Westbury Excl to Reading

Westbury Excl to Reading
N.B. Westbury is 95.5 miles from Paddington

This map covers the first part of this section - from Westbury to Eddington and Bratton. Copyright Keith Jenkin.

Edington and Bratton Closed 25th November 1963
The station at Edington opened for goods traffic on 29 July 1900, a month before passenger trains were allowed to use the line. The village of Bratton is about 1.5 miles (2 km) distant. A brick building containing the main facilities stood on the westbound platform and a waiting shelter was provided for passengers travelling eastwards. The goods shed was to the west of the main building. Passenger trains no longer called after 3 November 1952 and the buildings were demolished, but the goods shed and yard remained open for traffic until 25 March 1963. The site is now an industrial estate.

Lavington 87 miles from Paddington. Closed 7th March 1960

The main building was on the westbound platform and a waiting room was built on the eastbound. The goods yard (in use from 29 July 1900) was at the southwest of the station and the West signal box was opposite. A second East signal box on the south side of the line was open from about 1903 to 1914, when it was removed to allow the platforms to be lengthened. The first signal box was retained for occasional use after the station closed until 1979. The goods yard closed on 3 April 1967 and a scrapyard now occupies the site. Courtesy Wikipedia.

This map covers from Eddington and Bratton to Pewsey and Wootton Rivers halt and includes a section of the Devizes branch. Copyright Keith Jenkin.

Patney and Chirton 81 miles from Paddington. Closed 18th April 1966

180704l The remains of Patney and Chirton Station. The west end of the station site. Copyright Roger Winnen

180704m The remains of Patney and Chirton Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

Patney & Chirton Footbridge 17th March 2010 Copyright Guy Vincent

Moving from quite recently we go back to the 18th April 1966 when the Devizes branch closed to traffic.

Patney and Chirton the last train ever off the Devizes branch crosses over onto the GW up main. The 70 lever signalbox with the Devizes branch being controlled by an electric key token. 16th April 1966 The goods yard here closed on the 19th May 1966 and the signalbox closed on the 6th July 1966. Copyright Keith Jenkin

The last train off the Devizes branch Patney and Chirton 16th April 1966 Copyright Keith Jenkin This train at around 16.16 and the last ever up train to stop at Patney. There was one more down service, also for the Devizes branch and after that the station closed - forever.

Patney and Chirton - the last train from Devizes having dropped off one passenger heads away towards Reading. 16th April 1966. Copyright Keith Jenkin.

The last passenger to alight at Patney and Chirton obviously an enthusiast doesn't seem interested in the departing train. 16th April 1966 Copyright Keith Jenkin. The disused buffer stop at the extreme left of this view was once at the end of a siding installed in 1909 and used for military traffic.

For more coverage of the Devizes branch on a special section - please click here.

Woodborough 78.25 miles from Paddington. Closed 18th April 1966

Was a former railway station at Woodborough, Wiltshire on theReading to Taunton line. The line opened in 1862, providing a link toDevizes. The station closed in 1966 as part of the Beeching cuts. Today the line is still in use and the station's up and down loops with sidings remain.

Manningford Halt 76.75 miles from Paddington. Closed 18th April 1966.

Manningford Halt is a former railway station which opened in 1932 in Manningford parish, Wiltshire, England on the Berks and Hants Extension Railway .

Pewsey 75.25 miles from Paddington.

180704i Passengers waiting for the train at Pewsey Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

180704j The London bound platform at Pewsey Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

180704k The waiting room at Pewsey Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

A study of Pewsey at night by Ken Mumford. Copyright

An up service rolls into Pewsey. Is the gentleman checking his photograph or the time? 30th March 2009. Ken Mumford

Showing the variety of traffic as a stone train rolls past the main station buildings on the down side. 6th March 2009. Ken Mumford.

Pewsey - waiting for Tornado - runners ran along the up platform and over the bridge 18th June 2009 Ken Mumford .

Pewsey - Tornado passes 18th June 2009. Copyright Ken Mumford

Wooton Rivers Halt 72.5 miles from Paddington. Closed 18th April 1966.

Wotton Rivers Halt is a former station in Wooton Rivers, Wiltshire on the Reading to Taunton line. The station opened at the south end of the village in 1928 and closed in 1966. Quote from Wikipedia.

Wootton Rivers Halt in about 1967. As can be seen the facilities were very limited. Copyright Keith Jenkin.

This map shows the route from Wooton Rivers Halt through to Newbury. Note at Savernake the low and high level stations separated by only a 100 yards or so. After Wootton Rivers halt we are joined closely by the Kennett & Avon Canal which is climbing by a series of locks to pass under the railway by means of the 502 yard Bruce tunnel. The railway reaches a summit at Savernake. The two lines towards Marlborough faced further climbs. The GWR branch terminated at Marlborough whereas the M & S.W route continued on past Swindon. Copyright Keith Jenkin.

Savernake (Low level) 70 miles from Paddington. Closed 18th April 1966

Savernake Low Level in 1967. Looking in the London direction. Copyright Keith Jenkin. Apologies for the poor image.

Just out of interest this is Savernake High Level in 1967. Already closed for six years and used as a farmers track.

The Crofton Pumping Engine near Bedwyn

From the train. Crofton Pumping Engine near Bedwyn. 12th October 2015. Copyright Roger Winnen

Crofton Pumping engine. 30th April 2017. Copyright Roger Aston

Crofton Pumping engine. 30th April 2017 Copyright Roger Aston

Crofton Pumping engine 3 30th April 2017 Copyright Roger Aston

Crofton Pumping engine 4. 30th April 2017 Copyright Roger Aston

Many thanks to Roger Aston for the above four views.

Bedwyn 66.5 miles from Paddington
Followed by walking the Kennet & Avon Canal footpath from Bedwyn Station to Little Bedwyn etc

770730b Possibly 50004 passing Bedwyn on route to Paddington. Copyright Roger Winnen

770730bb After detraining its passengers the unit moves to crossover to the up main to Newbury then backing into the Bay Platform. Copyright Roger Winnen

770730c Bedwyn being the limit of the suburban services from London. Copyright Roger Winnen

770730d The train sits in the bay platform awaiting a path to Reading etc. Copyright Roger Winnen

770730e The thatched houses of the village. Copyright Roger Winnen

770730h Bedwyn Signal Box. Copyright Roger Winnen

770730i A Class 50 on route to the Westcountry passes Bedwyn. Copyright Roger Winnen

820415a Lock Gates on the Kennet and Avon Canal. Copyright Roger Winnen

830721c From the banks of the canal an HST is seen on route to London. Copyright Roger Winnen

830727b Locks on the Kennet and Avon. A Peak is seen hauling a passenger traiin towards Newbury and Reading. Copyright Roger Winnen

830728eThe locks at Little Bedwyn. Copyright Roger Winnen

830728f The famous footbridge at Little Bedwyn as Pickfords does a removal. Copyright Roger Winnen

830728ff An HST Passing Little Bedwyn on route to the South West. Copyright Roger Winnen

830728j A Class 56 on a Foster Yeoman stone working passes the Church at Little Bedwyn. Copyright Roger Winnen

830728k The Class 50 is seen on an express to the West Country passes Little Bedwyn. Copyright Roger Winnen

830728l A HST heads west at Little Bedwyn. Copyright Roger Winnen

830728m Another stone train headed by a Class 56 skirts the Kennet & Avon Canel. Copyright Roger Winnen

Hungerford 61.5 miles from Paddington

Kintbury 58.5 miles from Paddington

830728n Dundas Arms and locks at Kintbury. Copyright Roger Winnen

770730j The Signal Box at Kintbury can be seen in the distance as a train proceeds towards London. Copyright Roger Winnen

770730k A Class 50 passes Kintbury Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

770730l Basic facilities at Kintbury Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

770730m Kintbury Signal Box. Copyright Roger Winnen

830728h Approaching Kintbury a Class 47 on a stone working heads for the capitol. Copyright Roger Winnen

830728i A Class 31 on a Parcels Train pass the locks at Kintbury. Copyright Roger Winnen

770730n Newbury Station West Signal Box. Copyright Roger Winnen

770730o A Train from Reading approaches Newbury Station from the east. Copyright Roger Winnen

770730p Newbury West Signal Box. Copyright Roger Winnen

770730q The exterior of Newbury Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

900516a Newbury Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

770730q The exterior of Newbury Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

900516b An HST on the through lines at Newbury bound for London. Copyright Roger Winnen

900516c 47547 heads a communter train towards the capital. Copyright Roger Winnen

900516g A Class 33 with an engineers train passes Newbury. Copyright Newbury. Copyright Roger Winnen

900516dd A Class 56 storms through Newbury with a stone train bound for the capitol. Copyright Roger Winnen

770730s Passing through Newbury on 4th October 2018. Copyright Roger Winnen

A map depicting the course of the railway and the accompanying canal with all the locks named. Copyright Keith Jenkin.

Newbury Racecourse Station

790806a Newbury Racecourse Station on 6th August 1979. Copyright Roger Winnen

830728q An oil train at Newbury Racecourse Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

170627a Newbury Racecourse Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

181004d Newbury Racecourse Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

Thatcham 49.5 Miles from Paddington. 

Midgham 46.75 miles from Paddington.

181004a Passing through Midgham Station on route to Paddington. Copyright Roger Winnen

Aldermaston 44.75 miles from Paddington.

Theale 41.25 miles from Paddington.

170627b The Murco Oil Terminal at Theale. Copyright Roger Winnen

Reading West 37 miles from Paddington.

181004a Reading West. Copyright Roger Winnen

Reading 36 miles from Paddington.

750807a The prototype HST passes through Reading. Copyright Roger Winnen

770730a A Class 50 heads a london bound train at Reading. Copyright Roger Winnen

790803a 33110 at Reading Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

130813a 150002 Departs Reading on a service to Basingstoke. Copyright David Tozer

830421a EMU 1127 at Reading Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

830728o 33211 Passes through Reading on a container train to the Southern Region. Copyright Roger Winnrn

860711aa 50023 Howe in Network South East Livery leave Reading. Copyright Roger Winnen

860711c The Southern enters Reading from London Waterloo. Copyright Roger Winnen

Unit 458 8021 Awaiting departure from Reading on 2nd November 2015. Copyright David Tozer

860711b A Class 47 with a freight arrives at Reading. Copyright Roger Winnen

860711d An HST alongside the now old station buildings at Reading. Copyright Roger Winnen

141013a The rebuilding of Reading Station in 2014. Copyright Roger Winnen

141013c The rebuilding of Reading Station. Copyright Roger Winnen

141013b Running into Reading Station from Paddington on 13th October 2014. Copyright Roger Winnen

770730u An HST arrives at Reading on a service from London Paddington. Copyright Roger Winnen

770730v The original station buildings is seen behind the HST. Copyright Roger Winnen

770730w Rail Enthusiats sit on the endof the platform at Reading. Copyright Roger Winnen

860711e Metro Cammel DMU on the Bedwyn service at Reading. Copyright Roger Winnen

930630a A train from Paddington enters the bay platform at Reading. Copyright Roger Winnen

770805a The former Reading General Station West Signal Box. Copyright Roger Winnen

180626a The new Reading takes shape as we cross the new flyover on the approach to Reading Station Roger Winnen

180626b The new facilities at Reading. Copyright Roger Winnen

180626c The new Reading Station Roger Winnen

3rd July 2017 Class 66149 & 66006 on the bin liner train awaits departure from Reading. Copyright David Tozer

Adelantie Set 180103 awaits departure from Reading on 3.7.2017. Copyright David Tozer