Basingstoke Station circa 1915
(Picture courtesy of Basingstoke Willis Museum)
Basingstoke Station 2010
(Picture by Ian Francis)
Basingstoke Station 2012
(Picture by David Brace)
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Basingstoke Station circa 1915 (Picture courtesy of Basingstoke Willis Museum) |
Basingstoke Station 2010 (Picture by Ian Francis) |
Basingstoke Station 2012 (Picture by David Brace) |
| r Welcome | Forthcoming Meetings | ||
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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 This Year's 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 21st 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. |
9th July 2025 The Liberation Line with Christian Wolmar. Christian will talk about the story of the railwaymen who rebuilt the railways in Europe after D-Day, and helped to shorten the war. Christian's new book, The Liberation Line, is out now with signed copies available through Amazon or direct from Christian via e-mail.
23rd July 2025 The Life and History of Seaton Tramway with Clem Fallows. Clem is a volunteer Tram Driver on the Seaton Tramway, and will talk about the route, the trams, the life and history of the tramway.
13th August 2025 Kings Cross Station and the Great Northern Railway with Ray Schofield. York was the gateway to the north and just 2 years after the London & Birmingham Rly, Britain's first mainline, opened connecting York to the rail network. The route from Euston via Rugby Leicester and Derby was 40miles longer than the A1 Great North Road. 12yrs later in 1852 a new direct route from Kings Cross opened. Built on the site of a former smallpox hospital and allegedly Boudicca's grave, Ray tells the story and travels the route with steam locomotion.
27th August 2025 Rails Around Dawlish with Philip Haines. "A Dawlish Journey" will start with shots of steam locos around Dawlish in the late 50's/60's followed by the diesel hydraulic era during the late 60's/70's, before moving to the diesel electric era in the 80's.Following will be an Hi8 video sequences taken in 1998 and 2023. Philip's presentation is divided into 4 parts looking at early shots then two parts looking at 1998 and 2023 footage.
To receive email notification before each meeting please send an email with subject "Subscribe" to: Publicity@BDRS70D.com`
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Picture of the Month July 2025 |
Information and Other News | ||
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During March 2025, a trio of Class 73's belonging to GBRF are parked in Tonbridge West Yard. Visible are 73 964 "Jeanette", 73 961 "Allison", and 73 201 "Broadlands". Photograph by Andy Fewster.
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The Society meets twice monthly at the Wote Street Club. Meetings commence at 7.45pm. Society Member's access to the archive is no longer available through the website. Any member requiring access to the archive should contact the society directly. |
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| Items of Railway Interest | Society Members Photo Archive | ||
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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. |
External links to the photographic efforts of current and past society members. | ||
| Website | Design and Maintenance | ||
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This
site was created
by
the
late
Chris Cullingham
and
has been revised and maintained by Members of the Society |
