The Retired Railway Officersâ Society was founded in 1901.
A preliminary meeting to discuss the formation of the society took place at the Railway Clearing House on 12 November 1901. Edmund Bachelor Ivatts who had been retired for 10 years obtained support from 24 retired railway officers with the objective of setting up an association for senior officers of the rail industry. On 1 July 1902 a meeting took place which established the society formally, and Joseph Metcalfe was voted as chairman. Membership was open to those who had worked in the rail industry of any company based in British or the British Empire.
The first committee comprised Joseph Metcalfe as chairman, with Messrs Neele (London and North Western Railway), Johnson (Great Northern Railway), Medcalf (Great Northern Railway), OâÂÂConnell (Bombay Baroda and Central India Railway) and Stephens (Great Western Company).
The organisation was headed by Joseph Metcalfe as chairman until 1910 when it was agreed to elect a president when George Potter Neele of the London and North Western Railway was selected.
By 1916 the membership had grown to 50 and for ordinary members the entrance fee and annual subscription was one guinea () and for associate members 10s 6d ().
Starting in 1909 on the initiative of Alfred Powell of the Metropolitan Railway, Member Portraits were published periodically in volumes with photographs and details of the careers of members.