4th August 2003 saw the final night of the Railway Folk Club, after more than 40 years. Graham Plater opened the club at the Railway Hotel, Fratton, on Monday nights in 1965 following the demise of Ted Wenham's club (started in October 1961?) Which had run on Tuesday nights at the Cobden Arms in Arundel Street (but not called the Railway). The railway is one of the few clubs in the country to have maintained a policy of a guest night every week. Sooty's predecessors running the club: Graham Plater (not Platter); John Bristow ; John Harvey, and Dave Keast, finally it was taken over by Sooty Broughton who has been running it since 1968.

The Railway has been a launch pad into folk music for many people over the years. Sooty Broughton has become synonymous with the club and both are well respected by artistes and attendees through-out Britain and he always made new faces very welcome, giving all a personal "thank you" at the door at the end of the night - it was part of the style of the club.