Australian Railway Historical Society talk With James Dalton

James Dalton is General Manager at Australian Railway Historical Society. The ARHS recently celebrated its 90th birthday, and as well as publishing both Railway Digest and Australian Railway History magazines, is home to the most comprehensive private archive of railway-related information in Australia.

 As General Manager, James is responsible for managing a small team of amazing staff and volunteers who keep the Society, which does not receive any external funding, financially viable through magazine and book sales, consulting work, operating tours and producing various publications.  

 The archives were recently assessed to be of National Significance.  They include a vast collection of documents, photographs, and artifacts related to the history of railways in Australia.   Much of the collection is already digitised, thanks to the efforts of volunteers over decades.  James is committed to expanding the use of these archives to members and commercial clients and to supporting the objectives of the Australian Railway Historical Society.

 Under James' leadership, The Railway Archives has made significant strides in preserving and promoting the history of railways in Australia. He has developed new processes and implemented systems for cataloguing the archives, making them more accessible to researchers and enthusiasts. He has also worked to expand the Society's membership and outreach efforts, raising awareness of the importance of archival preservation and the Society's mission.