Railway Correspondence and Travel Society RCTS South Wales

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Railway Correspondence and Travel Society RCTS South Wales

Railway Correspondence and Travel Society - South Wales Branch.

29/03/2026

March winds are about to give way to April Showers which can mean only one thing, the April edition of Right tracks is about to hit your inbox, so what can you expect from this month’s offering? Well, alongside our regular features, including South Wales Observations and Now For Something Completely Different, we will be looking at the China Clay branches in the latest instalment of our long running series on this uniquely Cornish traffic flow. In the third part of our history of the Class 58, we will be focussing on the product of Doncaster Works’ second career across the Channel on European railways. Also featured will be a selection of Stuart Warr’s monochrome images taken around Yorkshire and Eric Coombes early morning expeditions.

If you haven’t already subscribed, you can do so by E Mailing [email protected]

24/02/2026

The march edition of Right Tracks, our regular monthly newsletter is scheduled to hit your inboxes on Dydd Dewi Sant, March 1st. What can you expect to read this month? Well. There will be our usual smorgasbord of content including some fine images of the Swanage Railway from Stuart Warr, part 2 of Steve Ricketts and Peter Forune’s story of the class 58 and the latest installment in the history of of China Clay wagons as well as the usual features, such as the South Wales Observations and Buses corner.

If you haven’t already subscribed, you can do so by e-mailing [email protected]

Finally, a quick reminder that our March meeting will be held one week earlier than usual, on Wednesday 4th March, at The Old Church Rooms, Radyr. When Noel Thompson will be giving a talk on past adventures using an All Lines Rover ticket.

07/12/2025

Rounding off 2025, and following on from his popular talks on the railways of South Africa and Cuba, our December meeting will feature a presentation by renowned local photographer Tony Wardrobe. Tony will be sharing what promises to be a fascinating collection of images, this time focusing on railways built to narrower-than-standard gauges.

Doors open at 7:00pm for a 7:30pm start. Our pre-loved book stall will be available—perfect for snapping up those last-minute Christmas gifts. As always, complimentary tea and coffee will be served at half-time, along with our ever-popular, competitively priced KitKats.

Proving that Narrow Gauge doesn’t necessarily mean small, ex SAR/SAS Class 25NC 4-8-4 No 3405 Janice, on display at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre. Photographs: David Chamberlain

10/11/2025

For the November RCTS South Wales branch meeting, our attention will be drawn away from the national network and into a world rarely seen by the general public as our guest speaker, Brian Rolley, shines a light on the internal systems at Cardiff’s Tremorfa and Castle Steelworks. Why not join us on Wednesday 12th November at the Old Church Rooms in Radyr for what promises to be an interesting and informative presentation. Doors open at 7pm for a 7:30 start. As usual, our well stocked preloved bookstall will be open for you to make that vital purchase you didn’t know you needed there will also be complimentary tea and coffee at half time along when competitively priced Kits Kats will be available.

Image Credit: Brian Rolley

30/10/2025

The November edition of Right Tracks, our regular, monthly, newsletter is scheduled to hit your inbox on the 1st, what can you expect this month? Well, there will be the usual smorgasbord of content, including a feature on the Railways of Bristol by Stuart Warr, the second parts of our features on the railways of Kent and China Clay workings, and the first part of a look at the railways of the Isle of Man. If you haven’t already subscribed, you can do so by e-mailing [email protected]

06/10/2025

This Wednesday sees the second meeting of the new season and this month Andrew Gainsbury from Transport for Wales will be presenting a talk on the work to update their fleet, ably illustrated with photographs by our very own Jeremy Segrott, so expect everything from the humble Mk4 sets through to the mighty Pacers.
Doors open at 7pm at the Old Church Rooms, Rady for a 7:30 start, our well stocked pre loved book stall will be available for you to start purchasing those essential Christmas gifts and our regular complimentary tea and coffee will be available along with our competitively priced Kit Kats at half time.

10/09/2025

Don’t forget our new season of talks gets back underway tonight. Bob Price will be presenting what promises to be a fascinating talk on the Men and machines of the 756th Railshop battalion of the USATC and their time in South Wales. Doors open 7:00 & the presentation will start at 7:30. There will be our usual second hand book stall for your perusal and the regular complimentary tea & coffee at half time. The Photo shows a USATC S160 heading through Cardiff on a freight during WWII. Credit. Nigel Wassell Collection

01/09/2025

SOUTH WALES BRANCH OUTDOOR EVENT - WALKING OLD RAILWAY LINES

Wednesday 1st October at 10.30.

Anfdrew Hemmings writes that our colleague Ian Reese will be taking us along the west bank of the River Usk and into the Pillgwenlly area of Newport, to show us the almost entirely disappeared railway scene of years gone by. There were many railway lines crowding the west bank, bringing coal down from the valleys for loading onto ships, amongst other activities, by the Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Co. and successor companies. We will walk along the river bank to visit the site of an old railway station, a locomotive engine shed and a mishap which befell a ship on the river, amongst other locations. Ian will bring some folders of photographs from the past of the locations we will visit. The walk will be about two to three miles long on flat surfaces, with frequent stops. We could 'replenish our tanks' with 'coal and water', back to the town centre after the walk, at a suitable 'refuelling point' (know what I mean!).

If you would to join us please meet Ian in the bus station at the rear of the Potters public house in Newport town centre at 10.30 am on Wednesday 1st October. Parking is available at the Friars’ Walk car park (payment required) next door to the meeting point. Address ; John Frost Square, Newport, Gwent, NP20 1EA. The meeting point is 5 to 10 minutes' walk from the Railway Station. (NB. There are two bus stations in Newport ; make sure you go to the one by the Potters public house).

31/07/2025

A taster of what to expect from the latest edition of Right Tracks, which is due for publication on August 1st.

Firstly 93007 pictured during Alex Fortune's visit to the Rail Live 2025 event on 19th June.

Secondly Stuart Warr's superb study of GBRf's 66753 with a Fexlistowe bound container train at Thurston in Suffolk.

Thirdly, a colourful line up of Class 73s captured by Peter Fortune during his visit to Tonbridge West Yard on 10th July.

Lastly, from the final part of Steve Rickett's study of the Trainload Freight era, a picture of 60070 passing Duffryn with steel empties from Ebbw Vale to Margam.

For the full stories and many more excellent photographs, subscribe free of charge to the Right Tracks mailing list by simply emailing your details to Steve Rickett at [email protected]

The August edition will feature the concluding part of Steve Rickett's feature on the Trainload Freight era, a report from Alex Fortune on Rail Live 2025 at Long Marston, a report from Noel Thompson on his adventures with an All Line Rover, a feature on East Anglia from the camera of Stuart Warr and Part 2 of Peter Fortune's article on how he became interested in railways and much more. Sign up to make sure that you don't miss out.

22/07/2025

As is usual, the South Wales Branch of the RCTS will be taking a break in August but the new season of talks gets under way on 10th September with what promises to be a fascinating presentation by Bob Price on the 756th Railway Shop Battalion of the US Army and their time at Newport’s Ebbw Junction Shed preparing the locomotives and rolling stock that would be needed to run the railways of Europe after D-Day.

Address

Cardiff
CF158DF

Telephone

01656856422

Website

http://bit.ly/RCTSSW

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