Meeting Reports

Monday 19th April 2010
Branch AGM followed by members digital presentations

The 57th Branch Annual Meeting was held at Chester on 19th April with the troops seemingly happy with the branch’s progress. The committee was re-elected for another year’s service and they are Gordon Davies, Alan Donaldson, Norman Jackson, Geoff Morris, Richard Neale and Alan Turton. The number of new members allocated to the branch in 2009 was extremely encouraging. Comment was made from the floor about the need for RCTS sales stands across the country not to look as if they are second hand stalls but to instead project a modern image. Digital presentations then followed with Geoff Morris’s review of 2009 outdoor fixtures complete with interesting sub titles, John Cowlishaw’s detailed look at the recent Wrexham & Shropshire’s diversions from the West Coast Main Line to Marylebone using lines around the Wembley, Acton and Greenford areas and Barry Shore’s highlighting of 1961 steam operations in Carlisle, Newcastle and York which included an N2 locomotive shunting at Carlisle Canal.

Tuesday 13th April 2010
Station observation at Nuneaton (and/or Water Orton).
Contact Alan Turton on 01606 854227 for details

A total of 8 members, including one from West Midlands Branch, attended the station observation at Nuneaton on Tuesday April 13th. The sun shone throughout but with an easterly wind blowing the temperature was moderate at best. At the request of some members, nearby Water Orton was advertised as an alternative venue. 3 of the party chose to spend time here and although the station facilities are very basic a good number of other enthusiasts were there. The nearby fish and chip shop was reported to provide wonderful chips and the local public house did help to pass the time.

The highlight at Nuneaton was 47245 & 37516 down on three Mk 1 coaches.

This list of sightings is provided in good faith based on observations on the day by Alan Turton & Dave Douglas, supplemented with additional information by David Rapson.

Monday 15th March 2010
The Fall and Rise of BR Steam 1952-2009
Berwyn Stephens

‘The Fall and Rise of BR steam 1952 - 2009’ was the title of the presentation by Berwyn Stephens at Chester on the 15th of March. Berwyn reported he was still in short trousers when he started to use his father’s Box-Brownie camera in the early fifties to capture steam in the Colchester area and on the M&GN route. A mixture of black & white and colour slides told the story of locomotives in pristine condition to their decline when most ended up in unbelievably filthy and run down condition. The odd one was kept in excellent running order and were cleaned regularly depending on where they were allocated. We were treated to photographs spanning the era taken not just on the main line but at collieries, branch lines, sheds and main works. With Berwyn living in Shrewsbury, ex-GWR locomotives in the Shropshire and surrounding area were obviously the favorite but the show did have steam under the wires north of Crewe, the East coast main line and a handful of ex-Southern locomotives did also get a showing. After end of steam in 1968 Woodham’s scrap yard in Barry contributed a vast number of locomotives which were caught on film after many had returned to service on preservation lines and the main line. A rare shot of 62797, the last 2-4-0 in service as well as Barmouth swing-bridge in the open position were just some of the highlights to a magnificent evening’s entertainment.

Monday 1st March 2010
Scottish Steam in the 50s and 60s
David Kelso

The final meeting of the Port Sunlight season on 1st March ended with a fitting tribute to Scottish steam. Management Committee member David Kelso had scanned in 200 of his black and white scenes taken by him in the period between 1948 and 1963. Pictures that we would pay good money for in any lavishly illustrated books came thick and fast which were enhanced not only by David’s commentary but with the captions to each of the views. Not only did we see the classic shots of LNER Pacifics in and around Edinburgh but also of the now long forgotten local lines complete with an array of pre grouping locomotives still at work into the early 1950s. Not that the LMS was forgotten and the audience positively drooled over the view of an unrebuilt Royal Scot about to leave Princes Street station. Many other Scottish main lines and by ways were highlighted which included the railway families Saturday shopping special which ran between Beattock Summit and Beattock station. Surely a case of each a glimpse and gone for ever!

Monday 15th February 2010
1980s: a decade of change. Part 2
Bob Casselden

The return visit of one time Branch Committee Member Bob Casselden to Chester on 15th February produced another good attendance. Bob revisited the 1980s covering that period from 1985 to early 1988 showing the many changes in that time to the national railway network. He could have called the evening, ‘From Blue to Grey’ as this showed the transition in the liveries at that time. Bob covered all the then sectors of British Rail and it was particularly memorable to realise that 25 years ago the new fleet of Sprinter units were being introduced as well as the fact that Crewe was building a new fleet of Cl.90 and Cl.91 locomotives at that time. The older multiple units were being phased out at that time and Bob had some nostalgic shots of them in action across the network. Local interest was well served with views of special trains that had used the Birkenhead Docks line and of the farewells to the Cl.503 electric units in 1985.

Monday 1st February 2010
Terminals Part 2: South and West
Barry Shore

The Viscount Lounge at the Lever Club in Port Sunlight was well filled on 1st February when Barry Shore presented his second part of ‘Terminus.’ Barry not only covered what we anticipated to see of those stations where trains terminated in the South and West but also in the Midlands and old Cheshire. His scenes taken from the late 1950s both in black and white and in colour not only highlighted the changes in station infrastructure but also in the many types of multiple units used on main line and local services. We are well used to seeing views of trains at main line termini but in this evening’s show we remembered the likes of Bridport, Denbigh, Annesley with its Annesley Dido working and especially the greatly lamented old Manchester Victoria. To complete the evening Barry rounded off with some nostalgic views of Cl.503 units at work on the Wirral as well as Birkenhead Woodside on its final day, which included his very own bicycle.

Monday 18th January 2010
Australian Railways in 2009
Geoff Morris

The Chester meeting of 18th January enabled members and visitors to see the scope that the digital projector, donated in memory of the late John Ward, gave to an evening’s presentation. Geoff Morris, Branch Web Correspondent, has quickly mastered the technology and his show about Australian Railways in 2009 enabled him to display maps of urban systems and to move markers down routes to highlight where we were. Australian railways still have a gauge problem with different states having different gauges. The trans Australian services are all on standard gauge so that mixed gauge track is consequently seen in such as the two impressive main Melbourne stations. Geoff took part in various rail tours both on main and preserved lines especially in New South Wales earlier last year. The railway museums look impressive and for us the sight there of a former Mersey Railway locomotive, sister to Cecil Raikes, was quite something. Geoff revisits Australia this year and we look forward to the next show.

Monday 4th January 2010
Southern Part 2: Mainly South Western Division
Edgar Richards

There was a good turn out on 4th January at Port Sunlight, including four new Society members, for Edgar Richards who presented another of his fascinating colour slide shows on what was billed as Southern Part 2 – mainly South Western. Edgar somehow started off with Merseyside shipping scenes and then moved south to view Waterloo and Clapham Jct. before straying down into LB&SCR territory around Littlehampton and Portsmouth before looking at the Southampton arm of the LSWR, which again included fascinating shipping views around the Ocean Terminal. There were many nostalgic scenes from around Bournemouth and Weymouth and what Edgar termed as modern at the time he took the slide shots are also now part of history. The evening was interspersed with a variety of purchased slides that highlighted train workings from 1938 and into the 1950s. Contrasts between ex works Bulleid Pacifics and shabby Standard Class 5s in the early 1960s showed how things really were. We look forward to Southern Part 3.

Monday 21st December 2009
Members show

The Chester Members' Evening of 21st December had a smaller attendance than usual due to the cold weather and pre seasonal festivities. The new digital projector was put to good use with Mark Youdan displaying images of the North West and North Wales scene. John Cowlishaw used some of Barry Shore's 1960s pictures to show how digital technology can enhance those and then showed the recent changes at St Pancras station. Geoff Morris included the new Javelin services out of St Pancras along with views of the Tanat Valley Railway. Gordon Davies showed wonderful scenic views of the Rio Grande preserved line in his visit there this year. Colour slides from Barry Shore took the theme of 'Born in Leeds' highlighting in particular Hunslet steam and diesel locomotives. Alan Donaldson revisited 1988 and 1989, which included fascinating shots of Berlin's infamous wall. John Feild highlighted scenes of his recent visit to the USA and in particular of the many transport and aircraft museums to be found there.

Tuesday 15th December 2009
Informal observation at Warrington Bank Quay

A fully illustrated report of this visit appears here.

Monday 7th December 2009
Even more American wanderings: The Great Plains drifter
Gordon Davies

The 7th December meeting at Port Sunlight had another good turn out of members and friends for our Branch Chairman’s presentation of ‘Yet more American Wanderings – the Great Plains Drifter.’ Gordon Davies spent a few weeks this past summer starting out from Denver with Steve Corkery in their hired Pontiac and looking not only at the incredible amount of coal traffic moving across the plains, sometimes on certain steep gradients with three helper locomotives in addition to the three heading the trains. Gordon not only showed us trains in action but also of the many railroad museums across the country, where he admitted he particularly likes ‘Big Boys’ (the massive 4-8-8-4 steam locomotives) and of redundant stations now used for other purposes. Bailey’s Yard, probably the largest marshalling yard in the world, now has a seven storey high observation tower for rail enthusiasts to observe the vast numbers of locomotives and rolling stock on view. Complete with a bear on the Royal Gorge scenic line this was a fine evening's entertainment.

Monday 16th November 2009
Reflections on a Railway Career
David Rapson

It was a record in every way for David Rapson’s evening talking about his railway career at the Chester meeting of 16th November. Not only was there one of the highest attendances recorded for a RCTS meeting in the city but also that the highest raffle takings were taken and it was a case of the new LMS 2-6-0 book being available on the very day copies had been collected from the printers. David took us through his boyhood interest in trains in the Liverpool area and after a brief banking career he switched to his railway employment. Starting off in Birkenhead we saw pictures of railway operations in the mid 1970s before his sojourns in Bristol, Liverpool, Dee Marsh, Crewe, Merseyrail, Newton Heath and again in Crewe before finally retiring from Trans Pennine. He was one of the early exponents of the TOPS control system and he gave a good explanation of that automated pre computerised system. Taking advantage of his situation David has been able over the years to know what was operating where and when to build up a comprehensive picture of railway operations for well over 30 years. A splendid evening.

Tuesday 10th November 2009
Informal Observation at Stafford

A fully illustrated report of this visit appears here.

Monday 2nd November 2009
Members show.

The members evening of 2nd November at Port Sunlight enabled the use of both slide projector and digital viewer highlighting their favourite type of locomotive class. Starting off with slides Alan Turton depicted locomotives with Sir Walter Scott characters’ names as in the ‘Director’ D11s and the ‘Scott’ D30s as seen in the late 1950s. Barry Shore depicted Deltics at work with scenes of them on the East Coast Main Line at Newcastle and at Berwick on Tweed in addition to preserved examples on the East Lancashire Railway. Alan Donaldson highlighted the varied career of the Cl.103 electric locomotives at work in Germany, which included the many livery changes in their careers. The change after the interval to digital views enabled John Cowlishaw to highlight Cl.47 locomotives at work across the network from Penzance to Elgin. Geoff Morris used saddle tanks as his theme highlighting them working in South Wales and Midlands collieries and as they are now appearing at work on preserved railways.

Thursday 29th October 2009
Vale of Rheidol Railway

A fully illustrated report of this visit appears here.

Monday 19th October 2009
130 years of the Conwy Valley line
Larry Davies

It was pretty well a full house for the meeting in Chester on 19th October when Larry Davies, Community Rail Officer for the Conwy Valley Line spoke about the line’s 130 years old history. Using many photographs donated from the local community Larry gave a comprehensive record of events including fascinating views of the original Llandudno Junction station and of the earliest days in Blaenau Ffestinog with its first station just beyond the tunnel entrance. The highlight for many was a Second World War scene of Precursor Oberon hauling a cattle train on the branch. The Derby lightweight units introduction in 1956 was recounted as were scenes of many special trains in recent years. The Trawsfyndd power station was the real saviour of the branch from closure and there were fascinating scenes involving that former Great Western line that came up from Bala Junction. Larry also gave us an insight to the planned redevelopment of Llandudno station, which is for many the gateway to the splendid line.

Tuesday 13th October 2009
Informal observation at Carlisle

9 Branch members attended the station observation at Carlisle on Tuesday 13th October. A fully illustrated report appears here.

Monday 5th October 2009
Steam in the 60s
Brian Woodward

The opening meeting of the Port Sunlight season on 5th October in the newly refurbished meeting room saw Brian Woodward present his slides of ‘British Railways Steam in the 60s.’ Brian’s home locality meant that there were many scenes from the Winwick Jct, Newton Le Willows and Springs Branch area with passenger locomotives working all sorts of workings. He also highlighted the Chester area with Clun Castle on some of the final steam specials. Gloucester and the Stroud Valley auto workings, Llanelli, Dundee and Blue Peter, Shawford and the Salisbury-Exeter line all featured strongly in his presentation. Great amusement was created when it transpired that audience member Edgar Richards had been with Brian when many of the pictures had been taken. The evening finished with scenes at Edge Hill shed when Ayrshire Yeomanry was bulled up by RCTS members for one of those many farewell steam specials of 1968.

Sunday 4th October 2009
Wirral Bus and Tram Fair

	View outside the Pacific Road building showing one of the new trams based on those that run in Hong Kong and a preserved Wallasey tram.   Richard Neale

	Hong Kong type tram \'Thomas Brassey\'   Richard Neale

	The Branch Sales stand was manned Norman Jackson (left), Alan Donaldson and Gordon Davies   Geoff Morris

Saturday 19th September 2009
Invite to Statfold Barn Open Day

A fully illustrated report of the Branch Visit appears here.

Tuesday 8th September 2009
Informal observation at Doncaster

On Tuesday September 8th, 11 branch members made their way from various starting points to Doncaster for station observations. Members from other branches boosted the party at Doncaster to a maximum of 14.

A fully illustrated report appears here.

Tuesday 25th August 2009
Lancashire Day Ranger

A fully illustrated report appears here.

Tuesday 11th August 2009
Informal observation at Rugby (joint with MRS) &/or Nuneaton

Our August station observation on Tuesday August 11th was a little different from usual in having 2 locations. The Merseyside Railway Society, most of whose members are also RCTS members, had already arranged a day’s observation at Rugby for our ’normal’ observation day and so a joint fixture was held with them. Our normal venue in this area is Nuneaton and so Nuneaton and Rugby were offered as locations for members‘ observations.

A fully illustrated report appears here