irsociety.co.uk

The Industrial Railway Society is a UK registered charity founded in 1949 to document and promote the study of privately owned railways, their locomotives and rolling stock. Its coverage has grown to include heritage railways and preserved former mainline locomotives, alongside industrial railways in the UK, Ireland and overseas.

The Society provides members and railway enthusiasts with regular news through its UK and Overseas News Bulletins, available in print and digital formats. Its illustrated magazine, The Industrial Railway Record, explores historical subjects that receive limited attention in mainstream railway publications. The Society also publishes research-based books, including reference works and updates on locomotives and railcars, with discounted prices for members.

Its online shop offers the Society’s publications and a wider selection of new and second-hand railway-related and industrial books. Other activities include group visits to industrial railways and preservation sites, access by appointment to an extensive archive at Statfold, and an online discussion group open to members and non-members. The Society welcomes new members through a range of membership options.