Railway Societies in Profile – No.1 The Branch Line Society The Branch Line Society (BLS) is a national UK-based, entirely voluntary, association for railway enthusiasts with a membership of almost 2,000 - some scattered throughout the World. It was established in 1955 and is widely recognised as Britain's leading amateur group for the study of past, present and proposed railway infrastructure and the history of networks (nowadays, despite its title, not just minor lines). The Society pursues its aims by providing a regular news service, by organising mainline, heritage and private railtours as well as visits, and the production and distribution of publications. There are occasional indoor meetings and fixtures include guided trackbed walks, signal box visits and we once even visited a girls' boarding school … (with railway connections, of course!). The Society works regularly with its operating partners, including Network Rail and the Train Operating Companies, to promote the good causes that they support. Most years, our joint operations have raised over £150,000 for charities and other deserving groups. The Society is currently hard at work to redesign these events to meet current Social Distancing requirements. Our emphasis is on the physical infrastructure and operating arrangements, rather than motive power and rolling stock. The BLS records matters of railway history accurately for archive purposes as historical records, available online to members.
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GREAT WESTERN STAR MAGAZINE
The Birmingham Balti Bash arriving at Shrewsbury P4 from the Birmingham Line; Severn Bridge Junction signal box is the largest in the world still with operating semaphore signals
Communication and Publications
Members receive 24 electronic or paper newsletters (Branch Line News or BLN) per year - British Isles and International versions are also available. They also receive priority information, booking preference on Society events, lower fares, some sales discounts, and two invaluable annual printed publications: • "Minor Railways" by Peter Scott – listing all operating public railways in the UK of 7¼" gauge and above by area, showing location, track layout and length of the railway, limited contact details and known operating dates where not regularly open to the public.
January/February 2021
The Devonian Crompton at Yeovil Pen Mill. © Richard Putley 2020
