Signalling Record Society
Calendar of Meetings and Events
Places on visits to Network Rail and London Underground are strictly limited and these places are only available to members. Registering in advance with the organiser is essential and, before registering, please ensure you can attend on the date concerned. If the number of members wishing to attend exceeds the available number of places the organiser will 'draw names from the hat' to determine who may attend.
Some visits to London Underground and Network Rail are arranged at short notice and may not get advertised here. If you would like to register an interest in advance, register here indicating which areas of the country interest you. You will then be sent detail of each visit by email so that you are certain to be notified in time.
By prior arrangement with the organiser concerned, members attending a visit to a Heritage Railway may take a friend with them.
If you are not yet a member, take the opportunity to join here.
All visit dates should be treated as provisional until participants have the date confirmed by the organiser.
Times quoted in the calendar are in 24 hour notation.
If you find you are unable to attend the visit please let the Organiser know immediately to allow your place to be offered to someone else, or if on the day to avoid the visit being delayed awaiting your arrival. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, failure to let the organiser know in good time may result in preference being given to others for subsequent visits.
Visit safety - Visits to Network Rail, London Underground and Heritage Railway premises often involve lineside access. Specific conditions normally apply to these visits. Please ensure you have fully read the conditions before applying to join the visit.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Saturday 17 November 2018 |
North West Meeting, Crewe. Crewe North Junction Signal Box at The Crewe Heritage Centre. 1000 site opens, tea and biscuits available. 1045 Welcome, introduction and notices 1100 Down the Pan. Bedford to St Pancras in the 1970s. Speaker John Hinson. An illustrated talk depicting the MML signalling scene of the 1970's. Describing the Signal Boxes that existed prior to the commissioning of West Hampstead PSB. 1230 Lunch break. Exeter West SB will be open and operational. Crewe Station 'A' and Crewe North Junction operations floor will also be open. 1400 From thumb switches to mice. Speaker Andrew Overton. An illustrated history of the evolution of power signalling panels through to the workstations of the present day. Last minute change of speaker. 1530 Networking Forum and questions. 1600 Close. 1630 Site closes. Attendees will be invited to make a voluntary donation of £4 towards the costs of the day. The Heritage Centre also houses the preserved Crewe Station “A” and Exeter West boxes. The entrance to The Crewe Heritage Centre is situated at Vernon Way, Crewe on the west side of the West Coast Main Line. Location Map - click on the map marker for address detail, satnav information and walking route from the station. No charge will be made by The Heritage Centre for access to the site by society members. The Centre may be closed to the general public on the meeting date. Please state that you are a member of the Signalling Record Society at the site entrance. Nearest railway station is Crewe. National Rail Enquiries for train times or Traveline for other transport modes. Allow 30 minutes if walking from Crewe station. Further information can be obtained from Ken Booth. |
| Saturday & Sunday 24 & 25 November 2018 |
Warley Model Railway Club Warley National Model Railway Exhibition 2018 at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham. Nearest railway station is Birmingham International with Elmdon Aerodrome (aka Birmingham International Airport) close by and with under cover walkway from the station into the NEC. The Society will have a stand at the show. Please come along and support. More information here. National Rail Enquiries for train times or Traveline for other transport modes. Location map here - click on the map marker for address detail and satnav information. |
| Saturday 1 December 2018 |
Committee Meeting, Birmingham & Midland Institute, Margaret Street, Birmingham. Location map here - click on the map marker for address detail and satnav information. |
| Saturday 15 December 2018 |
Joint Open Day and Christmas Gathering from 10:00 with the London & North Western Society at the Societies' Archives, Unit 6A, Princes Drive, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2FD. Prior advice to the Archivist would be appreciated if you are planning to come. Map here - click on the map marker for address detail and satnav information. Nearest railway stations are Coventry and Leamington Spa. Bus service X17 serves both stations, ask the driver to stop at Woodland Road, Kenilworth to let you off. National Rail Enquiries for train times or Traveline for other transport modes. |
| Saturday 26 January 2019 |
Joint Open Day with the London & North Western Society at the Societies' Archives, Unit 6A, Princes Drive, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2FD. 10:00 to 17:00. Prior advice to the Archivist would be appreciated if you are planning to come. Map here - click on the map marker for address detail and satnav information. Nearest railway stations are Coventry and Leamington Spa. Bus service X17 serves both stations, ask the driver to stop at Woodland Road, Kenilworth to let you off. National Rail Enquiries for train times or Traveline for other transport modes. |
| Saturday 2 March 2019 |
Research Open Day at the Society's Archives, Unit 6A, Princes Drive, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2FD. 10:00 to 17:00. Prior advice to the Archivist would be appreciated if you are planning to come. Map here - click on the map marker for address detail and satnav information. Nearest railway stations are Coventry and Leamington Spa. Bus service X17 serves both stations, ask the driver to stop at Woodland Road, Kenilworth to let you off. National Rail Enquiries for train times or Traveline for other transport modes. |
| Saturday 30 March 2019 |
Joint Open Day with the London & North Western Society at the Societies' Archives, Unit 6A, Princes Drive, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2FD. 10:00 to 17:00. Prior advice to the Archivist would be appreciated if you are planning to come. Map here - click on the map marker for address detail and satnav information. Nearest railway stations are Coventry and Leamington Spa. Bus service X17 serves both stations, ask the driver to stop at Woodland Road, Kenilworth to let you off. National Rail Enquiries for train times or Traveline for other transport modes. |
| Saturday 13 April 2019 |
Research Open Day at the Society's Archives, Unit 6A, Princes Drive, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2FD. 10:00 to 17:00. Prior advice to the Archivist would be appreciated if you are planning to come. Map here - click on the map marker for address detail and satnav information. Nearest railway stations are Coventry and Leamington Spa. Bus service X17 serves both stations, ask the driver to stop at Woodland Road, Kenilworth to let you off. National Rail Enquiries for train times or Traveline for other transport modes. |
| Saturday 18 May 2019 |
Annual General Meeting The first Annual General Meeting of the Society since becoming a charity will be held at the National Railway Museum, York. Further detail will be announced nearer the date. Location map here - click on the map marker for address detail and satnav information. For those of you coming by train there is a down side exit from the station footbridge which provides the shortest walking distance to the NRM. Nearest railway station is York. National Rail Enquiries for train times or Traveline for other transport modes. |
| Saturday 1 June 2019 |
Research Open Day at the Society's Archives, Unit 6A, Princes Drive, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2FD. 10:00 to 17:00. Prior advice to the Archivist would be appreciated if you are planning to come. Map here - click on the map marker for address detail and satnav information. Nearest railway stations are Coventry and Leamington Spa. Bus service X17 serves both stations, ask the driver to stop at Woodland Road, Kenilworth to let you off. National Rail Enquiries for train times or Traveline for other transport modes. |
| Saturday & Sunday 15 & 16 June 2019 |
Signalling Gala at the Railway Heritage Centre, Crewe. The Society will have a stand at the show. Please come along and support. The Heritage Centre also houses the preserved Crewe North Junction, Crewe Station “A” and Exeter West signal boxes. The entrance to The Crewe Heritage Centre is situated at Vernon Way, Crewe on the west side of the West Coast Main Line. Location Map - click on the map marker for address detail, satnav information and walking route from the station. Nearest railway station is Crewe. National Rail Enquiries for train times or Traveline for other transport modes. Allow 30 minutes if walking from Crewe station. |
| Saturday 20 July 2019 |
Joint Open Day with the London & North Western Society at the Societies' Archives, Unit 6A, Princes Drive, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2FD. 10:00 to 17:00. Prior advice to the Archivist would be appreciated if you are planning to come. Map here - click on the map marker for address detail and satnav information. Nearest railway stations are Coventry and Leamington Spa. Bus service X17 serves both stations, ask the driver to stop at Woodland Road, Kenilworth to let you off. National Rail Enquiries for train times or Traveline for other transport modes. |
| Saturday & Sunday 31 August & 1 September 2019 |
Guildex 2019 Gauge O Guild annual exhibition at Telford International Centre. The Society will have a stand at the show. Please come along and support. More information here. Nearest railway station is Telford Central. National Rail Enquiries for train times or Traveline for other transport modes. Location map here - click on the map marker for address detail and satnav information. |
| Saturday 14 September 2019 |
Anniversary Special at the Society's Archives, Unit 6A, Princes Drive, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2FD. 10:00 to 16:00. Deatils to Follow .... Prior advice to the Archivist would be appreciated if you are planning to come. Map here - click on the map marker for address detail and satnav information. Nearest railway stations are Coventry and Leamington Spa. Bus service X17 serves both stations, ask the driver to stop at Woodland Road, Kenilworth to let you off. National Rail Enquiries for train times or Traveline for other transport modes. |
| Saturday 26 October 2019 |
Joint Open Day with the London & North Western Society at the Societies' Archives, Unit 6A, Princes Drive, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2FD. 10:00 to 17:00. Prior advice to the Archivist would be appreciated if you are planning to come. Map here - click on the map marker for address detail and satnav information. Nearest railway stations are Coventry and Leamington Spa. Bus service X17 serves both stations, ask the driver to stop at Woodland Road, Kenilworth to let you off. National Rail Enquiries for train times or Traveline for other transport modes. |
| Saturday 9 November 2019 |
Research Open Day at the Society's Archives, Unit 6A, Princes Drive, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2FD. 10:00 to 17:00. Prior advice to the Archivist would be appreciated if you are planning to come. Map here - click on the map marker for address detail and satnav information. Nearest railway stations are Coventry and Leamington Spa. Bus service X17 serves both stations, ask the driver to stop at Woodland Road, Kenilworth to let you off. National Rail Enquiries for train times or Traveline for other transport modes. |
| Saturday 16 November 2019 |
North West Meeting, Crewe. Crewe North Junction Signal Box at The Crewe Heritage Centre. 1000 site opens, tea and biscuits available. 1045 Welcome, introduction and notices. Speakers will be announced nearer the date. 1230 Lunch break. Exeter West SB, Crewe Station 'A' and Crewe North Junction are likely to be open. 1530 Networking Forum and questions. 1600 Close. 1630 Site closes. Attendees will be invited to make a voluntary donation of £4 towards the costs of the day. The Heritage Centre also houses the preserved Crewe Station “A” and Exeter West boxes. The entrance to The Crewe Heritage Centre is situated at Vernon Way, Crewe on the west side of the West Coast Main Line. Location Map - click on the map marker for address detail, satnav information and walking route from the station. No charge will be made by The Heritage Centre for access to the site by society members. The Centre may be closed to the general public on the meeting date. Please state that you are a member of the Signalling Record Society at the site entrance. Nearest railway station is Crewe. National Rail Enquiries for train times or Traveline for other transport modes. Allow 30 minutes if walking from Crewe station. Further information can be obtained from Ken Booth. |
| Saturday 14 December 2019 |
Joint Open Day and Christmas Gathering from 10:00 with the London & North Western Society at the Societies' Archives, Unit 6A, Princes Drive, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2FD. Prior advice to the Archivist would be appreciated if you are planning to come. Map here - click on the map marker for address detail and satnav information. Nearest railway stations are Coventry and Leamington Spa. Bus service X17 serves both stations, ask the driver to stop at Woodland Road, Kenilworth to let you off. National Rail Enquiries for train times or Traveline for other transport modes. |
Conditions for Participation in Visits Involving Lineside Access
These condtions apply to all visits involving lineside access, regardless of whether hosted by Network Rail, London Underground, Metro, Tramway or by one of the Heritage Railways.
The operational railway is a potentially dangerous environment. Whilst every reasonable care will be taken during the visit to ensure your safety, you must understand that the Society does not carry any insurance and your participation is undertaken at your own risk. This is in accordance with Society Bylaws.
It is a mandatory requirement that you provide yourself with a clean hi-visibility waistcoat or coat meeting the specifications of GO/RT3279 Class 2.
In layman's terms this means:
PLEASE NOTE - Old-style mini-vests which only come half-way down towards the waist only meet class 1 of the specification and are not acceptable on Society visits. Additionally red, yellow or green garments (you will be a walking handsignal and will possibly cause a SPAD) ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE. This condition is imposed on everyone coming onto the lineside. Please do not attend without suitable clothing; you will be unable to participate in the visit as the Visit Co-ordinator will have undertaken with the host company that the party will be compliant.
- The garment covers the whole torso
- It is orange
- It has reflective strips
If you do not already have suitable hi-vis clothing this can be easily and cheaply obtained from workwear shops and on-line. Do ensure that you obtain rail-industry compliant garments, as detailed above. The Visit Co-ordinator may have some spare waistcoats available - if you wish to borrow one of these on the day you must make arrangements before the date of the visit to check one is available and reserve it for your use. They will not be brought along unless requested.
Do give some consideration to your choice of clothing on the day. Garments which consist of large amounts of red, yellow or green are not acceptable when on the operational railway, either lineside or near a signalbox, as they are 'signalling colours' and can cause confusion to train drivers, signallers and others. Any disruption to the railway caused by the wearing of such garments will cause embarrassment to the Society's reputation and could result in the hosting company refusing such visits in the future.
The hosting company Manager will give a safety brief at the commencement of the visit. Please ensure you listen carefully to the brief and comply in full with any and all instructions given during the brief.
Photography is normally permitted unless you are advised otherwise but you must comply with any restrictions advised to you on the day. In order to avoid the hosting companies imposing bans on photography you are requested to be mindful that operational signalboxes are security-critical locations and if you make photographs available for public viewing following your visit you should not display those which feature:
- identifiable images of railway staff, unless you have their specific permission,
- telephone numbers on paperwork or equipment,
- operational notices, instructions, memoranda, passwords, etc.,
- anything which could cause public embarrassment to the staff or company.