Basingstoke Station circa 1915
(Picture courtesy of Basingstoke Willis Museum)
Basingstoke Station 2010
(Picture by Ian Francis)
Basingstoke Station 2012
(Picture by David Brace)
|
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 | ||
|
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 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. |
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.
13th May 2026 History & Restoration of BR2-6-4T #80150 with Martin Orford Part 1 covers the build of 80150 as one of the last locos to emerge from Brighton Works and follows its travels around the south of England until withdrawal and dumping at Woodhams Bros scrapyard until rescue in 2017.Part 2 covers the community project around 80150 and the "push for parts" to infill the giant 3D jigsaw puzzle and release the loco into traffic once again.
27th May 2026 Western Canada 1981 / 2016 with Neil Kearns An enthusiasts view of the railways of Western Canada benefiting from a bit of insider knowledge of CP, CNR and regional lines. Urban transport in Vancouver will also be covered.
10th June 2026 Rhatische Bahn Revisiited with John Fissler
Part 2 covers material not covered in John's previous Part 1 due to time constraints. Steam, Diesel, Electric and other heritage vehicles will be covered plus some parallel steam running.
To receive email notification before each meeting please send an email with subject "Subscribe" to: Publicity@BDRS70D.com`
|
||
|
Picture of the Month April 2026 |
Information and Other News | ||
|
During April 8th, displaying its owner Southern Locomotives Ltd headcode, Bulleid West Country Class 4-6-2 34028 "Eddystone" drifts through Basingstoke with 5Z30 Swanage to Southall. Photograph by Andy Fewster.
|
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. |
||
| Items of Railway Interest | |||
|
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. |
|||
| Website | Design and Maintenance | ||
|
This
site was created
by
the
late
Chris Cullingham
and
has been revised and maintained by Members of the Society |
