Basingstoke Station circa 1915  

(Picture courtesy of Basingstoke Willis Museum)

Basingstoke Station 2010 

(Picture by Ian Francis)

Basingstoke Station 2012

  (Picture by David Brace)

Welcome to the Basingstoke & District Railway Society website. 

BDRS was formed in 1974 to provide entertaining lectures, films, illustrated talks and other matters concerning railways, including organised tours and journeys of railway and associated interest.

The Society meets twice monthly on Wednesday evenings between 19.45 and 22.00 in the comfortable surroundings of the Wote Street Club located in Basingstoke Town Centre. 

Follow this link for 2026 Programme

Typical membership is around 70, male and female, young and old, and our average meeting attendance is around the 35 mark. Most of our meetings take the form of an illustrated presentation given by quality speakers including some of our own members.

Chris Tolley's 'A History of the Railways around Basingstoke' and a 21^st century update by a long-standing Society member are accessible from our Local Railway History page.

Members pay an annual subscription plus a reduced admission fee at each meeting and enjoy many other benefits. Visitors are welcome at all our regular meetings on payment of an admission fee.

Our twice monthly evening meetings cover a variety of railway orientated subjects both at home and abroad. They embrace mainlines, branch lines and tram systems and include: passenger and freight traffic current and historical; broad, narrow and standard gauges; steam and modern traction; travel and photography; preserved and departed railways; infrastructure; and business and operational matters.

We are always pleased to hear from anyone who could give a railway-orientated presentation on any of these or related topics.

Learn more About Us including how to join by following this link.

To Find Us follow this link; to Contact Us follow this link or use the tab above.

Visit the Society and be welcomed.

11th March 2026

Railways of Hampshire with Stephen Bigley

The London & Southampton Railway arrived at Southampton Docks by the late 1830s and was largely developed by the London & South Western Railway onwards to nationalisation. Infrastructure and everything else railway linked will be looked at including remains of the Didcot Newbury& Southampton Railway. There might be a few trains!

25th March 2026

World Steam Loco Photos 1960 onwards with Chris Ardy

Part 1 will UK steam from 1960 to preservation in the 2000's. Part 2 will show steam in Europe, China, Cuba and USA from 1960 onwards.

8th April 2026

Before they were Preserved with Richard Coghlan

Photos of locos and a few stations at work long before they were candidates for preservation.

22nd April 2026

At Work Scenes with John Hollands

John will draw on his collection of railway postcards from the early 20th century onwards to show one or more workers on a wide variety of activities.

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

Picture of the Month March 2026

During March 2026 on a bright and sunny morning (!), DCR Class 60028 powers 6M51 Merehead to Quainton Railhead  aggregate freight on the up main line through Newbury, passing Class 387-162 in platform 2 on 1K10, recently arrived from Paddington, and Class 165-122 in platform 1 on 2T15 Newbury to Bedwyn shuttle. 

Photograph by Andy Fewster.

  web@bdrs70d.com

For information about train movements through Basingstoke Station click here

The UK Steam & Modern Traction Railtours  Information website 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 in-town model shop. Click here for the link to their website.

Hampshire Models , Basingstoke's out of town model shop. Click here for the link to their website.