The RCTS: Then and now
The Railway Observer has evolved over the years from being hand set to using the latest computer techniques, and the January 2021 edition (Vol.90 No. 1103) marked a significant change in format to the use of B5 size. This provides a 15% enlargement of the print area, permitting the use of an increase in size of the text and the opportunity to feature larger photographic images. A number of design and format changes have also been made, something the editors of the volumes for 1939-45 did not have the luxury of enjoying. Such were the wartime restrictions in paper and printing that Volume 14 covered 1942-43 and Volume 15 1944-45, rather than the normal single year. Shortage of paper and print setters was not the only problem faced by the editors. With the railways of strategic importance, the official censors were ready with their blue pencils, backed by the added threat of the Official Secrets Act. So it was little surprise that the January 1941 editorial spoke of ‘the question of locomotive information remaining a difficult one for us’. Yet there were more reports coming in from members about the ordinary everyday running of the railways for the editors to mention in October 1941 that ‘members will appreciate that certain items of information cannot at present be put into print’. Two months later the paper shortage meant membership forms could not be circulated, and subscriptions for the full year (8/6d) were to be sent direct to the Assistant Hon. Treasurer. In the April 1942 edition, the membership was told of the further reduction of the RCTS’s paper allowance by the Government’s Paper Control regulations. This caused the editors considerable difficulty in editing reports to fit the space available and the small volume sizes mentioned above. These problems did not inhibit the RO of January 1942 reporting that during December 1941 LNER ‘V4’ 2-6-2 No. 3401 Bantam Cock was on test on the GE Section working the 1pm Liverpool Street to Norwich. The June 1943 edition mentioned that the first Swindon built Stanier ‘8F’ 2-8-0 No. 8400 was practically complete and in July noted that it did not carry a smokebox numberplate, while the August issue recorded it working at Newport on July 7. The print run of the wartime ROs was severely limited but thanks to modern technology, all back issues of the RO will soon be available in digital form. In recent months, although there have been fewer trains due to Covid-19, there has still been much of interest going on, with many members timing their ‘permitted exercise’ walks to coincide with the best of the action and thus keeping reporting in the new larger RO fully up to date.