Basingstoke Station circa 1915  

(Picture courtesy of Basingstoke Willis Museum)

Basingstoke Station 2010 

(Picture by Ian Francis)

Basingstoke Station 2012

  (Picture by David Brace)

We are pleased you have found the official web site of the

Basingstoke & District Railway Society.

The Society was formed in 1974 to provide entertainment on railway related matters. 

We meet twice monthly on a Wednesday evening between 19.45 and 22.00 at the Wote Street Club in the Basingstoke Town Centre.

Our membership number is around 80, male and female, young and old, and our meeting attendance is typically 40. The majority of our meetings take the form of an illustrated presentation by a top quality speaker.

Members pay an annual subscription of £5, plus a reduced admission fee of £2 at each meeting and enjoy many other benefits.

Visitors are welcome at all our regular meetings on payment of a £3 admission fee. 

For those historians amongst you, we are pleased to include Chris Tolley's 'A History of the Railways around Basingstoke', accessible from our History page.

You can read much more About Us or can Contact Us by using these links or clicking on the tabs above.

12th June 2019

The Railway Navvies; Their Finest Hour

Building the Crimea Railway

Judy and Chris Rowse use contemporary sources and illustrations to tell the story of two patriotic and well organised railway contractors and their navvies who came to the rescue of the British Army bogged down in the Crimea. In the spring of 1855 they built a line from coast to Sevastopol in just three months.

26th June 2019

From Railways to Royalty

Jack Boskett presents a show for everyone, incorporating images from classic railway scenes to the Queen.

10th July 2019

The Exeter-Barnstable Line; Past Present and Future

John Gulliver presents an illustrated analytical view of 30 years of perceived threats and largely successful efforts to overcome them. Today the line is secure and largely successful, although many questions are unresolved. The future requires many solutions to be found and thee will be discussed by one to whom the line matters a great deal.

24th July 2019

A Life on Rails

Howard Nichols's personal story of a lifetime travelling the railways of the world. Previously unpublished photos will take in North and South America, Africa, Middle East and Australasia.

For advanced notice during this year's programme, follow this link.

The 2019 Programme

For advanced notice of next years programme, follow this link when available

The 2020 Programme 

To receive email notification before each meeting please send an email with subject "Subscribe" to Publicity@BDRS70D.com

Picture of the Month June 2019

During a recent David Williams / Timeline photo charter in the Isle of Man, IOM 2-4-0T No 12 "Hutchinson" with a Douglas bound service waits in the loop at Castletown Station  as ex-Manx Northern Railway 0-6-0T No 4 "Caledonia" enters the station with a Port Erin bound service. The token for the single section to Port Erin is being exchanged by the crew of Hutchinson. 

Photograph by Andy Fewster.

Why not enter your picture for next month?  eMail your image to: web@bdrs70d.com

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Members can view archive and other Society material with password access on the Member Login page

For information about train movements through Basingstoke Station click here

The UK Steam Information website showing steam train schedules click here 

Rail fares between any two stations on the UK network click here

The live departure board for passenger trains from Basingstoke.  Click here

Get the cheapest tickets by splitting your journey!  Click here for the link to the web site with all the information  

Church Street Models, Basingstoke's specialist model shop. Click here for the link to their website.

Ian Francis

Andy Fewster