RCTS-CAMBRIDGE-Branch-Gill-Sans-1000-E2W

Welcome to the Cambridge Branch of the RCTS. We meet once a month from September to May (inclusive), usually on the second Tuesday, at The Swifts in Fulbourn.

Our meetings generally take the form of slide shows, movies or talks with lively discussions on all aspects of railway history and operational practice.

We also have a wonderful selection of hundreds of railway books available at each meeting at bargain prices.

All are welcome to join us and to share their interest!

Cambridge Branch Travels

 

A selection of recent photographs and videos from Cambridge Branch members and friends:

Having run round its empty box wagons after arrival from Brandon, DC Rail Freight's Brush Class 60 No. 60046 'William Wilberforce' has coupled up to the Northern end of its train at Ely and waits for the road to Ely North Junction on March 8th 2024 with 6Z84, the 17.42 Brandon to Kings Lynn. One of the large fleet of Greater Anglia Class 720 units, No. 720578 stands at Platform 3 after arriving at 18.38 with 1H82, the 17.07 from Liverpool Street and will depart at 19.09 as 5H93, empty stock to Liverpool Street. Photo: Tony Field.
Having run round its empty box wagons after arrival from Brandon, DC Rail Freight's Brush Class 60 No. 60046 'William Wilberforce' has coupled up to the Northern end of its train at Ely and waits for the road to Ely North Junction on March 8th 2024 with 6Z84, the 17.42 Brandon to Kings Lynn. One of the large fleet of Greater Anglia Class 720 units, No. 720578 stands at Platform 3 after arriving at 18.38 with 1H82, the 17.07 from Liverpool Street and will depart at 19.09 as 5H93, empty stock to Liverpool Street. Photo: Tony Field.

What's On

Venue

Contacts

Chairman                                                                                            Branch Secretary

Robert Bartlett OBE                                                                             Tony Field  cambridge@rcts.org.uk

 

Fixtures Secretary                                                                              Website                                                                

Michael Smyth                                                                                     cambridgeweb@rcts.org.uk

 

Sales Officer

Keith Crossley

Tel: 01223 515296, email: keith.crossley44@gmail.com

 

Hundreds of Books for Sale at Each Meeting and by Mail Order - Please Contact Keith for Details

RCTS Cambridge Branch Gallery

 

The RCTS Cambridge Branch Gallery aims to capture the diversity of railway operation over an area roughly corresponding to the coverage of the former 31A Cambridge Shed, which includes Cambridge,  St Ives, Huntingdon, Ely, March, Wisbech, Kings Lynn, South Lynn, Hunstanton, Bury St Edmunds and Saffron Walden

To reflect the interests and travels of our members, we also show images from further afield.

Our aim is to share the fascination of railway operation with as many people as possible. Images are drawn from a wide range of sources and where known each is acknowledged.

Any comments on the gallery, including offers of images, should be sent to cambridgeweb at rcts.org.uk

Please note that all images in the gallery are the copyright of the identified author and permission for re-use must be obtained via the RCTS Cambridge Branch at the above address.

We hope you enjoy the gallery!

Further Afield

Meeting reports

12th March 2024 “Cambridge Area Railways Yesterday and Today (Part 3)” by David Scudamore

Looking very smart in BR’s short-lived Express Blue livery, LNER A4 No. 60007 ‘Sir Nigel Gresley’ is seen passing Shepreth Branch Junction on 25th June 1995 with a Bishops Stortford…

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13th February 2024 “That Was the Year That Was – 1971” by Geoff Plumb

On February 13th we were delighted to welcome Geoff Plumb for a nostalgia-filled evening entitled ‘That was the year that was – 1971’, comprising a selection of high-quality photographs all…

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9th January 2024 “March and its Railways” by Richard Munns

A 1951 aerial view of Whitemoor Yard showing the engine shed (far left), to its right the Down Reception Sidings and then Norwood Yard (with Trans-shipment Shed in the middle).…

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12th December 2023 Branch AGM and Members’ Contributions

Train Register from Woodford Halse No.2 Box, Up Line, 24th August 1962. The third row shows a Class 1 working (4 beats on the bell) and is the 12.25 p.m.…

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14th November 2023 “My Back Pages” by David Pearce

Taking his theme from the lyrics of Bob Dylan’s ‘My Back Pages’ track, on Tuesday 14th November David Pearce gave us a fascinating semi-autobiographical presentation of his early days of…

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10th October 2023 “The Fylde Line” by Alan Jones

BRCW Class 104 vehicles M50443, M59149 and M50493, complete with Blackpool Line white stripe, are seen at the boarded crossing known locally as the ‘three steps’ between Adlington and Chorley…

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12th September 2023 “Railways to the Coast” by Tony Kirby

The Great Northern Railway’s advertising of Cromer and Sheringham was very successful in stimulating holiday traffic from the East Midlands to these resorts over its Joint Line with the Midland…

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9th May 2023 “Aspects of Southern Steam” by Brian Benford

1927-built S15 Class 4-6-0 No. 825 runs round its train at Grosmont on August 14th 2005. The S15 Class was introduced in 1920 as a heavy freight locomotive, designed by…

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11th April 2023 “Colchester in the Age of Steam” by David Goodyear

BR Britannia 4-6-2 No. 70039 ‘Sir Christopher Wren’ pulls out of Colchester station on 13th July 1957. Photo: Dave Goodyear. As the junction on the Great Eastern Main Line for…

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14th March 2023 “Cambridge Area Railways Yesterday and Today (Part 2)” by David Scudamore

Circa 1949, B17/5 4-6-0 No. 61659 “East Anglian” is seen on Cambridge shed – the only streamlined loco to be allocated to Cambridge. Photo: Copyright David Scudamore Collection. On Tuesday…

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14th February 2023 “Back to Old Ireland” by Mike Page

The Great Southern and Western Railway Class D12, designed by Robert Coey and built at Inchicore between 1900 and 1907, was a class of 26 4-4-0 tender locomotives built for…

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10th January 2023 “Western Canada Wanderings” by Tony Field

A Canadian Pacific intermodal train rolls into Field, BC for a crew change. Photo: Tony Field. Tony Field gave us our first presentation of the New Year with a show…

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13th December 2022 Branch AGM and Members’ Contributions

On the coldest day nationally since 2010, GB Railfreight Class 66 No. 66793 runs to time through Waterbeach on December 12th 2022 with 6L37, the 09.57 Hoo Junction to Whitemoor…

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8th November 2022 “Gone Forever – Images of BR Steam in the North of England (Part 2)” by Michael Smyth

On a freezing cold 20th December 1967, ex LMS Black 5 No. 45353 heads North from Carnforth with Presflo cement wagons. Photo: Michael Smyth. Following his highly successful Part 1…

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11th October 2022 “The Settle & Carlisle in the 80s and 90s” by Stewart Jolly

On a beautifully sunny 27th August 1988, Class 47 No. 47517 ‘Andrew Carnegie’ has left Kirkby Stephen and is about to cross Smardale Viaduct as it heads North with the…

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13th September 2022 “By Midland to Cambridge” by Robin Cullup

For a few Saturdays in Summer, the Kettering to Cambridge line enjoyed the passage of its closest ‘main line’ passenger working – the Leicester to Clacton holiday train. The working…

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10th May 2022 “North London Lines in the 80s” by Alan Jones

Early-bodied Class 31 No. 31108 has propelled its short consist of scrap and a single SPA wagon from Ward’s Siding along the Silvertown Tramway, reversed in the headshunt and is…

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19th April 2022 “Rail Travels in South-East Asia 2019” by Iain Scotchman

State Railway Of Thailand (SRT) GE Co-Co diesel No. 4044 is seen at Kanchanaburi on 26th December 2019 heading the Eastern and Oriental Express. Photo: Iain Scotchman. For our penultimate…

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8th March 2022 “Cambridge Area Railways Yesterday and Today (Part 1)” by David Scudamore

On 19th October 1991, West Country Pacific No. 34027 ‘Taw Valley’ and BR Standard Class 7 No. 70000 ‘Britannia’ stand in Cambridge Coalfields Yard. Photo Copyright David Scudamore. A record…

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8th February 2022 “Gone Forever – Images of BR Steam in the North of England (Part 1)” by Michael Smyth

On an overcast 2nd September 1967, Class B1 61306 departs from Bradford Exchange with the last steam-hauled 08.20 (SO) to Skegness. Photo: Michael Smyth. Branch member Michael Smyth was inspired…

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11th January 2022 “East Anglian Railways Before Privatisation” by John Day

On 12th May 1984, the final day of locomotive-hauled services on the East Suffolk Line, 37049 departs from Saxmundham with the 07.19 Lowestoft to Liverpool Street. Photo: John Day 2022…

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14th December 2021 Branch AGM and Members’ Contributions

  Chairman Robert Bartlett opened the AGM promptly at 7:30, drawing attention to the benefits of RCTS membership, the Branch’s extensive range of books for sale and the Society’s Library…

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9th November 2021 “Roaming Around London with a Camera” by Geoff Brockett

On 2 Sep 2020, 66149 passes Charlton Lane gate box with the 11.07 Angerstein Wharf to Woking conveying sea-dredged sand. Photo: Geoff Brockett. The Capital’s railways were the subject of…

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12th October 2021 “On Shed” by Robert Warburton

D6526 and E6005 on shed at Feltham on 11th July 1965. Photo: Robert Warburton On October 12th we were delighted to welcome Robert Warburton back to the Branch, to hear…

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14th September 2021 “Southern California Rails” by Tony Field

    After an eighteen month break from face-to-face meetings, we made a thunderous start to our 2021-22 programme with a magnificent tour of rail operations in the Los Angeles…

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