Two Ways to Banbury - A Wycombe Railway Update

  YOU'D BE FORGIVEN for thinking that the Wycombe Railway and Joint Line was a complete route, having achieved it's main purpose; that of recreating the 'actual' Wycombe Railway. Namely the High Wycombe to Oxford, via Princes Risborough, line. This aim was finally realized with the release of version 2 last year, with the extension of the route through Thame, into Oxford. However, after a natural break, Peter has now moved on, and is working at a steady pace extending to Banbury and Banbury! Not only will version 3 include the relatively short extension of the GW Bicester cut-off route(version 2 reached Ardley) to Banbury, but also the main line from Oxford to Banbury. Here Peter presents a pictorial update on the Ardley to Kings Sutton section:

Limestone quarry at Ardley Station. It was taken to a cement works a dozen miles north of Banbury.
I don't know when this quarry opened or closed.
In the 1970's there were sidings and loading stage south of the station on the down side.

The only image of the loading stage I have yet found is a brief clip on a DVD, The Power of the Castles.

Leaving Ardley Quarry. Large Prairies were possibly the most usual choice of traction but the Standard 4 Tanks, 9F's and even a B1 were used.

Emerging from the northern end of Ardley tunnel

Crossing the first Souldern viaduct

The Oxford to Banbury line. A Standard 4 on the down goods loop south of Aynho station. The Wycombe line joins it at Aynho Junction beyond the station.

The second Souldern viaduct

Passing Aynho Park station before descending to the junction

Approaching Aynho Park from Banbury

  Aynho Park station was a short walk from Aynho for Deddington and administered by the same station master. The ticket office was built at the foot of the embankment and here looks very much like Wheatley parcels shed. I visited to photograph it and found a large builder's wire fence, a waste skip and a fresh patch of gravel.

Aynho Park

The Wycombe line descends into the Cherwell valley.
The river meanders across its flood plain as does the Oxford canal and several mill leats.

One of the many farm access draw bridges across the canal.

Aynho Junction. Crossing the Oxford line and up goods loop.

Taking the Wycombe line at Aynho junction

Aynho troughs.

Nell Bridge, crossing Aynho troughs

Nell Bridge wharf.

The Southern Region loco took over the inter regional train for the South Coast at Banbury

Canal and river at the junction with the Banbury and Cheltenham line. The M40 now crosses very close to here.

Kings Sutton. An unprofitable goods waits to join the main line to Banbury.

The junction with the Banbury and Cheltenham line at Kings Sutton.

Kings Sutton. The station buildings were a very ornate version of a style used at several locations on the Banbury and Cheltenham line.

North from Kings Sutton

Beyond Kings Sutton

Twyford Bridge. I assume the centre of the bridge was originally a brick arch but don't know when it was replaced with a metal span.

Astrop Box. There used to me an ironstone quarry with loading sidings opposite though it had closed and returned to agriculture in the 1920's.

On the goods loop approaching Banbury. The M40 now crosses the line somewhere near here.

Kings Sutton lock with a Southern Region service going south in the distance.

Kings Sutton - looking north

Kings Sutton - looking south

Nell Bridge

Taking the Oxford line at Aynho junction

Waiting in the up goods loop north of Aynho station

Aynho Wharf behind the station.

Aynho for Deddington. A primary requirement for a station master on the Oxford line seems to have been to have very green fingers.

Aynho wharf

Aynho for Deddington station

The Oxford line and the first Souldern viaduct in the background

There we have it for this update. Still a lot of work to do, but things are looking really promising. The Bicester cut-off part is basically complete. Oxford to Banbury itself is going to take time.

More Soon. . . . . . . . . . . . . 

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