I am very pleased to welcome everyone the website for the South Western Centre of the Railway Division of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers - IMechE.
We now have our proposed programme for 2026 - if you would like a PDF copy please click here.
I look forward to welcoming you to our face-to-face meetings arranged for the whole of the year. The Future of Rail competition in February is open for any interested young engineer to enter – please contact our Secretary (email: m.james4@ntlworld.com).
We are continuing our successful engagement with universities with a career fayre and presentation at Cardiff University in March.
Our AGM this year is at the end of the year’s programme in December. I hope to see as many of you as possible.
Up to date information about our programme is available here on our website, please do keep checking here.
All our meetings are free and open to everyone, please do help us to spread this message amongst friends, family, and colleagues.
Please do let us know if you have any ideas for topics or events you would like us to put on. Also, have you considered joining the organising committee? We would be very pleased to hear from you.
We also run technical visits, normally one per year. 2025's visit was to see the fast charge battery train in action prior to its introduction into public service. Great Western Railway's team of specialist engineers explained the new technology and we debated the future uses. The picture below shows the SW Centre party boarding the train at West Ealing before a couple of trips to Greenford and back.
In addition most years we run a Summer Social event on a railway related
theme. 2025 we had a private visit to the Cholsey Wallingford Railway which included an excellent presentation on the historic Maidenhead platform canopy now fitted at Wallingford. Picture below is our party boarding our private train at Cholsey.
So wishing everyone a healthy and successful 2026 and look forward to meeting you at our events
Prasad Bhave
Centre Chair
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Event Type: Social event
22 July 2026 17:00 to 20:00
Great Western Society DIDCOT
Summer social event. The GWS Didcot depot site will be open for our exclusive use for the evening of 22 July. The branch line will have a train running for our use and the site open for us. A complementary buffet meal is also provided approx 19.15 in the main cafe area. PRE BOOKING FOR THIS EVENT IS ESSENTIAL, PLEASE CLICK LINK. Pease note bookings close on 14 July.
Industry: Railway
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Event Type: Technical lecture
07 September 2026 17:00 to 19:00
Rooms 5/6, Western House - Swindon
The new railway division chair, our own Matt Prosser, gives his inaugural Chairs address.
Industry: Railway
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Event Type: Technical lecture
12 October 2026 17:00 to 19:00
Rooms 5/6, Western House - Swindon
Andy Mellors, Managing Director Avanti West Coast, gives his personal view of the railway privatisation era - its successes and failures.
Industry: Railway
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Event Type: Technical lecture
10 November 2026 17:00 to 19:00
Rooms 5/6, Western House - Swindon
Following on from last Novembers presentation on reksignalling of London Underground's sub-surface lines; the story continues with the integration of train and infrastructure. Joint event with IET and IRSE.
Industry: Railway
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Event Type: Technical lecture
07 December 2026 17:00 to 20:00
STEAM Museum - Swindon
AGM of the RD South Western Centre, and then Geoff Hudson presents the story of the iconic Class 50 diesel locomotive from conception to preservation. This is our Christmas family lecture.
Industry: Railway