2025
Thursday 18th September 2025 - 7pm start AGM followed by films Admission free
Thursday 16th October 2025 - 7pm start Rev. Cannon B. Arman A Broad Gauge Journey, Swindon to South Wales
Rev. Canon Brian Arman makes a welcome return in October with a broad gauge journey from Swindon to Swindon via Gloucester, the South Wales Railway and Vale of Neath. One of the stories to be told is how our section of broad gauge was changed over to standard gauge in 1872 over a number of weekends, never having gone through the process of dual gauging, like the south west route.
Thursday 13th November 2025 - 7pm start Ian Boskett A Trip Down Memory Lane: 60s 70s 80s UK Railways
Following on from his Great Train Robbery talk last year, Ian Boskett returns in November. In his own inimitable style, Ian’s "trip down memory lane" includes scenes from the sixties, seventies and eighties, with a mix of his own images and others acquired over the years. Steam, locosheds and early diesels feature.
Thursday 4th December 2025 - 7pm start Peter Brabham The end of Steam in N. England and Scotland (Wiltshire & Chaplin collection)
Peter Brabham makes another visit in December with another dip into the superb Chaplin & Wiltshire collection. This adventure takes us to the North East and Scotland for quality images around and after the end of steam, some of which lasted nearly 2 years after Western steam had disappeared.
2026
Thursday 15th January 2026 - 7pm start The Festiniog Railway Pt 1 – Up To Closure (1946)
In January 2026, Friends of the Festiniog & Welsh Highland Railway make their inaugural visit to the Society with Part 1 of a talk covering the history of the world’s oldest independent railway, from the beginnings of the Festiniog, up to closure in 1946 . We’ll look to slot Part 2 into our programme during 2027.
Thursday 12th February 2026 - 7pm start MRS Video Films
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Thursday 12th March 2026 - 7pm start David Mathew 1962 Was Only Yesterday
No doubt weaving his early railway years and later transport career into the mix, our esteemed President, David Mathew, takes the floor in March as he reminisces over just a sample of his personal photographic collection. A number of which have appeared in the pages of the Journal in recent times including the Carmarthen - Aberystwyth route and the first Blue Pullman in S.Wales.
Thursday 16th April 2026 - 7pm start Ken Mumford Brecon & Merthyr Railway Pt2 (Pontsticill – Bedwas)
Ken Mumford continues his copiously illustrated north to south journey along the Brecon & Merthyr line. This the second part of presentation taking in the section between Ponsticill and Bedwas.
Thursday 14th May 2026 - 7pm start Roy Kethro 50th Anniversary of Western Region HST Introduction
Roy Kethro joined B.R. at Bristol in 1969 as an apprentice. Within seven years, the HST concept had developed into the train that is widely regarded as the saviour of fast, Inter-City rail travel in the UK. 2026 will be the 50th anniversary of their official introduction (and on W.R. metals). So, it will be fitting that with his frontline, first-hand experiences on the HST Class 43 locos, Roy can tell the other side of the story in May 2026 and the many reliability issues the maintenance depots had to contend with.
Thursday 18th June 2026 - 7pm start Ray Viney Railways in South East Monmouthshire
Our Journal Editor, Ray Viney, will once again make his regular appearance in June to present another talk on the railways of Monmouthshire, this time focusing on the south-east of the county. Richly illustrated with images drawn from the Society’s collection, Ray's presentation will be concentrating on the railways that meandered through the picturesque Wye and Usk Valleys, while making visits to Chepstow, Monmouth and Severn Tunnel Junction. It promises to be another interesting evening filled with memories from the both the steam and diesel eras in this part of Monmouthshire.