Yard)’
Approx 15.00 following visit to BAT which is 21 miles away via the M42, approx 35 mins. Cost £5 donation will be taken on the day which is doubled by Andrew Goodman for the Railway Children Charity.
Sunday 17 May
Event: Tour
‘Scunthorpe Steelworks / Appleby Frodingham Rly’
Max 26. Cost £25 payable on the day.
Duration 4 hours in 3 brake vans hauled by diesel.
Saturday 30 May
‘Tour of East Lancashire Railway’
Max 20 per visit. Cost: £15 payable on the day.
Start 10.30, duration 3 hours.
Saturday 6 June
Event: Visit
‘RSS Wishaw (Goodmans Yard)’
No limit on numbers. Cost £5 donation will be taken on the day for charity which is matched by Andrew Goodman. Arrive 09.00 for a look around at own pace departing at 10.00ish for Telford Steam Railway
Saturday 6 June
Event: Tour
‘Telford Steam Railway’
Max 40. Arrive 11.30 for 12.00 start. Cost £15 payable on the day. The day will include guided tour of the yard and sheds in two groups with a ride on the NG Tramway then multiple train rides behind different locos or in a Pacer
Saturday 13 June
Isle Of Wight (IOW)
Cost £25 non-refundable payable in advance by BACS (ref IOW) to include a train ride. Arrive 09.45 at Havenstreet prior to the start of 3 tours of 13 people each at 10.30, 11.00 & 11.30 which will include access to everywhere. These will be followed by the train ride at 14.30.
Saturday 27 June
Event: Visit
FL Crewe Basford Hall Yard
Max 50.Cost £15 payable on the day.
The 1 hour trip around Basford Hall Yard starts at 13.00 (meet no later than 12.45) from the main gate at the northern end of the access road off Gresty Road, ¾ mile from the station.
LOCOMOTIVE CLUB OF GREAT BRITAIN has the following presentations:
Thursday 2 April
Zoom Meeting - 7:30pm
‘The Glorious Steam Railways of India’
Presented by John Sloane
Tuesday 7 April
LCGB (Bedford branch): Digital slides & Film
‘The Deltics = Worthy successors to the A4s?’
Presented by Michael Smyth
Venue: St John's Church Hall, St John’s Street, Bedford, MK42 0DL.
Start time 7.30pm
Thursday 9 April
LCGB (St. Albans branch): Talk
‘The Jim Clemens Collection (S&D)’
Presented by: Michael Clemens
Venue: St Bartholomew's Church, 47 Vesta Avenue, St Albans, AL1 2PE
Start time 7.30pm.
Tuesday 14 April
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 14 April
LCGB (North London branch): Talk
The LCGB Overseas Tour to Sri Lanka in January 2015
Presented by: Colin Miell
Venue: The Parish Room, St Michaels Church, Bounds Green Road, Wood Green, London, N22 8HE
Start time 2pm.
Tuesday 14 April
LCGB (Dorking branch): Talk
‘The Elizabeth Line’
Presented by Howard Smith
Venue: Dorking Friends Meeting House, Butter Hill, South Street, Dorking, RH4 2LE.
Start time 2pm.
Friday 17 April
LCGB (Central London branch)
‘Railways at War; archive material from Angola Egypt and Iran’
Presented by Simon Colbeck
Venue: Keen House (the Model Railway Club), 4, Calshot Street, London N1 9DA.
Start time 6.30pm.
Saturday 25 April
The 73rd Club Annual General Meeting
Venue: Keen House, Calshot Street, London, N1
Commencing at 2pm
Tuesday 5 May
LCGB (Bedford branch): Talk
The Stockton & Darlington to the North Eastern Railway
Presented by Ray Schofield
Venue: St John's Church Hall, St John’s Street, Bedford, MK42 0DL.
Start time 7.30pm
Thursday 7 May
Zoom Meeting - 7:30pm
Details to be announced
Tuesday 12 May
LCGB (Dorking branch): Talk
The story behind Crystal Palace High level railway
Presented by Bernard Winchester
Venue: Dorking Friends Meeting House, Butter Hill, South Street, Dorking, RH4 2LE.
Start time 2pm.
Tuesday 12 May
LCGB (North London branch): Talk
‘Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire Branch Lines‘
Presented by: Richard Crane
Venue: The Parish Room, St Michaels Church, Bounds Green Road, Wood Green, London, N22 8HE
Start time 2pm.
Thursday 14 May
LCGB (St. Albans branch): Branch AGM and Talk
Branch Annual General Meeting followed by:
‘The Art of Underground Travel’
Presented byDavid Burnell
Venue: St Bartholomew's Church, 47 Vesta Avenue, St Albans, AL1 2PE
Start time 7.30pm.
Friday 15 May
LCGB (Central London branch)
‘Steam by Oil - East Africa in the 1970s’
Presented by: Terry Bagworth
Venue: Keen House (the Model Railway Club), 4, Calshot Street, London N1 9DA.
Start time 6.30pm.
Tuesday 2 June
LCGB (Bedford branch): Talk
‘Making Tracks?’
Presented by Sean Devaney
Venue: St John's Church Hall, St John’s Street, Bedford, MK42 0DL.
Start time 7.30pm
Thursday 4 June
Zoom Meeting - 7:30pm
Details to be announced
Tuesday 9 June
LCGB (North London branch): Talk
‘Edge Hill and its Complex Railways’
Presented by George Howe
Venue: The Parish Room, St Michaels Church, Bounds Green Road, Wood Green, London, N22 8HE
Start time 2pm.
Tuesday 9 June
LCGB (Dorking branch): Talk
‘Last days of Steam around Manchester’
Presented by Michael Smyth
Venue: Dorking Friends Meeting House, Butter Hill, South Street, Dorking, RH4 2LE.
Start time 7.30pm.
Friday 19 June
LCGB (Central London branch)
‘India and Pakistan 1981 and 1987’
Presented by Peter Robins
Venue: Keen House (the Model Railway Club), 4, Calshot Street, London N1 9DA.
Start time 6.30pm.
RAILFUTURE has the following meetings:
Wednesday 8 April
Branch: West Midlands branch
Event: Branch Meeting
Venue: Venue: platform 3 meeting room, Birmingham Moor Street station
Starts 17.45
Wednesday 8 April
Branch / Division: London & South East regional branch (Herts & Beds Division)
Event: Division Meeting
Online. Starts 7.30pm
Wednesday 15 April
Branch / Division: London & South East regional branch (London Metro Division)
Event: Walk (joint event with Railway & Canal Historical Society)
‘Waterloo Station and All thigs LSWR’
Starts 11am Waterloo Station (must pre-book)
[Will involve train travel within Zone 1 and 2 which participants pay for themselves (recommend using Oyster, contactless or travelcard)].
Saturday 18 April
Branch: London & South East regional branch (AGM)
Event: Branch Annual General Meeting (and open members' morning meeting)
Venue: Wesley's Chapel & Leysian Mission, 49 City Road, London, EC1Y 1AU
Starts: 10.30am for 11am start
Thursday 7 May
Branch / Division: London & South East regional branch (Sussex & Coastway Division)
Event: Division Meeting (Online)
Starts 6pm.
Tuesday 12 May
Branch: Thames Valley
Regional branch open meeting and AGM.
With guest speaker Pete Brunskill, (Rail Development Lead, Place Shaping Service, Economy and Place Directorate) Oxfordshire County Council.
Venue: West Oxford Community Centre (Mary Town room), Botley Road, Oxford OX2 0BT. 19:00-21:00.
Saturday 13 May
Branch: West Midlands branch
Event: Branch Annual General Meeting
Venue: St. Martin in the Bullring, Edgbaston Street, Birmingham, B5 5BB.
Starts 10.30am.
Wednesday 14 May
Branch / Division: London & South East regional branch (Herts & Beds Division)
Event: Division Meeting
Online. Starts 7.30pm
Thursday 21 May
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 23 May
Branch: Yorkshire branch
Event: Meeting
Venue: York
Starts 1pm.
Thursday 4 June
Branch / Division: London & South East regional branch (Sussex & Coastway Division)
Guest speaker from Govia Thameslink Railway.
Venue: Brighthelm Centre, North Road, Brighton BN1 1YD, starts at 18.00
Wednesday 10 June
Branch: West Midlands branch
Event: Branch Meeting
Venue: Platform 3 meeting room, Birmingham Moor Street station
Starts 5.45pm
RAILWAY & CANAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY has the following events:
Friday 10 April
East Midlands Group: Lecture
‘Deltics: 1965 to the present day’-
Presented by Richard Walsh
Venue: Beeston Methodist Church, Chilwell Rd, Beeston, Nottingham NG9 1EH.
Time: 2pm
Saturday 11 April
North West Group: Lecture
'The Garden in the Sky - Castlefield Viaduct'
Presented by Sasha Peckham
Venue: 6 Mount Street, Manchester
Starts 2pm
Wednesday 15 April
London Group: Walk
‘Waterloo and all things LSWR’
Joint event with Railfuture (LSE Branch, Metro Division). Will involve train travel within Zone 1 and 2 which participants pay for themselves (recommend using Oyster, contactless or travelcard).
This is Part 1 of a ten part series of London Railway Termini Walks.
Exploring Waterloo station, Necropolis railway station. Train to Vauxhall station exploring the station and viewing live digital train movement screen into Waterloo. Site of Nine Elms Station (the LSWR original station) and surrounding area that was initially Nine Elms locomotive works until 1865 and then the north side goods yard. We take a tunnel under main line to the site of Nine Elms South Goods Yard (between 1865 and 1909 the site of the relocated locomotive works), then walk outside the original walls to the site of the entrance to Nine Elms steam locomotive depot (closed in 1967). We return to Queenstown Road station (LSWR) and take a train to Clapham Junction and explore the history and current use of the station, before returning to Waterloo by train.
Time is 5 hours. Easy walk along pavements. No restaurant stops planned, so bring a packed lunch.
To book a place and for any questions please email Richard Bowry rbowry@hotmail.com
Thursday 30 April
North-West Group: Walk
Preston-Bolton Turnpike, Part 1 (Belmont to Withnell)
11am to 4.30pm
Thursday 7 May
East Midlands Group: Rail Tour
‘Annual Rail Tour: Huddersfield & York’
A day out using service trains to Huddersfield and York.
Led by Jeff Smith
Thursday 28 May
North-West Group: Walk
Marple to New Mills following the Great Central and Midland Joint Railway
10.45am to 4pm
Saturday 30 May
National: Event
‘2026 RCHS Transport History Book of the Year Awards’ and
‘Annual Clinker Lecture 2026’
This afternoon event will commence at 1:00pm with the Philip Brown introducing the books shortlisted books and then announcing the winners of the 2026 Society’s Book Awards.
This will be followed, after a short break for light refreshments, by the 2026 Clinker Memorial Lecture delivered by Graeme Bickerdike. Members and friends may attend either or both sessions.
Venue: The Met Hotel, King Street - Leeds, LS1 2HQ
Starts from 1pm.
Thursday 18 June
East Midlands Group: Bus Tour
‘Annual Bus Tour: Thringstone (Leicestershire)
This is a re-run of the bus tour in January which had to be abandoned due to a cancelled bus.
Led by Jeff Smith
STEPHENSON LOCOMOTIVE SOCIETY has the following presentations:
Wednesday 8 April
South Lakes Centre, Kendal
Event: Talk
‘West Coast Steam (Part 2)’
Presented by Peter Fitton
Venue: Abbot Hall Social Centre, Dowker's Lane, Kendal LA9 4DN
Friday 10 April
SLS (Newcastle Centre)
Event: Talk
‘My Book of World Trains - Part 4 (Denmark, Sweden and Finland)’
Presented by Phil Kirkland
Venue: Conference Room, 1st Floor, Newcastle Arts Centre, 67 Westgate Road, Newcastle.
Start time, 7pm.
Saturday 11 April
SLS (Midlands, Kidderminster Centre)
Event: Talk
‘Heritage Railway Galas’
Presented by Brian Dotson, SLS Chairman
Venue: Kidderminster Railway Museum, Kidderminster DY10 1QX
Start time, 2pm.
Saturday 18 April
SLS (Manchester Centre)
Event: Talk
‘The Stainmore Route and Kirkby Stephen East - 60 years on from closure’
Presented by Mike Thompson
Venue: The Friends’ Meeting House, Mount Street, Manchester.
Starts 2pm
Tuesday 21 April
SLS (Teeside Centre - Coulby Newham)
Presentation:
‘The Scarborough to Whitby Railway’
Presented by: Neil Williamson
Venue: Langdon Square Community Centre, Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough TS8 0TF
Start time is 2pm.
Friday 1 May
SLS (Teeside Centre - Middlesbrough)
Event: Talk
‘San Franciso Trams’
Presented by Tom Ingall
Venue: Newport Community, Hub, Union Street, Middlesbrough.
Start time 7pm.
Friday 15 May
SLS (Newcastle Centre)
Event: Talk
‘Photos from a Rail Enthusiast taken in the 60'sand 70's’
Presented by Ian Spencer
Venue: Conference Room, 1st Floor, Newcastle Arts Centre, 67 Westgate Road, Newcastle.
Start time, 7pm.
June events not yet advertised