'National Railway Societies'
Meetings and Events for OCTOBER 2024
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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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BRANCH LINE SOCIETY has the following events:
Sunday 6 October
Event: ‘Tour of Barnards Miniature Railway’
This 7.25 inch gauge miniature railway in West Horndon, Essex is the longest end to end 7.25 inch railway in the United Kingdom, with a mainline round trip of over two miles, a quarter mile branch line and numerous loops and sidings. This is a comprehensive 'all available lines' visit, including coverage of sheds and turntables. It is expected that steam traction will feature part of the itinerary using locos from the Exmoor Collection.
Tuesday 15 October
Event: Walk and Tour
Crewe area Signal Box Visits.
Crewe area Signal Box Visits; Basford Hall Junction, Crewe Sorting Sidings North, and Salop Goods Junction Signal Boxes, which are due to close at the end of the year, arranged by Nick Garnham. Meeting point in Crewe at 9.30am.
Friday 18 to Tuesday 22 October
Event: Rail Tour
Four-day BLS railtour in Poland is postponed
Saturday 19 October
Event: Rail Tour
‘The Bury Bubble III’
A rare track DMU charter, exploring the East Lancashire Railway using their immaculately restored class 122 bubble car which is ideal for negotiating hard to reach infrastructure. It is over 8 years since BLS’s last visit to this premier heritage railway and it expects to scratch track which has not been covered previously. Commencing at Bury at around 10am.
Sunday 20 October
Event: Visit and Tour
‘The Apedale Explorer IV’
A much requested revisit to the Apedale Valley Light Railway for another 'all available lines' tour with haulage from the railway’s home diesel fleet. There has been some significant track laying activity since last visit in 2022, so there will be some new track even for those who participated then. As with previous visits, spaces are very limited due to the small riding vehicle used to access some of the shorter sidings. There will be two trips: 09.30 - 12.00 and 14.00 - 15.30.
HISTORICAL MODEL RAILWAY SOCIETY has the following events:
Saturday 5 October
Annual General Meeting
Details sent directly to members
Saturday 26 October
Bristol Area Group: Talk
Maurice Dudman cine films using vintage equipment
Presented by Nick Dudman
Venue: Wansdyke Room, Saltford Hall, Wedmore Road, Saltford, BS31 3BY
Starts 2.30pm
Wednesday 30 October
Bletchley Area Group: Talk
‘The Evolution of a Depot - West Marina’
Presented by Tony Manktelow
Venue: Whaddon Way Church Centre, Beaverbrook Court, Whaddon Way, Bletchley, MK3 7JS.
Starts 7.30pm
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INTER CITY RAILWAY SOCIETY has the following events:
Friday 4 October
Visit: GWR Laira Depot
Cost: £10 payable on the day with proceeds going to GWRs nominated charities, The Railway Children and the Samaritans. Start 11.30, duration 3 hours. Meeting point is in the Depot Car Park and you are required to use the Mullet Road entrance,
Saturday 5 October
Visit: RSS Wishaw (Goodmans Yard)
Cost £5 donation will be taken on the day for charity. Meet 09.30 for 10.00 start. Hi-viz jacket / vest required.
Saturday 5 October
Visit and Trip: Chasewater Railway
Cost £10 payable on the day. Meet 13.00 for 13.30 start so time for lunch between Wishaw and this visit if you are on both. There have good refreshment facilities at Brownhills West and Chasewater Heaths. Behind the scenes look into the sheds and the yard at Brownhills West. Discounted day rover travel afterwards on the line, Adult £7.95, OAP £6.95. Hi-viz jacket not required.
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LOCOMOTIVE CLUB OF GREAT BRITAIN has the following presentations:
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Tuesday 1 October
LCGB (Bedford branch): Talk
‘Thomas Brassey and his work ‘
Presented by David Hunt
Venue: St John's Church Hall, St John’s Street, Bedford, MK42 0DL.
Start time 7.30pm
Tuesday 8 October
LCGB (North London branch)
Branch Annual General Meeting, followed by The Committee Entertains
Venue: The Parish Room, St Michaels Church, Bounds Green Road, Wood Green, London, N22 8HE
Start time 2pm.
Tuesday 8 October
LCGB (North West branch):
‘The LCGB at the Red Lion’: Members' and visitors' digital photographs
Venue: The Red Lion Hotel, 9 Ash Brow (the A5209), Newburgh, WN8 7NF.
Start time 7.30pm
Wednesday 9 October
LCGB (Dorking branch): Talk
‘Mid Hants Railway 1973-1985’
Presented by Keith Brown
Venue: Dorking Friends Meeting House, Butter Hill, South Street, Dorking, RH4 2LE.
Start time 7.30pm.
Thursday 10 October
LCGB (St. Albans branch): Film
‘An evening of vintage railway films’
Presented by: Frank Banfield
Venue: St Bartholomew's Church, 47 Vesta Avenue, St Albans, AL1 2PE
Start time 7.30pm.
Tuesday 15 October
LCGB: Bedford Branch AGM
AGM, followed by a Tribute Evening to the late Ken Dickens, Geoff Biggs & Chris Foren
Venue: St John's Church Hall, St John’s Street, Bedford, MK42 0DL.
Start time 7.30pm
Friday 18 October
LCGB (Central London branch)
AGM (Club Members only) followed by Members Images
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:
Monday 7 October
Branch: Thames Valley
Event: Guest speaker: Richard Gibson, Stakeholder Manager, West & Wales, Arriva CrossCountry Trains.
Venue: West Oxford Community Centre, Botley Road, Oxford OX 2 0BT. 17.00 for 17.30 start.
Wednesday 9 October
Branch / Division: London & South East regional branch (Herts & Beds Division)
Event: Division Meeting
Online: 19:30-20:45.
Saturday 12 October
Joint Yorkshire / East Midlands / Lincolnshire regional branches meeting.
Venue: Hallam View Meeting Room, Sheffield Hallam University.
Starts 1pm
Wednesday 16 October
Branch: North East
Event: Open meeting, with guest speaker Jason Wade, Regional Director, Northern Rail.
Venue: Westgate Arts Centre, 67 Westgate Road, Newcastle, NE1 1SG. 19:00
Thursday 17 October
Branch / Division: London & South East regional branch (Sussex & Coastway Division)
Venue: Brighthelm Centre, North Road, Brighton BN1 1YD
RAILWAY & CANAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY has the following events:
Friday 4 October
East Midlands Group: Lecture
‘Historical Tunnel Construction’
Presented by Peter Harris
Venue: Venue: Beeston Methodist Church, Chilwell Rd, Beeston, Nottingham NG9 1EH.
Starts 2pm
Saturday 5 October
North East Group: Lecture
‘Yorkshire Waterman’
Presented by David Scrimgeour
Venue: Marriott Room of the York Explore Library, Museum Street, York, YO1 7DS
Time: 2.15pm to 4pm
Saturday 12 October
London Group: Walk
Kennet and Avon Canal Walk from Kintbury to Newbury
Meet outside Kintbury Station at 10:30 following the departure of the 09:33 from Reading that arrives Newbury at 09:54 to change train and pick-up the 10:11 service to Bedwyn that arrives at Kintbury at 10:18 to walk down to the start at Kintbury Lock. This is number three in our series of walks along the Kennet & Avon Canal viewing the transport history and industrial archaeology of the canal. As such it is a linear walk along the canal starting from Kintbury Lock (78) and walking to Newbury Lock (85) where there will be an opportunity for a post walk pub lunch at the Lock, Stock and Barrel before walking down to Newbury Station to catch a return train to Reading.
Saturday 12 October
North West Group: Lecture
‘Railways around Bradford and Low Moor Motive Power Depot’
Presented by Granville Dobson
Venue: 6 Mount Street, Manchester
Starts 2pm
Saturday 19 October
West Midlands Group: Lecture
‘The Free Navigation of the River Severn and Wye and subsequent improvements’
Presented by Ray Shill
Venue: Birmingham & Midlands Institute, 9 Margaret Street, Birmingham B3 3BS.
Time: 2pm to 4pm
Monday 28 October
London Group: AGM and Talk
AGM, followed by ‘The Life of LTC Rolt ‘
Presented by Victoria Owens
Venue: Alan Baxter Gallery, 75 Cowcross Street, Farringdon
Starts: 6.30pm
Thursday 31 October
North West Group: Walk
‘Ashton Packet Boat Company Boatyard & Railway’
The Ashton Packet Boat Company is on the Ashton Canal at Audenshaw. The day is expected to include a short walk and a also visit to the railway museum at Guide Bridge. Details to be released.
STEPHENSON LOCOMOTIVE SOCIETY has the following presentations:
Friday 4 October
SLS (Teesside Centre - Middlesbrough)
Event: Talk
‘Colonel Stephens - The Man and his Railway’
Presented by Kerry Bayliss (Colonel Stephens Society)
Venue: Newport Community Hub (formerly The Settlement Centre), St. Pauls Road, (Union Street) Middlesbrough, TS1 5NQ
Start time 7pm.
Saturday 5 October
SLS (Manchester Centre)
Event: Talk
‘Meeting the current operational needs of Britain's railway with its historic building stock’
Presented by Robert Thornton and Malcolm Wood
Venue: The Friends’ Meeting House, Mount Street, Manchester.
Starts 2pm
Wednesday 9 October
South Lakes Centre, Kendal
Event: Talk
‘More of his collection of ‘Historic’ Modern Traction slides’
Presented by: Philip Wearing
Venue: Abbot Hall Social Centre, Dowker's Lane, Kendal LA9 4DN.
Friday 11 October
SLS (Newcastle Centre)
Event: Talk
A photographic journey during one man's career on the railways in the UK from 1944 to 1977 - Part 1 of 3 1944 to 1961 - photos by Alan Clothier and from his collection.
Presented by Malcom Paul
Venue: Conference Room, 1st Floor, Newcastle Arts Centre, 67 Westgate Road, Newcastle.
Start time, 7pm.
Saturday 12 October
SLS (Midlands, Kidderminster Centre)
Event: To be advised
Venue: Kidderminster Railway Museum, Kidderminster DY10 1QX
Start time, 2pm.
Monday 14 October
SLS (Ayr Centre)
Guest Speaker: To be advised
Venue: Lauriston Hotel, 15 South Crescent Road, Ardrossan KA22 8EA.
Start time 7.30pm.
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Tuesday 15 October
SLS (Teesside Centre - Coulby Newham)
Event: Talk
‘The Summit Tunnel Fire’
Presented by Alan Halfpenny
Venue: Langdon Square Community Centre, Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough TS8 0TF 2pm
Start time 7pm.
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