'National Railway Societies'
Meetings and Events for APRIL 2024
- 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
BRANCH LINE SOCIETY has the following tours:
Friday 5 April
Event: Visit
‘New Mills LOM Area Signal Boxes Visit’
The next in the series of revived signal box visits, this time to the New Mills LOM’s area in Derbyshire. This visit will cover Furness Vale and Norbury Hollows (Gate Box) on the Stockport - Buxton line as well as New Mills Central and New Mills South Junction. Meeting point will be New Mills Central station at 10.20 to allow connections from the 10.15 arrival from Manchester.
Saturday 6 April
Event: Tour
‘The Scaccarium Dies’
Exploration of the 11-mile long Bluebell Railway that meanders through the Sussex countryside. Tour has been granted very special access to sheds, loops, sidings and crossovers that the Railway's public passengers would never normally get to enjoy. The full day tour of the line begins in either Sheffield Park (09.15), where members can join what is effectively the ECS, or in East Grinstead (10.00).
Sunday 7 April
Event: Tour
‘The School Belle - Sussex Miniature Railways’
Riding visits are arranged at the South Downs Light Railway, Pulborough, at 9.30am then, less than 10 miles away, to the private Ingfield Light Railway, Ingfield Manor School at 1pm. Both are 10¼'' gauge.
Saturday 20 April
Event: Visit
‘Toton - Doors Re-opened’
A guided tour of DB Cargo’s Toton Depot including a behind the scenes tour of this fascinating maintenance facility. All profits from these visits will be donated to Martin House Hospice. Start times are 9am and 1pm.
Friday 26 April
Event: Walking Tour
‘Manchester Victoria Behind the Scenes Guided Walking Tour’
Unique opportunity to visit areas of Manchester Victoria station which are not normally publicly accessible. The Grade II Listed station building, which is packed with historic features, is about to undergo further extensive renovation. Vsit the first, second and third floors of the historic 1909 building as well as accessing the roof which offers a spectacular view over Manchester city centre. Then explore the extensive subterranean areas of the station, descending two levels via the abandoned former British Rail Staff Association Club to the underground bridge over the River Irk and the Walker’s Croft area.
Saturday 27 April
Event: Walking Tour
‘Glasgow Central guided tour and Kelvinbridge Micro Tour’
Visit everywhere on NR’s established Glasgow Central tour but with a few added extras, including the football tunnels. Meeting on the concourse, this guided tour will descend below platform level to explore some of the undercroft beneath, the station museum and the disused low-level platform. It will then take the Subway to Kelvinbridge to see the remains of the Glasgow Central Railway station and railway formation. Optionally the day will conclude at Glasgow Riverside Museum. This tour will start at 9.30am and expected to finish at approximately 2.15pm.
HISTORICAL MODEL RAILWAY SOCIETY has the following events:
Thursday 11 April
Sussex Area Group: Talk
‘Pendon St. Mary Station and reflections on the Alan Cooper Photographs 1947-55’
Presented by Peter Swift
Venue: London Road Station, Shaftesbury Place, Brighton
Starts 8.10pm
Wednesday 24 April
Bletchley Area Group: Talk
‘The Central Wales Line Part 2- Llandovery to Swansea - Over the hills and far away’
Presented by Chris Jones
Starts 7.30pm
Friday 26 April
Essex Area Group: Talk
‘Hephaestus the Shay and a railroad you have never heard of’
Presented by John Barritt
Venue: The Ron White Room, Keene Hall, Watchouse Road, Galleywood, CM2 8PT.
Starts 7.30pm
Saturday 27 April
Bristol Area Group
Zoom session. Details to follow on website.
Starts 2.30pm
INTER CITY RAILWAY SOCIETY
Saturday 6 April
Annual General Meeting
Following the Crewe Basford Hall Yard visit (see below), the AGM will start at 2pm at the YMCA, only 5 mins away from Basford Hall back to the station. There is car parking on the adjacent roads and Pay & Display at the adjacent Crewe Alexandra FC. Refreshments will be available to purchase at YWCA from their café prior to the start of the meeting.
Saturday 6 April
Trip: Visit to FL Crewe Basford Hall Yard
One hour trip around Yard
Starts at 12 noon (meet no later than 11.45) from the main security gate 100m from Gresty Road. Hi-viz jacket/ vest required
Sunday 7 April
Visit and Trip: Andrew Briddon Collection, Darley Dale / HST, Rowsley
Park at Rowsley South, the northern terminus of Peak Rail then a return DMU (51950 + 52062) shuttle from Rowsley to Darley Dale. Meet at 10.15. Immediately after the 10.30 southbound departure to Matlock our DMU will arrive, departing at 10.45 for Darley Dale. The visit will then see all locos laid out and un-sheeted to view / photograph followed by cab rides. Whilst on the visit the DMU will remain in the up platform until the 11.00 northbound returning train from Matlock has passed (11.35), then transfer to the down platform. The visit will end at approx 12.10 following the passing of the 12.00 southbound train at which point the DMU will return everyone to Rowsley where refreshments can be obtained and the facilities visited. It is likely to arrange with HST to open up their shed afterwards.
LOCOMOTIVE CLUB OF GREAT BRITAIN has the following presentations:
Tuesday 2 April
LCGB (Bedford branch): Digital slides & Film
‘The Hatfield & St. Albans Branch and some 'Relevant Relics' & 'Re-Creations'.
Presented by Alastair Cameron
Venue: St John's Church Hall, St John’s Street, Bedford, MK42 0DL.
Start time 7.30pm
Tuesday 9 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 9 April
LCGB (North London branch): Talk
‘Spanish and Portuguese Railways in the 1970s’
Presented by: Terence Bagworth
Venue: The Parish Room, St Michaels Church, Bounds Green Road, Wood Green, London, N22 8HE
Start time 2pm.
Wednesday 10 April
LCGB (Dorking branch): Talk
‘Waterloo 175’
Presented by John King
Venue: Dorking Friends Meeting House, Butter Hill, South Street, Dorking, RH4 2LE.
Start time 7.30pm.
Thursday 11 April
LCGB (St. Albans branch): Talk
‘A History of Carriages, Part Two’
Presented by: Cross Colin Brading
Venue: St Bartholomew's Church, 47 Vesta Avenue, St Albans, AL1 2PE
Start time 7.30pm.
Friday 19 April
LCGB (Central London branch)
‘34007 Wadebridge: Barry to the Main Line?’
Presented by Stephen Evans and David Ford
Venue: Keen House (the Model Railway Club), 4, Calshot Street, London N1 9DA.
Start time 6.30pm.
RAILFUTURE has the following meetings:
Thursday 11 April
Branch / Division: London & South East regional branch (Sussex & Coastway Division)
Event: Division Meeting (Online)
Starts 6pm.
Saturday 20 April
Branch: AGM - London & South East regional branch
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
Saturday 27 April
Branch: Yorkshire branch
Event: Branch Annual General Meeting
Venue: Priestly Hall, Mill Lane Chapel, City Square, Leeds LS1 5EB (three minutes’ walk from Leeds railway station).
Starts 1pm.
Saturday 27 April
Branch / Division: London & South East regional branch (Herts & Beds Division)
Event: Division Meeting
Venue: St Paul's Church, Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL1 4JP
Starts 11am
Saturday 27 April
Branch: West Midlands branch
Event: Branch Annual General Meeting
Venue: St. Martin in the Bullring, Edgbaston Street, Birmingham, B5 5BB.
Starts 10.30am.
Saturday 27 April
Branch: Wales branch
Event: Branch Annual General Meeting
Guest speaker: Ian Brown CBE, Railfuture Policy Director
Venue: Venue: Shrewsbury station
From 2pm to 4pm
Tuesday 30 April
Branch: Yorkshire branch
Event: Webinar
Guest speaker: Jason Hamilton, newly-appointed Director for Network Rail's North & East Route.
Starts 10.30am
RAILWAY & CANAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY has the following events:
Friday 5 April
East Midlands Group: Lecture
‘The Manchester Ship Canal’
Presented by Christopher Stone
Venue: Beeston Methodist Church, Chilwell Rd, Beeston, Nottingham NG9 1EH.
Time: 7pm
Saturday 13 April
North West Group: Lecture
‘Railways in Norway’
Presented by Peter Worsley
Venue: 6 Mount Street, Manchester
Starts 2pm
Tuesday 16 April
London Group: Walk
‘Regents Canal Walk – Part 2 (East)’
Richard Bowry will lead Part 2 of his walk along the Regents Canal, this time from the Thames at Limehouse Basin heading north east, then east, passing Victoria Park and ending at eastern portal of Islington Tunnel, a short walk to Angel Underground station (5 miles).
Meet outside Limehouse DLR Railway Station at 11am. Explore Limehouse Basin, then walk along tow path of Regents Canal (north side) to junction with Hertford Union Canal at Old Ford Lock. Skirt Victoria Park (possible stop at café), then continue under the former Great Eastern Railway and North London Railway, reaching eastern portal of Islington Tunnel (near City Basin), a short walk to Angel Underground station.
Thursday 18 April
North West Group: Walk
‘Exploring the Poynton & Norbury Colliery Railways & Canals’
David Kitching will lead a walk looking at the railways and canals associated with the collieries of Poynton and Norbury. The walk will start at Middlewood Station at 11:20 following the arrival of the 10:51 departure from Manchester Piccadilly (service to Buxton). A pub lunch is anticipated at the Boar’s Head, or eat a packed lunch at the picnic tables opposite on the site of the former Macclesfield, Bollington & Marple Railway Poynton Station. Return will be from Middlewood Station (16:46 departure to Piccadilly). Other return options, later trains from Middlewood or by bus to Macclesfield or Stockport, can be explained on the day.
Thursday 18 April
South West Group: Lecture
‘Coalfield Engines’
Presented by Steve Grudgings
Venue: Paulton Village Hall, Farrington Road, Paulton, BS39 7LW
Starts 7.30pm
Monday 22 April
London Group: Talk
Talk by Christian Wolmar
Venue: Alan Baxter Gallery, 75 Cowcross Street (5 minutes walk from Farringdon Station) London EC1M 6EL
Time: 6.30pm to 7.30pm
Friday 26 to Sunday 28 April
West Midlands Group: Social Weekend: Visits & Walks
‘Gloucester Weekend’
The weekend will take the form of coach excursions and short walks, with one day focussing on the Stroudwater and Thames & Severn Canals, including visits to Sapperton canal tunnel and recent alterations to the canal in the Stroud area. Another day will be spent in the Forest of Dean taking in visits to Lydney Docks and associated infrastructure and surviving remains of railways, plateways and mining activity. The third day will include a guided walking tour of Gloucester Docks and a visit to the Gloucester Warwickshire Railway.
STEPHENSON LOCOMOTIVE SOCIETY has the following presentations:
Friday 5 April
SLS (Teeside Centre - Middlesbrough)
Event: Talk
‘Twelve years of China Steam from 1992’
Presented by Barry Burns
Venue: Newport Community, Hub, Union Street, Middlesbrough.
Start time 7pm.
Wednesday 10 April
South Lakes Centre, Kendal
Event: Talk
Speaker and subject to be confirmed
Presented by: -
Venue: Abbot Hall Social Centre, Dowker's Lane, Kendal LA9 4DN.
Friday 12 April
SLS (Newcastle Centre)
Event: Talk
‘A Photographic Journey from 1956 - 1969 in the North East Area - More photographs from the Alan Brooks Collection’
Presented by Malcom Paul
Venue: Conference Room, 1st Floor, Newcastle Arts Centre, 67 Westgate Road, Newcastle.
Start time, 7pm.
Saturday 13 April
SLS (Midlands, Kidderminster Centre)
Event: Talk
‘Walschaerts Valve Gear - A Closer Look’
Presented by: Robin Gibbons
Venue: Kidderminster Railway Museum, Kidderminster DY10 1QX
Start time, 2pm.
Saturday 13 April
SLS (Manchester Centre)
Event: Talk
‘The railways of northern Norway and Sweden’
Presented by Peter Worsley
Venue: The Friends’ Meeting House, Mount Street, Manchester.
Starts 2pm
Tuesday 16 April
SLS (Teeside Centre - Coulby Newham)
Presentation:
‘My Railway Career and how I can to set up The Railway Children Charity’
Presented by: David Maidment OBE
Venue: Langdon Square Community Centre, Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough TS8 0TF
Start time is 2pm.