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.

14th October 2026

The Good, The Bad & The Infamous Sandwich with Richard Marks.

Railway historian Richard invites us to explore a decade of extreme eccentricities and enduring legacies; a journey through the highs, lows and lunchboxes of a truly remarkable period in railway history, made all the more relevant with renationalisation once again on the political agenda.

28th October 2026

European Roundabout & A trip to the Dentist with John Godfrey

Part 1 is a selection of images from Europe during 2000-2025 to include trains and trams. Part 2 is a trip to the dentist where all will be revealed on the night and will include trains, trams, and trolleybuses.

11th November 2026

The History of Foremarke Hall & Its Restoration with Jim Clarke

Jim will show pictures and films of GWR 7903 Foremarke Hall in service and in restoration

25th November 2026

The Greatest Gathering in Derby with Messrs Gosling & Lamb

Paul and Ryan will illustrate and describe the Greatest Gathering at Derby for the Rail 200 celebrations.

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

Picture of the Month October 2026

A quartet of Class 20 locomotives top and tailed 1Z06 Oxford to Bedford St Johns captured at Claydon Loops on the new East West railway on a very blustery 8th September 2026. The working was an Industry Collaboration Train with invited passengers from senior stakeholder (eg DFT) and railway media to publicise a Diversionary Route Strategy in support of the proposed closure of the Great Western Mainline between Langley and Paddington for route upgrades. Following a return to Bletchley, the train finally terminated at Euston after a very spirited run down the West Coast main line. The well presented Class 20s were 20107 "Jocelyn Fielding 1940-2020", 20096 (ex D8096), 20118 "Saltburn by the Sea", and un-named 20132. 

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.