About the Society
The RCTS is Britain’s leading organisation for people interested in all aspects of railways past, present and future and is highly regarded by both professional railway people and enthusiasts, a position it has held since its formation in 1928.
The RCTS is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, number 1169995. Our VAT number is GB197343335. More about Governance of the Society.
The Railway Observer
All members receive the Society's magazine online, and a print edition (usually 72 pages) is posted to those choosing a "Printed" membership category.
The magazine covers the current railway scene, including extensive coverage of significant and interesting movements, plus an infrastructure and events update. Urban, Irish and International news is included, together with the latest news from Heritage lines.
Society activities, branch meetings, outdoor visits and rail tours are well represented, as are reviews of the latest publications.
A PDF download
Membership rates for new joiners
Printed RO Membership includes posting of the print edition of The Railway Observer
Online RO | £10.00 |
Printed RO UK | £28.00 |
Printed RO Europe | £52.00 |
Printed RO Rest of World | £71.00 |
New joiners are benefiting from a "Welcome" discount of £10. Sign up with Direct Debit and save a further £1.
Volunteering
The Society is run entirely by volunteers, at branch level and nationally. If you have some spare time, and maybe some specialist skills, there are many ways you can help
- Publishing
- Image preparation
- Archiving
- Speaking
- Managing events
- Software development
- Administration
- Research
- Authorship
- Librarianship
News
Announcement 20th April 2024
The following announcement was made at the Society’s AGM: Britain’s leading railway society offers a repository for important historical legacies for other railway enthusiast organisations For several months, the Railway…
Read MoreCzech Holiday – Ostrava – June 2023
Eastern Czechia – Click to expand Following the success of the week spent in Praha last year and looking at Czech railways it was decided that this year we would…
Read MoreRailway Observer image submission
Updated guidance has been released on how to submit your photographs for possible inclusion in The Railway Observer. The guidelines are available as a PDF to download. Image guidelines
Read More2023 Members’ Day and AGM
Retiring Chairman Callum MacLeod (right) shaking hands with Chairman-elect James Milne (left), both flanking President Rev Canon Brian Arman. All are holding an unusual straight nameplate from GWR 6000 Class…
Read MoreTwo new books
This is a comprehensively illustrated history of the first generation DMUs explaining the background behind their introduction, their workings and later modifications. Coverage is by class and the pictures show…
Read MoreMembers’ Weekend 2022 report
This year’s Members’ Weekend (and Officers’ Conference) was based at the Novotel in Reading, 21st-23rd October. We’re pleased to present several visit reports and a selection of photographs taken by…
Read MoreUpcoming events
Virtual events coming up...
There is programme of National events held online, typically monthly. Some branches run them too. Members from any branch may attend and guests are very welcome. For National Meetings, there is no charge for members but donations would be appreciated to help defray the costs. Some branches make a charge because venue hire costs still have to be covered.
A ticket is required. Open the event to find the registration link, and the donations link.
For 2023-24 we have a 500-seat Zoom licence.
On today
Please always use https://rcts.org.uk. Users of https://www.rcts.org.uk cannot advance the month.
A fix will be applied at a quiet time for the website.
Society full calendar
Visit the branch pages to discover upcoming events in your specific area.
Calendar of Events
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Swindon Works and Railway Sites Walkaround Tour
Swindon Works and Railway Sites Walkaround Tour
We plan to have a walkaround tour of the various remaining railway sites in Swindon. The tour will last approximately two hours and will be led by a former Swindon…
That Was The Year That Was – 1971
That Was The Year That Was – 1971
A Hitchin & Welwyn Garden City branch presentation. Presenter: Geoff Plumb Geoff returns with another of his popular TWTYTW series. ‘That Was the Year That Was – 1971’. A very…
1 event,
35mm gricing home and abroad
35mm gricing home and abroad
Railway Observer editor Mike robinson will show some of his excellent pictures
2 events,
The Vintage Trains Story – the rise to a Train Operating Company
The Vintage Trains Story – the rise to a Train Operating Company
Joint meeting with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers Mike Corbett gives a talk on the history and development of Birmingham based ‘Vintage Trains’ to Train Operating Company status, together with…
1 event,
Railway Holidays in the West Country – Devon & Somerset by Stuart Warr
Railway Holidays in the West Country – Devon & Somerset by Stuart Warr
Stuart Warr returns to continue his reminiscences of Railway Holidays in the West Country, this time visiting Devon & Somerset.
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‘Those Were the Years Those Were’ Part 1, by Michael Reade (with apologies to Geoff Plumb!)
‘Those Were the Years Those Were’ Part 1, by Michael Reade (with apologies to Geoff Plumb!)
Michael was able, during extensive business travel by rail and road in the U.K., to capture the rail scene in colour from 1960 to the end of mainline steam in…
2 events,
South Wales Railways in the 21st Century
South Wales Railways in the 21st Century
Stuart Warr Stuart is a well known photographer with many images published in the Railway Observer and in his won publication, My Journey.
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“Midsomer Norton – Rising from the Ashes” by John Baxter
“Midsomer Norton – Rising from the Ashes” by John Baxter
John Baxter is the Somerset & Dorset Railway Heritage Trust's Secretary. He gives a 'warts and all' story of the trials and tribulations of starting a steam railway from scratch…
Memories of a Gorleston Spotter – Part 2
Memories of a Gorleston Spotter – Part 2
A Hitchin & Welwyn Garden City branch presentation. Presenter: Chris Wright In part two of his talk, Chris will describe spotting in Hitchin 1962 to 1965, and the many trips…
1 event,
Southern England in the early 90’s
Southern England in the early 90’s
Local member Mark Greening give an illustrated presentation of what was happening some 30 years ago!
2 events,
Reminisces and Thoughts of a Retired Railwayman
Reminisces and Thoughts of a Retired Railwayman
Reminisces and thoughts of a retired Railwayman (Change of speaker. Unfortunatly, Chris Loder has had to cancel his attendance at our meeting).
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3 events,
Czech Railways Today
Czech Railways Today
Robert has travelled extensively in Central Europe and will present the current scene in the Czech Republic
Pure Genius – Irish Railways Part 1 – Derry – Chris Youett
Pure Genius – Irish Railways Part 1 – Derry – Chris Youett
Part 1 of this journey - 'Pure Genius' - Is a trip around the land of Scholars and Saints taking us initially through Derry.
1 event,
The North Staffordshire Railway Part 3.
The North Staffordshire Railway Part 3.
Brian Sullivan returns to give us Part III of his North Staffs Railway talk, using historic digitised photos taken by “Tommy” Tomalin. This talk covers the lines that ran to Stone and then…
1 event,
With Lance King in Ulster – The Great Northern Railway Lines: 1957-1965
With Lance King in Ulster – The Great Northern Railway Lines: 1957-1965
Leslie McAllister pays a tribute to his late friend Lance King, with a selection of Lance’s colour photography taken in the North of Ireland in the last years of steam…
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Railtours and Specials (Part 2)
Railtours and Specials (Part 2)
A Hitchin & Welwyn Garden City branch presentation. Presenter: John Day. Following on from the May 2023 presentation “Railtours, Specials and Unusual Workings” this second presentation, on the same theme,…
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Members' area
The latest edition of The Railway Observer, plus back copies from 2012
Details of benefits available to RCTS members
The directory of Society officers
Officers' administration tools
RCTS-branded clothing sales
Membership renewals for 2024 [opens November 2023]
Branches
The Society has a national network of 28 branches. Each branch has its own committee and operates its own programme of events. Members are assigned to a home branch but are welcome to take part in other branches' activities.
Guests are always welcome.
Features
The Society has several online information services maintained by our dedicated and knowledgeable members. The various features are regularly updated, and we welcome contributions from members and non-members alike.
Each feature has a editor. Click the images to explore.
NEW - John Knight's Database of Railway Photography
John Knight is a picture researcher. His database of southern and western England records details of 172,000 images published in 6,500 books.
This RCTS Feature initially opens on an interactive map. When you zoom in, each yellow dot represents a camera location. The background can be changed between contemporary maps, satellite images, and historical Ordnance Survey maps - including the detailed 1:10,560 Series. The dot has a reference number for subsequent searches. Please allow a few seconds for the map to load fully.
There are several other tabs alongside the map. One is the User Guide which explains what data is available and how to undertake searches.
Other tabs are lists of books, authors, photographers, railway companies, locomotive classes, and the like. All are searchable.
NB. The database is an index only. For copyright reasons, the photographs are not reproduced, but there are live links to where each book is currently available to purchase. Usually these are second-hand booksellers.
The RCTS Digital Archive
Photographs
Over 57,000 images are available to purchase as prints or as digital downloads.
The archive also includes many thousands of non-RCTS copyright images. They are available for people to view only online for their personal researches. Users must register (i.e. obtain a Readers' Card) and sign in to gain access.
Publications
A complete collection of the Society's magazine The Railway Observer is available to read online and to purchase as PDF downloads. 1928-2011 is publicly available from the archive; 2012 onwards restricted via the Members' Area.
Many of the Society's publications are available on a similar basis, including definitive series such as Locomotives of the LNER, Locomotives of the GWR, and Locomotives of the Southern. Also locomotive and coaching stock books.
Shop
The items listed below are currently available to purchase, some at sale prices. Click on the product images to read full details of each item.
RCTS members are advised to use the Shop pages in the Member's Area to gain access to exclusive products and special discounts.
Shipping is charged on the whole order. There is a flat rate of £4 for UK addresses, or 40% of the order value for non-UK address, calculated as the basket is added to.
Payment can be made by credit/debit card into the Society's Paypal account. You do not need your own Paypal account to use this service.
Second-hand books are sold by the Library. The list of books available is updated regularly, and is not limited to RCTS publications.
RCTS Publications
RCTS has been a renowned publisher of definitive books on locomotives and other railway subjects since 1935. The books are available online and trade enquiries are welcome. Many are now out of print but you can find a bibliography of all books by following More about RCTS Publications below.
Become an author? Click the button to find out more.
New printing technology means that it has become economic to republish some of the back catalogue, a process that is underway. If you cannot wait, copies are available to view at the Society's library at Leatherhead and second-hand copies may be available to purchase from there.
Featured publications
Categories
Locomotives of the LNER
The definitive series - originally published in 19 parts 1963-1994 - is now available again, in eight volumes.
- Book orders are fulfilled globally by Amazon. The links below point to the Amazon UK shop. In other countries, search Amazon using "Locomotives of the LNER".
- PDF downloads are fulfilled by a separate RCTS online shop at https://archive.rcts.org.uk/rcts-shop/