Time Capsule Buried at Guildford Station to Coincide With Railway 200 Commemorations

Published on: 27 Sep, 2025
Updated on: 27 Sep, 2025

A time capsule has been buried at Guildford railway station to commemorate and coincide with the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway.

The ceremony took place on Friday morning (September 26) and was attended by members of the station’s staff from Network Rail and South Western Railway, along with members of the Friends of Guildford Station group and Sara Grisewood, North Downs Line Officer of the Southeast Communities Rail Partnership.

This year is also the 180th anniversary of the railway coming to Guildford.

Edd William’s (centre) and Sara Grisewood with the Railway 200 time capsule at Guildford railway station.

The contents of the capsule contains a small facsimile of the station’s timeline panel that was unveiled in May this year on platform 2.

With vintage pictures, the timeline charts key dates in the history of the station from 1845, including when the various lines reached Guildford as well as its former engine shed.

Other items include:

A book on Guildford’s history.

A South Western Railway worksheet titled Respect the Red, that highlights safety aspects to train drivers.

Polyurethane stress reliever balls used to help railway staff and passengers. Squeezing the ball helps a person release tension when frustrated or anxious.

An International Women’s Day badge, given to South Western Railway staff on a non-technical skills course.

Staff awareness badges highlighting that railway staff are the same people as everyone else and deserve the same amount of respect.

A Railway 200 celebration book.

South Western Railway Guildford and Respect red lanyards and a Guildford logo pin badge.

The interface manager at Guildford station, Edd Williams, and Sara Grisewood began the burial of the time capsule.

Members of the Friends of Guildford Station group fill in the hole where the time capsule is buried. On the right in Ben Darnton and on the left is retired railwayman Geoff Burch. During Geoff’s early years on the railway he was a fireman on steam locomotives – and certainly knows how to wield a shovel!

Station staff and members of the Friends of Guildford Station group also assisted filling in the hole.

When the current redevelopment of the station and its environs is completed, it is expected a sign relating to the time capsule will be placed near to where it lies.

Including members of the Friends of Guildford Station group, with Sara Grisewood, North Downs Line Officer for the Southeast Communities Rail Partnership (second from left), are Ben Darnton, Pauline and Geoff Burch, and David Rose.