Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway
| Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway | |
|
Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire | |
|---|---|
 Pannier Tank at Chinnor Station | |
| Gauge: | standard |
| No. of stations: | 1 |
| Track: | 3½ miles |
| Headquarters: | Chinnor |
| Information | |
| Website: | chinnorrailway.co.uk |
The Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway is a preserved heritage railway with its headquarters and only station at Chinnor in Oxfordshire. It runs along the foot of the Chilterns escarpment.
History
The line was part of the former Great Western Railway branch line between Watlington and Princes Risborough. British Railways closed the line to passenger traffic in 1957. The section between Chinnor and Princes Risborough then carried a freight-only cement service until 1989.[1]
Preservation
Reopening
The Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway Association was formed around August 1989. It began to operate passenger trains between Chinnor and the site of the former Wainhill Halt (about half a mile northeast of Chinnor) in August 1994. In 1995 the route was extended by about 3 km to Horsenden Lane, and then to Thame Junction in 1996.[1] The two-and-a-half mile route has been unchanged since then.
The railway operates on standard gauge between Chinnor and Thame Junction, near Princes Risborough. As of 2013, there is no platform at Thame Junction, so each trip from Chinnor is a return journey of about five miles.
Princes Risborough extension
An extension of about a mile to Princes Risborough mainline railway station is proposed and the railway is in discussion with Network Rail, with a view to running into Princes Risborough station.[2] This would allow passengers to connect from Chiltern Railways services on the Chiltern Main Line. Once the extension takes place, the line would then be four miles long. The line has been reconnected for special events allowing trains to run into Princes Risborough station in the past. The line was last reconnected for the first 3 weekends in October 2013 for the railways "Haversham & Friends" celebrations.[3]
The first through train to Chinnor for 57 years, a railtour from Aylesbury via Princes Risborough, ran on 5 October 2013.[4][5]
Future projects
Consideration has been given to extending the line to the south-west from Chinnor towards Aston Rowant near the A40, taking its total length to six miles.[6][7]
A purpose built Maintenance and Education centre at Chinnor station is also planned,[8] with construction expected to commence in 2014.
On-screen appearances
Chinnor station has been used for the filming of various television series including *Miss Marple and Midsomer Murders.[9]
Locomotives
- Steam:
- GWR 0-6-0PT 1366 Class No. 1369. Visited for 2014 from the South Devon Railway Trust.
- Diesel:
- BR 0-6-0 Class 08 No. D3018 'Haversham'. BR green. Operational.
- BR 0-6-0 Class 08 No. 08825. BR blue. Under modification (dual brake system being fitted). Operational.
- BR Bo-Bo Class 17 No. D8568. Operational.
- BR A1A-A1A Class 31 No. D5581. Under repair.
- BR Co-Co Class 37 No. 37116. BR blue. Built in 1963. Under repair.
- Ruston & Hornsby 0-6-0DH 459515 'IRIS'. Operational.
- Diesel multiple units:
- BR Class 121 'bubble car' No. W55023. Operational and mainly used on summer Saturdays.
- BR Class 121 'bubble car' No. W55024. Under repair.
- Electric multiple units:
- BR Class 411 '3CEP' No. 1198. 'Linda the Lymington Flyer' BR Blue. Built in 1961. In Operation (Hauled by Blue 08 and Class 37)
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway) |
- Location map: 51°41’53"N, -0°54’23"W
- Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 History of the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway
- ↑ Fagg, Roger (May 2012). "Princes Risborough Extension, Progress at May 2012:". Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway. http://www.chinnorrailway.co.uk/201205_PrincesRisborough. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
- ↑ "Haversham and Friends". Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway. 2013-08-28. http://www.chinnorrailway.co.uk/Havershams_60th_Birthday. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
- ↑ Johnston, Howard (30 October – 12 November 2013). "Regional News". RAIL (734): 24.
- ↑ "Haversham and Friends, day 1.". Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway. 2013-08-23. http://www.chinnorrailway.co.uk/HF_day1. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
- ↑ Oppitz, Leslie (2000). Lost Railways of the Chilterns. Lost Railways. Newbury: Countryside Books. p. 24. ISBN 978-1-85306-643-6.
- ↑ "Travel: Reopened rail line could relieve M40". The Independent. 1997-12-22. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/travel-reopened-rail-line-could-relieve-m40-1290209.html. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
- ↑ "Restoration and Education Centre Appeal". 8 April 2013. http://chinnorrailway.co.uk/r&eca. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
- ↑ Street, Joan. "Midsomer Murders Locations - Chinnor, Buckinghamshire". Archived from the original on 2009-08-04. http://web.archive.org/web/20090804170909/http://geocities.com/TelevisionCity/Satellite/9476/chinnorloc.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-14.