IRSE - Institution of Railway Signal Engineers > Get Involved > Minor Railways
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  1. Licensing
  2. Membership & Registration
  3. Qualifications & CPD
  4. Publications & Resources
  5. Get Involved
  6. News
  7. About

Minor Railways

The Minor Railways Section was formed in March 2009 and aims to provide an encouraging forum to support, assist, and provide guidance and to learn from those involved in the minor railway and heritage S&T community.

This includes the purchase, preservation, restoration, installation, maintenance and operation of all aspects of S&T equipment, installations and buildings world-wide. The section shares information and give guidance regarding items such as (but not limited to):

  • Safety
  • Legal Requirements
  • Communication of industry relevant information
  • Technical processes and procedures
  • Compliance
  • Competence

It also aims to exchange views and provide guidance on a number of signalling and telecommunications issues and to provide some information as freely available guidance notes. All members of the Institution, non-members and guests are welcome to attend meetings.

Nominations are open for the Minor Railways Section S&T Technician of the Year Award 2025 until 19 September

The Institution of Railway Signal Engineers’ Minor Railways Section are delighted to announce that nominations are open for the S&T Technician of the Year Award 2025!

See the dedicated page https://www.irse.org/Get-Involved/Minor-Railways/Signalling-and-Telecommunications-Technician-of-the-Year-Award for more details.

Nominations must be in by 19 September and the winner(s) will be announced at the Minor Railways Section Technical Seminar on 22 November 2025 - see the event listing for further information

Minor Railways Section Technical Seminar 2025

The 2025 bi-annual technical seminar will take place on 22 November 2025 at the Kidderminster Railway Museum with IRSE President Bogdan Godziejewski present

Minor Railways AGM

The Sections 2024 AGM took place on 13th July at the Kidderminster Railway Museum. 14 members attended.

Visits and workshops

The 2024 programme started with a joint visit with the Midland & North Western Section to the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway on 10 & 11th May. 28 members attended.

A visit to the private museum on Sunday 9th June, 34 members & guests attended.

Following the AGM on the 13th July there was a visit to the Severn Valley Bewdley Signal Boxes. 13 members attended.


Please contact the Minor Railways Visits Secretary (mrsvisits@irse.org) for further details.

Guidance and documentation

The IRSE Minor Railways Section publishes a series of guidelines aimed at minor and heritage railways.  All our guidance and documentation is available free of charge via the IRSE Minor Railways Section library page

Minor Railways Section Officers