ICRS name

Events: Please read all notes before booking

This page lists locations where either ICRS is organising Member only visits, attending Preservation Railway Galas with our sales stand or similarly attending Open Days organised by Railway Operating Companies to sell our books and attract new members. Recent (post 2009) Member only visits and Open Days are also listed.

The info and dates provided below should be the very latest (as long as I remember to update them) and may therefore be different from TRACKS which by its nature can only be updated once a month.

To make general enquiries please email events@intercityrailwaysociety.org but do not use this for booking

Reports of events featured in TRACKS can be accessed by clicking the date links but
please note this does not include any in the last 12 months issues

STOP PRESS:
Good news that rail strikes on 30/03 & 01/04 called off
so no longer affecting our AGM & Basford Hall visit
Expressions of interest initially being taken for visit to
Long Marston as viewing will be restricted (see details)
New visits added: Crewe Basford Hall (10/06), WCR (15/08) & ELR (03/06)
Sorry but first ELR visit aleady oversubscribed and FULL as is next WCR visit.
Visit to HST, Rowsley South after visit to Briddon (02/04)
If visit requires payment in advance PLEASE pay asap after your confirmation of booking or you will lose place

General Booking Conditions - PLEASE READ

Most visits are organised by volunteers from the companies so please treat them with respect, likewise any ICRS official in control on the day.

Health: Please be aware most visits require a lot of walking on rough ground having possibly already walked to the venue. If you have health or mobility issues affected by this, then it is recommended you do not book. We have had a few incidents at different venues and other than an accident, if our host has to deal with a known health condition it will impact our ability to arrange future visits as Health & Safety issues are taken seriously by the companies.

With the average age of our membership at 65, ideally it would be preferable that visit participants should be vaccinated against Covid 19, but whatever your vaccination status, to protect others please do not attend if you feel ill on the day.

Booking: DO NOT TRY TO BOOK UNTIL VISIT IS SHOWN AS OPEN FOR BOOKING. Unless shown otherwise all visits are unlimited so there is no need to pre-book in advance. Where places are limited, the number of places still available is shown in brackets after the date of the visit. Where there are limited places the visits will be advertised as practicably as possible in TRACKS and on the website simultaneously as the pdf is sent out. Sadly however, members who do not have internet access or email will be disadvantaged but there is no other way (see advice in TRACKS)

Bookings should be made to Christine, contact details are on p2 in TRACKS (note if you phone you will most likely get Trevor). Clearly state your name, membership number, and importantly a contact telephone number. Note we cannot accept bookings by letter only, as there is no way to quickly contact you if plans are amended at short notice.

Please note your booking will not be confirmed if you do not provide full details. With limited places this may mean you miss out as a later booking correctly submitted will take precedence. As volunteers we should not have to chase you up wasting our time if you fail to provide details. It is seconds of your time to get it right. Checking the membership database doesn't always help as it also seems we then find members have not told us about changed telephone numbers or email addresses.

Delay in travelling notwithstanding, please note that there is no excuse for booking then not notifying us you cannot then attend. As with events where numbers need to be accurately known by the hosts for a tour, food or room capacity this is not acceptable. We have tried to ease the official’s organising burden and saving you money in postage by allowing members to pay on the day, but this can be abused as it can be then seen as nothing to lose if you can’t be bothered to turn up. It may also prevent your place being offered to someone else. Conversely where numbers permit, we will allow applications right up to the day to be as flexible as possible but do this by phone only as officials will be travelling to the event.

Visit Payments: Unless shown otherwise payment is cash on the day so please try to bring exact cash. Due to problems with cancellations and members not confirming during 2022, some events will change to payment up front ideally via BACS, possibly with a non-refundable part. When you pay by BACS then use the correct Ref code as shown, NOTHING ELSE please. If the visit requires payment in advance, PLEASE pay asap after your confirmation of booking or you will lose your place.

Clothing:Generally please wear sturdy shoes as most visits involve walking on rough ground. If required for the visit, as shown, Hi-viz vests and bump caps can be bought from Trevor who will be at most events. Ideally let him know in advance of your requirements..

ICRS Member Only Visits: 2023 (in date order)

VISITS WHERE BOOKING IS OPEN: (see above for conditions) Contact: Christine (see TRACKS for details)

FL Crewe Basford Hall Yard & AGM - Sat 1st April 2023
Our AGM is to be held at the YMCA Gresty Road following a visit to Basford Hall Yard. Unlimited places (currently 71) on visit though room limited to 60 for AGM. Cost £15 (visit) payable on the day. The 1 hour trip around Basford Hall Yard starts at 12.00 (meet no later than 11.45) from the main security gate 100m from Gresty Road. Parking should be available, with no other visit held prior to ours, on the access road between Gresty Road and the gate. The access road is ¾ mile from the station immediately on the left having passed under the railway bridge (DRS Depot is on the right) (Postcode: CW2 5AA, OS Grid Ref: SJ 70981 53757) Hi-viz jacket / vest required.

Following this visit, the AGM will start at 14.00 at the YMCA, only 5 mins away en route from Basford Hall back to the station. There is car parking on the adjacent roads and Pay & Display at the adjacent Crewe Alexandra FC. Refreshments will be available to purchase at YMCA from their café prior to the start of the meeting though if you want to bring your own, please do so. We hope to finish the AGM no later than 16.00 if not earlier. Merchandise, including our new 2023 books, can be bought at the AGM but for those not attending some will be available from Chris at Basford Hall.

Good News, the rail strikes on 30/03 & 01/04 have been called off

Andrew Briddon Collection, Darley Dale - Sun 2nd Apr 2023
Cost £15. Places unlimited (currently 45). Following a 1 hour tour of the collection of approx 30 locos, cab rides will be available in one of his shunters. Start 10.30 so meet at 10.15 opposite in the Darley Dale Station car park, Peak Rail by the level crossing, on the B5057 Station Road, 200m west of the A6 between Matlock (2½ miles south) and Bakewell (Postcode: DE4 2EQ, OS Grid Ref: SK 27250 62622). Alternative car parking at the Whitworth Centre (Pay & Display) (Postcode: DE4 2EQ, OS Grid Ref: SK 27463 62929) 100m north of the B5057 / A6 jnct from where either you can walk back via the roads or through Whitworth Park occupying the corner between the A6 and the station. Rowsley the main PEA base is 1½ miles north of Darley Dale. Hi-viz jacket / vest required.
All photos taken are for private use ONLY, no public display either online, in magazines or via social media.

Heritage Shunters Trust, Rowsley South (HST) - Sun 2nd Apr 2023: LATE ADDITION, NOT IN TRACKS
Following the Briddion visit we have arranged a visit to HST (5 mins north of Darley Dale) starting at 13.00 to view their collection of ex-BR shunters. Cost £5. Places unlimited (currently 40). Please contact Christine asap if you are interested even if you are not going on the Briddon visit. The visit will include the shed which is not open on a caual visit.

West Coast Railways, Carnforth (for dates see below)
Cost £25.Places limited to 30 but for visit to proceed we need a min of 20.

The tour will take approx. 3 to 3½ hours so if you are travelling by train please arrange your return time accordingly. Needing to leave early can cause problems and we don’t want to risk future visits.
Entry will be at the main WCR access off Jesson Way (Postcode: LA5 9UR, OS Grid Ref: SD 49128 70057). By car from the station turn right onto the A6 at the traffic lights then having passed the turning for Tesco turn right at the mini roundabout into Crag Bank, over the railway bridge which is the first bridge over the WCML 1.25 miles south of the station, then into Jesson Way. Start: 10.30 so meet no later than 10.00 at the station (Postcode: LA5 9TR, OS Map Ref: SD 49713 70649) where the fee will be taken and clothing bought if required. Those who have arrived by train will be ferried down to the entrance. It is a big site especially when you have gone up and down the various lines, requiring stepping over numerous tracks. Therefore, due to the terrain, distance and pace this visit is not advisable for anyone with mobility problems. However, should anyone with mobility problems wish to go then transport can be provided within the site to access the main sheds where most of the locos can be seen. Hi-viz jacket / vest, sturdy footwear and hard hat / bump cap required. All photos taken are for private use ONLY, no public display either online, in magazines or via social media.

Long Marston - Fri 19th May 2023: Expressions of interest being taken before formally confirming visit with Porterbrook
No limit on numbers (91 have shown interest). Cost £20 to include refreshments. Start 11.00, duration 2-3 hours. The site is now operated much differently than in previous visits with less stock and much tidier. This will be a guided visit only with no access between lines of stock so viewing will be from access roads only, similar to Rail Live. There will be ample opportunity to ask questions of Porterbrook staff so should be interesting. We may get access to the Chrysalis Rail building who undertake refurbishment for TOCs and access to the Hydroflex unit could be made available. If you are interested please let Christine know asap so that we can see if this is still a viable option given the understandable restrictions. More details TBC if sufficient numbers interested.
STOP PRESS: note the HNRC industrial shunters are going for scrap with half gone already, so very few locos now on site

Wishaw (Moveright International) - Sun 21st May
No limit on numbers (currently 39 attending) and no cost, though a small donation will be taken on the day. 10.00 start. Directions: From the M6 Jnct 9, a large roundabout with the A446 & A4097, take the A446 towards Wishaw / Lichfield. Remember this is the last Jnct to come off the M6 heading north otherwise you will find yourself on the M6 Toll  Road, in which case come off at the next Toll and turn left onto the A38 and through Minworth onto the A4097 back to the roundabout (been there, done that !!). After 1/2 mile on the A446, which initially is a dual carriageway, turn left before the road narrows to a single lane into Dunton Lane towards Wishaw. Pass under the M6 Toll Road and the entrance to the yard is on your right after 100 yds. The barrier might still be down so wait for Andrew to open it. (Postcode: B76 9QA, OS Grid Ref: SP 18191 94294).

East Lancs Rly (ELR) - Sat 3rd Jun FULL - reserve list in operation
Max 20 (FULL) Cost: £20. Start 9.30, duration 3 hours. Meet 09.15 at Baron Street, parking inside yard on right adj Buckley Wells Carriage Shed, DO NOT park on the road. This is just south of Bury town centre off the A56. Turn first into Manchester Old Road then into Baron Street which is a dead end leading across the tracks to a School.  (Postcode: BL9 0TY, Map Ref: SD 80031 10206). Bury Metrolink stop is a 10 min walk, cross the A58 ring road into Knowsley Street which leads to the A56 / Old Manchester Road junction. Hi-viz jacket / vest required.

FL Crewe Basford Hall Yard - Sat 10th Jun 2023
Unlimited places (currently 6). Cost £15 (visit) payable on the day. The 1 hour trip around Basford Hall Yard starts at 13.00 (meet no later than 12.45) from the main gate at the northern end of the access road off Gresty Road, ¾ mile from the station. Parking should be available with no other visit held prior to ours. (Postcode: CW2 5AA, OS Grid Ref: SJ 70981 53757) Hi-viz jacket / vest required.

Scunthorpe Steelworks - Sun 9th July 2023: FULL - reserve list in operation
Max 36 (FULL). Cost £20. Arrive 10.00 for 10.30 start. Duration 4 hours in 3 brake vans hauled by diesel, six people max per verandah. Tour starts from the ARP Frodingham platform alongside A1029 Brigg Road, Gate E, where parking is available (Postcode: DN16 1AX, OS Map Ref: SE 90606 10946). Scunthorpe Station is ¾ mile to the west. Visit to preservation shed included approx 12.30-13.15 where refreshments and toilets will be available. Hi-viz not required. All photos taken are for private use ONLY, no public display either online, in magazines or via social media.

Fawley Hill Railway Museum - Sun 23rd Jul 2023:
Max 60 (6 available). Cost £20 payable in advance by BACS (bank details on request, ref FH + membership number) or by cheque (made payable to Inter City Railway Society) and posted to Chris (address on p2). Pay asap after confirmation of your place.
Please book as early as possible as this museum is private and not open to the public only opening its doors by invitation only on a select few days each year to organised groups. Therefore this a golden opportunity to visit in our Golden Jubilee year. This unique private museum and railway north of Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire was set up by the late Sir William McAlpine but is now  maintained and operated by the Fawley Museum Society Ltd.

Apart from various wagons and an ex-Mk2 Royal coach, there are four locos on site, three diesel, including ex-BR D2120 and one steam which will be working. The railway is around 1¼ miles in length and  features the steepest adhesion-worked, standard gauge steam railway in the country with a ruling gradient of 1:13 so you can be assured of some spectacular steam action.

Access is off a minor road ¾ mile from the A4130 / B480 junction. Car Parking is free. Exact co-ordinates will be provided nearer the time. The Museum opens at 12.00 but please arrive by 11.30. Trains run regularly until 16.30. There is a wealth of railway artefacts around the grounds acquired by / donated to Sir William McAlpine during his construction career plus a museum also containing a model railway.

There is café at the rear of the station building or you can bring a picnic. There are several picnic locations around the station area plus a large grassy bank over-looking the railway line where one can sit and watch the train go by. Hi-viz not required.

Other railways nearby you could visit on the same day are CWR 10 miles to the west and CPR 16 miles to the north

PROPOSED VISITS: (arranged so far but details need TBC) DO NOT BOOK YET
(bookings will open at start of June after LM visit & SVR Gala out of the way)

Eastleigh Works - Sat 9th Sep 2023: unlimited. (payment will be by BACS in advance where possible and will be ticket only, handed out on the day which will be used for entry & exit)

ELR (Bury) - Sat 23rd Sep: limited to 20 places Sat 10th Oct: limited to 10 places
(bookings will be prioritised for members that missed out on the 2022 and 03/06/23 visits)

WCR, Carnforth - Sat 14th Oct: limited to 30 places

FL Crewe Basford Hall other Autumn dates TBC - unlimited

OTHER FACILITIES UNDER CONSIDERATION: (we are trying, but getting replies let alone agreement is very difficult)

LSL Crewe / Toton / WH Davis, Shirebrook

Preserved Rlys: EMB, GCR

Preservation Railway Galas (attending with sales stand)

SVR Spring Diesel Gala - 18th - 21st May 2023: We will be located on the concourse at Kidderminster Town.

Open Days (Railway Operating Companies)

DRS Carlisle Kingmoor - CANCELLED changing to biennial so next event 2024

Other Events

Nothing planned.

Events: Past

ICRS Member Only Visits

West Coast (South) Control and New Street PSB - Sat 28th Apr 2011 (May 2011)

Freightliner, Crewe Basford Hall Yard - Sat 27th Oct 2012 (Dec 2011)

Eastleigh Works - Sat 15th Mar 2012 (Apr 2012)

Nene Valley Railway (AGM) - Sat 13th Apr 2013 (May 2013)

DRS Crewe Gresty Bridge Depot - Sat 13th Jul 2013 (Aug 2013)

Eastleigh Works 40th Anniversary Finale Event - Sat 7th Sep 2013 (Oct 2013) (stock list)

Freightliner, Crewe Basford Hall Yard (AGM) - Sat 26th Apr 2014 (May 2014)

Eastleigh Works - Sat 7th Jun 2014 (Jul 2014) (stock list)

DRS Crewe Gresty Bridge Depot - Sat 18th Oct 2014 (Nov 2014)

Eastleigh Works - Sat 15th Nov 2014 (Dec 2014)

Eastleigh Works (AGM) - Sat 21st Mar 2015 (Apr 2015) (stock list)

DRS Crewe Gresty Bridge Depot - Sat 2nd May 2015 (Jun 2015)

Eastleigh Works - Sat 6th Jun 2015 (Jul 2015)

Eastleigh Works - Sat 25th Jul 2015 (Aug 2015)

DRS Crewe Gresty Bridge Depot - Sat 28th Nov 2015 (Dec 2015)

Freightliner, Crewe Basford Hall Yard (AGM) - Sat 12th Dec 2015 (Jan 2016)

Eastleigh Works - Sat 5th Mar 2016 (Apr 2016)

Locomotion, Shildon (AGM) - Sat 9th Apr 2016 (May 2016)

Eastleigh Works - Sat 4th Jun 2016 (Jul 2016)

Freightliner, Crewe Basford Hall Yard (AGM) - Sat 8th Apr 2017 (May 2017)

Long Marston - Sat 10th Jun 2017 (Jul/Aug 2017) (stock list) (site plan) (aerial photo)

Eastleigh Works - Sat 9th Sepr 2017 (Sep / Oct 2017)

ELR - Sat 10th Mar 2018 (Spring 2018) (stock list) (numerical stock list)

Freightliner, Crewe Basford Hall Yard (AGM) - Sat 21st Apr 2018 (May / Jun 2018)

Long Marston - Sat 9th Jun 2018 (Jul / Aug 2018) (site plan)

WCR Carnforth - Sat 11th Aug 2018 (stock list available on request, Members only)

Eastleigh Works - Sat 8th Sep 2018 (Oct 2018)

WCR Carnforth - Sat 13th Oct 2018

WCR Carnforth - Sat 26th Jan 2019 (stock list available on request, Members only)

WCR Carnforth - Sat 11th May 2019 (stock list available on request, Members only)

Freightliner, Crewe Basford Hall Yard (AGM) - Sat 6th Apr 2019 (May 2019)

Long Marston - Sat 15th Jun 2019 (Jul 2019)

WCR Carnforth - Sat 10th Aug 2019

Eastleigh Works - Sat 14th Sep 2019 (Oct 2019)

Freightliner, Crewe Basford Hall Yard - Sat 5th Oct 2019 (Oct 2019)

WCR Carnforth - Sat 25th Jan 2020 (stock list available on request, Members only)

WCR Carnforth - Sat 11th Sep 2021 (stock list available on request, Members only)

Freightliner, Crewe Basford Hall Yard - Sat 2nd Oct 2021 (Oct 2021)

WCR Carnforth - Sat 16th Oct 2021 (stock list available on request, Members only)

WCR Carnforth - Sat 19th Mar 2022

Freightliner, Crewe Basford Hall Yard (AGM) - Sat 9th Apr 2022 (May 2022)

Peter Briddon, Darley Dale - Sun 10th Apr 2022 (May 2022)

Andrew Goodman, Wishaw - Sun 8th May 2022 (Jun 2022)

WCR Carnforth - Sat 18th Jun 2022

Freightliner, Crewe Basford Hall Yard - Sun 26th Jun 2022 (Jul 2022)

Scunthorpe Steelworks / ARPS - Sun 10th Jul 2022 (Aug 2022)

KWV - Fri 19th Aug 2022 (Sep 2022)

ELR - Sat 20th Aug 2022 (Sep 2022)

Eastleigh Works - Sat 10th Sep 2022 (Oct 2022)

WCR Carnforth - Sat 8th Oct 2022 (stock list available on request, Members only)

Freightliner, Crewe Basford Hall Yard - Sat 29th Oct 2022 (Jan 2023)

WCR Carnforth - Sat 21st Jan 2023 (stock list available on request, Members only)

Open Days (Railway Operating Companies)

DRS, Carlisle Kingmoor Depot - Sat 11th Jul 2009 (Sep 2008)

Eastleigh Works 100 - 23rd-25th May 2009 (Jun 2009) (Jul 2009)

DRS, Crewe Gresty Bridge Depo -, Sat 10th Jul 2010 (Aug 2010)

DRS, Carlisle Kingmoor Depot - Sat 16th Jul 2011 (Aug 2011)

DRS, Crewe Gresty Bridge Depot - Sat 18th Aug 2012 (Sep 2012)

DRS, Carlisle Kingmoor Depot -Sat 17th Aug 2013 (Sep 2013)

DRS, Crewe Gresty Bridge Depot - Sat 19th Jul 2014 (Aug 2014)

Derby Etches Park 175th Anniversary - Sat 13th Sep 2014 (Oct 2014)

DRS, Carlisle Kingmoor Depot - Sat 18th Jul 2015 (Aug 2015)

Bristol St Philips Marsh - Mon 4th May 2016 (Jun 2016)

DRS, Crewe Gresty Bridge Depot - Sat 23rd Jul 2016 (Aug 2016)

DRS, Carlisle Kingmoor Depot - Sat 22nd Jul 2017 (Jul / Aug 2017)

OOC111 - Sat 2nd Sep 2017 (Sep / Oct 2017)

DRS, Crewe Gresty Bridge Depot - Sat 21st Jul 2018 (Jul / Aug 2018)

LSL, Crewe - Sat 8th Jun 2019 (Jul 2019)

DRS, Carlisle Kingmoor Depot - Sat 20th Jul 2019 (Aug 2019)

DRS, Crewe Gresty Bridge Depot - Sat 16th Jul 2022 (Aug 2022)

 

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