Didcot to Oxford also
Didcot Great Western Society

Didcot    57.25 miles from Paddington

This map courtesy of the National Library of Scotland Collection.

The delights of steam heat - Copyright Doug Nicholls.

34067 Tangmere departs Didcot station on the 10th December 2009 Copyright Roger Geach

020525a Class 58 and Class 66 are seen stabled at Didcot Parkway Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

020525b Activity at Didcot with a Turbo arriving from Oxford. The cooling towers of the Power Station are also visable. Copyright Roger Winnen

020525b Activity at Didcot with a Turbo arriving from Oxford. The cooling towers of the Power Station are also visable. Copyright Roger Winnen

850527p 50030 Repulse running around the Oxford Explorer at Didcot. Copyright Roger Winnen

850527o 50030 Repulse at Didcot on the Cornwall Railway Society Oxford Explorer.. Copyright Roger Winnen

830421q Junctions at Didcot to the right goes to Oxford. Copyright Roger Winnen

020525h Didcot Depot from the Didcot Avoiding Line. Copyright Roger Winnen

020525f Viewed from the station. The branch platform at GWS Didcot Depot.. Copyright Roger Winnen

030716a The GWS Depot viewed from the Main Line station. Copyright Roger Winnen

830421n 50005 at Didcot on the through line avoiding Didcot Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

66113 moves a Didcot to Bicester freight seen here at Didcot. 10th December 2009. Copyright Roger Geach.

Appleford Halt   55.25 miles from Paddington

Try this link for more information  ​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appleford_railway_station

770805a A Class 47 passing through Appleford Halt on a merry go round train for Didcot Power Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

770805b Appleford Halt with grateful thanks to a permanent rail worker. Copyright Roger Winnen

770805c Looking down on the wooden platforms of Appleford Halt. Copyright Roger Winnen

770805d A Class 50 passing Appleford Halt with a train to Oxford etc. Copyright Roger Winnen

770805e Looking down on the Halt. Copyright Roger Winnen

770805f A DMU departs Appleford Halt on route to Oxford. Copyright Roger Winnen

830421r Appleford Halt on 21st April 1983 with shortened platforms. Copyright Roger Winnen

Culham  56.25 miles from Paddington

For much much more information  there is an excellent site on Culham Station please use this link Culham Station - highly recommenced. Masses of information, history, tour around the station etc etc.  

Many thanks to Colin Taylor for supplying the link and the above photograph.

Mike Roach Focuses on Culham on 30th January1965
                         - the end of the steam era - his collection

Culham Station Courtesy National Library of Scotland. OS 25 inch 1892 to 1914 - non commercial use. N.B North at the top of the page.

Culham - from the down platform looking north. 30th January 1965. Copyright Mike Roach.

Culham - looking south. beyond the footbridge is station road bridge. 30th January 1965 Copyright Mike Roach. N.B. Due to the station building being too close to the up line and the platform being too low and new platform was constructed north of this location and the station building and the signalbox demolished. This view on the 30th January 1965. Copyright Mike Roach.

Culham 6967 Willesley Hall hauls an up freight though the station. The loco which was built in August 1944 was withdrawn in December 1965 and was scrapped at Cashmores Newport. This picture dated 30th January 1965 Copyright Mike Roach

Culham 34071 '601' squadron heading north on the down side.. This loco was regularly used on the 'Golden Arrow'. It was built April 1948, and named on the 8th October 1948. It was withdrawn in April 1967. This photo taken on the 30th January 1965 Copyright Mike Roach

An unknown loco thuders through Culham on the 30th January 1965.

Culham 34047 'Callington' Built November 1946, Rebuilt October 1958. Withdrawn June 1967. 30th January 1965 Copyright Mike Roach

A view of the signal box and the old up platform at Culham from the goods shed doorway. Goods were withdrawn on the 19th July 1965. 30th January 1965 Copyright Mike Roach

                  The last  State Funeral
The 30th January 1965 was also the occasion of a very important State Funeral the last one - that of Sir Winston Churchill.  Fortunately for us Mike Roach had made the 200 or so mile journey up to the Culham area.

It was Winston Churchill's Funeral on 30 January 1965. Here are 3 photos of the train taken from 2 negatives. The location is just north of Culham midway between the Station and the bridge across the River Thames. It was a dull miserable day and not a bit conducive to photography, but I had to take it having travelled a couple of hundred miles to do it.

The coffin was in the second vehicle which was a wooden bodied parcels van.

Regards, Mike

Winston Churchill Funeral Train 30th January 1965 Strictly Copyright Mike Roach

The funeral train slightly nearer. The locomotive is 34051 Note the lone spectator on the bridge. I think Mike got the better view. 30th January 1965. Strictly Copyright Mike Roach.

The Winston Churchill Funeral Train heads away towards Hanborough. 30th January 1965 Strictly Copyright Mike Roach

 On 24 January 1965, Winston Churchill died. At his state funeral on 30 January 1965 a special train hauled by 34051 Winston Churchill was been laid on to take the family to Hanborough (This was the closest station to the parish church of Bladon where Churchill’s body was to be interred. The Church  was only about one and a quarter miles from the station), The station is about seven miles north-west of Oxford. Hanborough station was closed to passengers on the 20th September 1965. 
Fortunately for us Mike Roach had made the 200 or so mile journey from Plymouth up to the Culham area.

The coffin was in the second vehicle which was a wooden bodied parcels van.

Regards, Mike

Highly recommended :-  There is an excellent piece on Sir Winston Churchill's Funeral train on the National Railway Museum site = please click here  https://www.railwaymuseum.org.uk/what-was-on/churchills-final-journey

34051 2C151 was built at Brighton and entered traffic in December 1946. It was withdrawn from active service in September 1965 and later given a place at the National Railway Museum York,

Many thanks Mike.
​

Roger Winnen visits Culham in 1983/5 - his collection

830421b The Brunel Building of Culham Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

830421c A Cross Country Unit arrives at Culham. Note the wartime buildings in the background. Copyright Roger Winnen

830421d Culham Station Milepost 56.25 miles from Paddington. Copyright Roger Winnen

830421f A Class 47 heads through Culham Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

830421g Station architecture at Culham. Copyright Roger Winnen

830421h A Gloucester Cross Country DMU leaves Culham for Oxford. Copyright Roger Winnen

830421i A Class 56 on a merry go round coal train to the Didcot Power Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

830421k Class 47 with stone aggregate passes through Culham Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

830421l A Class 50 passes Culham Station on route to Didcot, Reading and Paddington.. Copyright Roger Winnen

830421p An HST approaches Culham Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

850527p A class 47 runs into Culham. Copyright Roger Winnen

Many thanks Roger.
​

Radley   58.5miles from Paddington

Radley railway station serves the villages of Radley  and Lower Radley and the town of Abingdon. 
It is on the Cherwell Valley Line between Didcot Parkway and Banbury 58 miles 35 chains measured from London Paddington. 
History The station was built primarily for the boys of Radley College. It was formerly a junction station for a now-dismantled branch to the adjacent town of Abingdon. Opened in 1873 by the GWR  , it replaced the original interchange. Abingdon Junction which had opened in 1856. The branch line was extended north to terminate in a bay platform at the new station.The station was renovated during 2008, with a new footbridge, shelters, a new car park and increased cycle storage.In recent years passenger traffic at Radley has grown rapidly. In the five years 2005–10 the number of passengers using the station increased by 38%.
The above information courtesy of Wikipedia.

The terminus of the Abingdon branch at Abingdon  was approximately one and three quarter miles from Radley station.

For more information try this link   en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radley_railway_station

A classic picture of Radley staion showing possibly 49981 with vans Taken in August 1963. Copyright Doug Nicholls.

Mike Roach made good use of his camera on the 30th January 1985 - these views was taken after the Sir Winston Churchill Funeral train had passed through;

Looking South along Radley Up platform. 30th January 1965. The Abingdon trains turmed off to the right in the distance. Copyright Mike Roach

Looking North along Radley Down platform. 30th January 1985. Copyright Mike Roach

Anither view ;oolomh North along Radley Down platform - the Abingdon branch trains used the left hand side of this platform. Apologies for the damaged film on the right hand side. 30th January 1965 Copyright Mike Roach

Radley footbridge and station sign. Copyright Ken Mumford.

An 800 runs into Radley. Copyright Ken Mumford. I've DOCTORED THIS VIEW ONE LAMPPOST PARTIALLY REMOVED

A Voyager on an up service,

Radley and the Abingdon branch - courtesy of The National Museum of Scotland.

​Kennington Junction  Approximately 60.75 miles from Paddington.
This was a junction for the Thame line which closed to passengers on the 7th January 1963 and to goods 10th October 1966.  

Kennington Junction Blue Pullman October 1967 Copyright Doug Nicholls

Kennington junction signal box Taken in October 1967 . Copyright Doug Nicholls

Hinksley Road sidings

A classic bitter steam scene at Hinksey during the winter of 1962/63 Copyright Doug Nicholls

Oxford  63.5 miles from Paddington

For more information please use this link   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_railway_station

6823 Oakley Grange of Oxley Shed heads north with a freight train on 30.01.1965. The loco had been at Truro and Laira Sheds in the 1950s. Copyright Mike Roach

A going away shot of the same locomotive. 6823 Oakley Grange of Oxley Shed heads north with a freight train on 30.01.1965. TCopyright Mike Roach

34047 Callington of Bournemouth Shed reaches journeys end at Oxford and will come off the train here and return south. It can be seen later passing through Culham. (In this section of the website) Copyright Mike Roach

An unidentifed loco passes through Oxford on a cement train. Copyright Mike Roach

Oxford - a DMU on the 3A49 with 'tail traffic'. Copyright Doug Nicholls.

761127zc-d1010-passes-the-redundant-signal-box-west-of-the-station-copyright-Roger-Winnen_orig

Oxford 50 044 Exeter with the 14.33 to Paddington also 50 041 Bulwark waits alongside with ECS. 10th September 1987. Copyright Michael Forward.

Oxford Chiltern Railways Class 121 bubble car 960014 ex-55022 in the former parcels bay on the 13th April 2011 Copyright Alan Peters

35028 'Clan Line' with support coach standing on the Oxford Turbo Diesel Sidings Spur after working the 1Z64 VOSE from Victoria to Oxford on 13th August 2011. Copyright Alan Peters

761127ze-A-redundant-signal-box-at-Oxford-Station-Copyright-Roger-Winnen

761127zt D1010 Western Campaigner being serviced at Oxford. Copyright Roger Winnen

850527i 50030 Repulse on 'The Oxford Explorer' railtour at Oxford. ready to return to Penzance. Copyright Roger Winnen

D1051 Western Ambassador with the 6M55 Clay St Blazey to Longport via Didcot and Bletchley Copyright Doug Nicholls

Oxford station in 1968 - notice the interesting array of semaphore signals in the distance. Copyright Doug Nicholls.

761127w D1010 Western Campaigner 27th November 1976 on the commemorative Class 52 Railtour from Plymouth via Birmingham to Oxford and returning via the Southern to Exeter and Plymouth. Copyright Roger Winnen.

761127ww D1010 Western Campaigner 27th November 1976 at-Oxford Copyright-Roger-Winnen

761127x D1010 Western-Campaigner 27th November 1976 at Oxford note the photographers/ BT police would have had a field day today! Copyright Roger Winnen

761127za A 'head on' photograph at Oxford Copyright Roger Winnen.

130722a Oxford Station with HSTs viewed from the footbridge with reflections. Copyright Roger Winnen

130722d Adelante service from Paddington to Worcester at Oxford. Copyright Roger Winnen

130722f HST Departure from Oxford. Copyright Roger Winnen

130722g Cross Country Voyager at Oxford. Copyright Roger Winnen

890522b An Inter City livery named Class 47 at Oxford

761127zg Oxford Rewley Road Station was part of the London- North Western Railway. Until 1951 Services ran from here to Bicester, Bletchley, Bedford and Cambridge before being relocated to the present Oxford Station. until closure in 1967. From 1987 the line reopened to passenger services from the present Oxford Station to Bicester with one intermediate station at Islip. In recent years Chiltern Railways began running a service to London Marylebone Copyright Roger Winnen

761127zh View from the east of Oxford Rewley Road Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

Oxford map courtesy National Library of Scotland collection. Oxford Rewley Road terminal station was at the end of the sidings to the east (left) of the main station complex.

The ever roving Roger now takes a short trip north east of Oxford.

890522c A Bubble Car at Oxford Station together with a Metropolitain Cammel DMU to Bicester. Copyright Roger Winnen

890522d Metro Cammel DMU at Bicester. Copyright Roger Winnen

890522f Heavy rain at Bicester. Copyright Roger Winnen

890522g Bicester Station awaiting departure for Oxford. Copyright Roger Winnen

890522h Bicester Station Buildings. Copyright Roger Winnen

890522i Islip Station photographed on the return run to Oxford.. Copyright Roger Winnen

Also in connection with it being the destination for Sir Winston Churchills funeral train on the 30th January 1965 we also include the follwing pictures taken by Guy Vincent

All pictures dated 9th December 2013 and all copyright Guy Vincent.  Many thanks Guy.
​

D1015 passing Berkley Marsh, nr Frome, Somerset on PTR's 'The Staite Pullman' on 28th February 2005. Copyright Guy Vincent

Further to the recent Han(d)borough feature there are some very interesting items online concerning the arrangements for Churchill's funeral train.  For two particular favourites search:  'Nine Elms Locomotive Shed - Winston Churchill Funeral Train' and  'Pullman Car Services - Pullman Car History'.  The first is a well illustrated account of the day's proceedings written by the fireman who worked 34051 from Waterloo to Hanborough and then took the loco light to Oxford MPD.   For the convenience of the funeral party a facing crossover * was installed east of the station so the train was able to arrive at the 'Up' platform from where a waiting motor hearse conveyed the late wartime leader the last mile and a quarter to Bladon churchyard   (* imagine THAT being allowed today!).   To return the funeral party to London Paddington station, Golden Ochre liveried D1015 Western Champion was provided and the train departed Hanborough at 1620.    As a precaution D1028 Western Hussar was kept on standby duty at Reading but thankfully its services were not required.    

 The second item includes full details of the stock used and copies of the train running arrangements for the day.   The stock consisted of  'Car No 208',  PMV S2464  'Carina', 'Lydia', 'Perseus', 'Isle of Thanet'.     PMV S2464 was repatriated from the USA and restored in time for the 50th anniversary of the funeral.  It was displayed at the NRM York in 2015 along with loco 34051 and Pullman Car 'Lydia' which was the carriage used by Churchill's family.   Perseus is still in use as part of the Belmond British Pullman; on 28th February 2005 it formed part of a special charter 'The Staite Pullman' hauled appropriately by D1015 resplendent in Golden Ochre and captured passing Berkley Marsh near Frome.   See Picture above.

Final point: Why the missing D in Handborough these days??

Guy Vincent


​

The Winston Churchill Funeral Train
The return ECS
David Harvey

Having taken Winston Churchill to his last resting place the Funeral Train returns from Hanborough led by D1015; 30th January 1965. Copyright David Harvey.

Many thanks to you David for your picture of this unique occasion.
​

Didcot Great Western Society

Didcot Railway Centre is a former GWR  engine-shed and locomotive stabling point located at Didcot in Oxfordshire,  which today has been converted into a railway museum and preservation engineering site.
Background[edit]The founders and commercial backers of the GWR supported Isambard Kingdom Brunel' scheme to develop an integrated railway and steam-ship service which allowed trans - Atlantic passengers and freight quicker passage to and from London to New York City. However, whilst backing the scheme the railway had to make a profit, and so it took a number of detours and added both mainline and branchline traffic to increase its domestic earnings. This earned the railway the nickname The Great Way Round from its detractors.
Whilst the route from Lodon Paddington to Reading was relatively straight, the then obvious most direct route to Bristol would have taken the railway further south, thus avoiding both Didcot and Swindon. However, passenger and freight traffic both to and from Oxford and onwards to the West Midlands in part dictated a more northerly route. Secondly Brunel had originally planned to cut through Savernake Forest near Marlborough, Wiltshire to Bristol, but the Marquess of Ailesbury, who owned the land, objected - having previously objected to part of the Kennet and Avon Canal  running through his estate (see Bruce tunnel). With the railway needing to run near to a canal at its midpoint - as it was cheaper to transport coal for trains along canals at this time - and with need for the branch northwards to Cheltenham  via Stroud, Swindon was the next logical choice for the junction (and later railway works), 20 miles (32 km) north of the original route. This dictated that the Oxford junction also be moved northwards, and hence via Didcot. The Great Western Railway built the first rail line through Didcot in 1839 and opened its first station in 1844.
​
Construction
Didcot Railway Centre, Oct 2001
Due to the technical operational difficulties of running and maintaining a mainline service from London to Bristol, as well as the need for servicing locomotives going to Oxford, Didcot became an obvious midpoint maintenance and stabling point. Having built a timber framed broad gauge  shed on the original site during the railways development west in the 1800s, in June 1932 a new steel-framed half-brick 4-road through shed (210 by 67 feet, was completed by the GWR under the Loans and Guarantees Act (1929). With shed code DID, it also included a repair shop (84 by 42 feet, coaling stage (43 by 36 feet, sand furnace, 10 by 10 feet and 65 ft turntable plus associated offices (210 by 15 feet).  During World War 11, a standard steel-framed with corrugated iron-panel covered ash shelter was erected. 
Operations After World War II, the site remained virtually unchanged during the nationalised ownership of B.R. , but for taking on the new code of 81E. The standard allocation of locomotives remained the same, with Halls, Dukedogs and Panniers making up the bulk of the depot's fleet.
Closure.  With the replacement of steam with diesel traction under the Moderernisation plan, the shed became redundant and was closed in June 1965.  All of the above is very much above courtesy of Wikipedia)

King George V at Didcot Great Western 150 seen in 1985. Copyright David Ward.

Didcot GWS Brunel Atmospheric Pipe. Copyright Roger Aston

One of our 'Local signs' at Didcot GWS Truro Sign. Copyright Roger Aston.

Didcot Railway Centre Plaque - Copyright Roger Aston.

020525e Didcot GWS Depot. Copyright Roger Winnen

020525c A Royal Mail Van at Didcot. Copyright Roger Winnen

020525j 1466 Inside of Didcot Shed. Copyright Roger Winnen

020525k 5572 at Didcot. Copyright Roger Winnen

020525l Bonnie Prince Charlie etc. Copyright Roger Winnen

020525m Side view of Didcot Depot. Copyright Roger Winnen

020525n 3738 In service on the other line. Copyright Roger Winnen

020525o 3738 at the Halt. Copyright Roger Winnen

020525p The Auto bound for Abingdon. Copyright Roger Winnen

020601a The Queens Golden Jubilee of the Coronation 2nd June 1953. Copyright Roger Winnen

020601b 5051 Earl Bathurst at Didcot. Copyright Roger Winnen

160703kkThe Teddy Bears special at Didcot. Copyright Roger Winnen

160703l A mixture of Great Western vehicles at Didcot. Copyright Roger Winnen

160703ll The breakdown train from Taunton. Copyright Roger Winnen

160703n 6023 The Blue King at Didcot. Copyright Roger Winnen

160703o Mogul 5322 at Didcot. Copyright Roger Winnen

160703p 7808 Cookham Manor. Copyright Roger Winnen

160703pp Bonnie Prince Charlie at Didcot. Copyright Roger Winnen

160703q The Steam Railmotor coupled to a driving trailer. Copyright Roger Winnen

160703qq The boiler and firebox. Copyright Roger Winnen

160703qqq Inside the Rail Motor. Copyright Roger Winnen

160703qqqq The Boiler and Firebox. Copyright Roger Winnen

160703v The steam Railmotor. Copyright Roger Winnen

160703w The mixed gauge transit shed at Didcot. Copyright Roger Winnen

160703x Driving Trailer No 92 heads the railmotor at Didcot. Copyright Roger Winnen

160703y The Railmotor at Didcot. Copyright Roger Winnen

160703zd No 93 departing on the demonstration line. Copyright Roger Winnen

160703ze The broad gauge replica locomotive. Copyright Roger Winnen

160703ze The broad gauge replica locomotive. Copyright Roger Winnen

160703zh Mike Hitchens looking around the shed. Copyright Roger Winnen

160703zi Looking through the portal of the shed. Copyright Roger Winnen

160703zj The railmotor in the shed. Copyright Roger Winnen

160703zk Departure from Burlescombe. Copyright Roger Winnen

160703r Collect 1466 at Didcot. Copyright Roger Winnen

160703rr The Wantage Tramway locomotive and a Class 56xx tank. Copyright Roger Winnen

160703s Cardiff Railway 1338 at Didcot. Copyright Roger Winnen

160703ss 18000 Gas Turbine stands alongside the turntable at Didcot. Copyright Roger Winnen

160703t 1340 Trojan at Didcot. Copyright Roger Winnen

160703zl Great Western Railcar No 22 at Didcot. Copyright Roger Winnen

750808a GWR Railcar No 4 at Didcot Depot. Copyright Roger Winnen

750808d 6697 at Didcot. Copyright Roger Winnen

850527f 60532 Blue Peter at Didcot. Copyright Roger Winnen

850527l 9017 Earl of Berkeley at Didcot. Copyright Roger Winnen