This group has been in existence since 2014 and has gone from strength to strength.

We tend to meet every month at The Worthies Sports and Social Club from 14.00 to 16.00 and usually listen to a railway talk. 

We also meet additionally from time to time to enjoy outside activities.  These include visiting our nearest steam venue, the Watercress Line (Alresford to Alton) or mainline railway stations in this area, followed by lunch at a local pub or cafe. 

Railway Group Celebrating Again! Although the title of our group suggests that we are a group of railway enthusiasts, most of us also really enjoy good food. Last year we celebrated our 10-year anniversary with many of our members enjoying an excellent lunch. This year, 2025, we had another very good excuse to arrange a meal. In September, it was 200 years since the original railway line from Stockton to Darlington started, a journey that gave birth to the modern railway. Lots of activities have been celebrated across the country and some of you may have seen television programmes highlighting this fact.
With our preparations well on the way, we spoke to Alex Green, a long-established retired railway man who joined our group about a year ago and he managed to persuade his brother, Chris Green, to join us for the event.
On 24th September, the day finally arrived. Under the exceptional organisational skills of Freda Bates, 44 members and guests gathered at Littleton Memorial Hall. In addition to our own members, we were joined by other railway groups from this area including the Railway Club of the New Forest (RCNF) and Railway Correspondence & Travel Society (RCTS).
A slide presentation of historical photographs and prints continued throughout the lunch, which followed introductions and welcomes. Lunch was provided superbly by Paul Gillingham from County Caterers and would be highly recommended if you are looking to arrange a similar event.

The assembled diners were superbly entertained by Chris, who was born in Winchester. Chris joined British Rail as an Oxford graduate trainee back in 1965 so we were blessed by hearing from a man with six decades of professional railway management experience. His distinguished achievements across and beyond our rail system were recognised by his award of an OBE this year.
Winchester commuters of the 1980's and 90's (like myself) may remember the formation of Network South East under Chris’ directorship. This included a 5 year programme of station upgrades with their distinctive signs and the introduction of the Network Card.
Chris skilfully managed to summarise the last 200 years of railway history and then turned his attention to the “here and now” and the re-nationalisation of the railways that is currently taking place. An editor of The Railway Magazine once described him as "the best Chairman BR never got".
The question now is, what event does the Railway Group slip into our 2026 programme that includes food and a great speaker? If you would like to join us or need any further information about this active, friendly group then please get in touch.

John Richbell

To email the Group Leader click on the link with his/her name. To obtain the Group Leaders telephone number access the Telephone Directory

When the group is show as full, please send an email requesting to join the waiting list to the Group Leader using the link above.