tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-284969579461218432024-03-22T04:41:17.213+00:00East West RailHitchin Grade Separationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395467868719641571noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28496957946121843.post-23434433152856679872016-03-25T23:42:00.003+00:002016-03-25T23:47:55.339+00:00Bedford to Hitchin - Part Two - Ickleford to Henlow CampNow a look at the section from Ickleford to Henlow Camp. The difficulties of using the old route increase as we move north. <br />
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On the other side of the field shown at the end of the last post, the line crossed Snailswell Lane. In this picture from 1964 the bridge had been reduced to a single span but a walkway replaced the other span. This was quite a low clearance bridge.<br />
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This is the bridge looking back towards Hitchin with the large field immediately the other side of the bridge.<br />
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Here is the site of the bridge today. Absolutely no sign of its existence now or is there?<br />
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On the left is a well built culvert taking a drainage ditch under the line which has survived. I am sure that there are people living here who have no idea that a (once) twin tracked main line railway passed through here.<br />
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After Snailswell Lane the embankment became a cutting. Here the line passes under Three Arches bridge heading towards open farm land. I can remember visiting this bridge with a friend few times in 1962 not realising that the line had closed to passengers. Unsurprisingly we never saw anything pass under the bridge.<br />
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Looking back towards Ickleford. This cutting was controversially filled with rubbish in the 1980's. There were fears that flooding would cause contaminated water to leech out into the village. Presumably the embankment between Arlesey Road and Snailswell Lane was removed at the same time and used to cap off the landfill.</div>
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This is shot taken from the site of Three Arches bridge looking the same way as the last picture showing the filled in cutting. The farmer does not appear to use the land.</div>
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Here is probably why the land is not used. One of a number of monitoring boreholes.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7J9AXe0prWYGg3ms0uhNKy93mcmF10G_52s08Pf61zHWGeb1zmJTEZWtIrIX4v4kRGYpvPwP2LcwV_eyQgKF9YlkdbRW6t9TY_VX-S6SMvErB8FysBybx4gxY6ywi__YfUS_mrhoFQ/s1600/IMG_4247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7J9AXe0prWYGg3ms0uhNKy93mcmF10G_52s08Pf61zHWGeb1zmJTEZWtIrIX4v4kRGYpvPwP2LcwV_eyQgKF9YlkdbRW6t9TY_VX-S6SMvErB8FysBybx4gxY6ywi__YfUS_mrhoFQ/s640/IMG_4247.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
A closer look reveals the label stating it is an observation monitoring borehole and that it should not be filled.<br />
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This was the site of the actual bridge. The bridleway dips a bit where the ground has settled over the years.<br />
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Looking north towards Henlow, the land above the infilled cutting is being farmed</div>
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Looking back toward three arches bridge from the edge of the next field</div>
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Moving on towards Henlow, the ground is quite uneven where the infilling has settled.</div>
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The cutting ended around here and the line continued on a low embankment. This looks back towards Ickleford.<br />
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The line crossed this field but no trace of it remains apart from possibly this small culvert in the centre of this picture.</div>
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Again the course of the line is quite clear from the air. Fifty odd years of ploughing still haven't managed to remove the evidence of the route it took.</div>
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I couldn't follow the trackbed any further so I had to relocate to the A600 Bedford Road. This picture looks over to the infilled cutting marked by the fence line.<br />
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Turning left from the same spot, the line continued behind the small trees.</div>
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It then emerged on this still visible raised ground to cross this field. The overhead line gantries of the ECML are visible in the background.<br />
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After crossing the field, the line continued towards Henlow on another section of embankment marked by the tree line.<br />
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More of the same embankment. Where it ends on the left it has been narrowed considerably by ploughing over the years. It carries on across the next field before entering what was Henlow Camp station.<br />
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The dip in the driveway marks what would have been an occupation crossing still visible more than 50 years after closure.<br />
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From the crossing looking towards Ickleford. The large tree in the centre marks the start of the embankment.<br />
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Looking the other way to the edge of Henlow Camp. Trees in the centre mark the start of another embankment which took the line into the station.<br />
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Here is the same heavily wooded embankment seen from a new housing development.<br />
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The name of play area acknowledges the former existence of the railway as do some of the road names. Maybe not the best idea though as Network Rail spend millions on getting the safety message about not playing on or near railway lines across!</div>
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The overgrown embankment continued until encroached on by the back gardens of new housing.marked by the fence.</div>
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Next post will be Henlow Camp with some old pictures of the station.</div>
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<br />Hitchin Grade Separationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395467868719641571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28496957946121843.post-42365614669032429592015-10-29T23:52:00.001+00:002015-10-30T15:42:45.442+00:00Oxford Parkway to Bicester Re-opensOn 26th October the line from Oxford Parkway to Bicester officially re-opened and the new chord went into service permitting the start of the new Chiltern Railways Marylebone to Oxford service to commence. However Chiltern Railways announced on Saturday that services would actually start on Sunday 25th to allow testing of the line. Passengers were welcome to try out the service but would have to pay! The new station at Oxford Parkway was opened by David Cameron and the rebuilt stations at Islip and Bicester Village (formally Town) re-opened. Considering how much still remained to be done two weeks ago, they certainly pulled out all the stops to open on time. OK there is still a lot of finishing touches to be completed such as sound barriers but it was still quite an achievement.<br />
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Whilst this is all about a new rail link to London, it also represents an important step in the construction of the East West Rail link. The fact that Chiltern Railways and Network Rail were prepared to make provision for East West Rail when building the Bicester chord is almost certainly the catalyst that finally made the project move from an aspiration to a reality.<br />
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I decided to give the new service a try and my first opportunity to do this was on 28th October. If you book early enough and are prepared to book a specific off peak train, it is very cheap, starting at £3.95 per leg. I have to say I was hoping that I was not going to be travelling on a rail replacement bus, doubter that I was! I am pleased to say that my doubts were misplaced and the journey went smoothly. This was my first visit to Marylebone station and I was surprised (and pleased) to see that the logo of the Great Central Railway was still on both entrance gates some 92 years after it ceased to be an independent entity. The photo below shows the left hand gate:-<br />
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Above the departure board and in a number of other locations, banners proclaimed the arrival of the new service. Our train was the 11.05 from platform 2 which can just about be seen at the bottom of the picture. It duly left on time and it seemed that in no time we were passing through the rolling countryside of the Chilterns. It was only scheduled to stop at Haddenham and Thame Parkway and Bicester Village. After the stop at Haddenham and Thame, we continued on our way towards Bicester with the signs in the carriage proclaiming that this train was for Bicester North and Oxford Parkway.. The ticket inspector was forced to announce that this was wrong and that we would indeed be calling at Bicester Village much to the relief of the shoppers on the train! <br />
After crossing the A41, we slowed to 40mph for the approach to the chord. As we descended towards Gavray Junction I took a couple of shots through the quite dirty carriage window so I apologise for their poor quality.<br />
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In the compound centre of the picture, the chippies were still hard at work which you can just make out by zooming in.<br />
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The large concrete blocks were indeed for sound barrier fencing. It does seem an incredible amount of concrete to support what are effectively fence panels. Some of this sound barrier has now been erected and work was continuing as we passed. On arrival at Bicester Village I was surprised to hear the announcements made in three languages, English, Mandarin and Japanese. This is obviously to assist the multitude of Chinese and Japanese tourists that visit the shopping village. Work was still going on at the station but it was largely complete. I was correct about the dedicated entrance to Bicester Village.<br />
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From Bicester to Oxford Parkway, there was still a lot of work being carried as we passed through including at Islip station. I noticed quite a few new bridges which were (quite rightly) necessary for safety<br />
reasons with the line speed increasing from 40mph to 100mph. I will try and take a closer look at this section when time allows.<br />
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I took this after getting off the train and you can see the temporary buffer stops on the other side of the bridge. This is the terminus until the line into Oxford station re-opens.<br />
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Looking back the other way. The train dwells here as the timetable has been set to include the extra time to travel into Oxford and back.<br />
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Looking down from the footbridge towards Islip.</div>
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Quite a few cars in the new car park which has a capacity for around 850 cars and 150 bikes.<br />
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Car park from the footbridge staircase. Water Eaton park and ride is to the right.</div>
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View towards Oxford from the other platform.</div>
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And towards Islip from the same spot.</div>
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And finally the station building from the approach road. The replacement bus service to Oxford station was the 500 park and ride bus and one was waiting for us as we arrived so there no delay. It was a bit of a slow grind into Oxford however. There is a small cafe in the station and I chatted to the man behind the counter whilst we waited for our return train. He said that trade had been brisk for the three days that the station had been open.</div>
<br />Hitchin Grade Separationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395467868719641571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28496957946121843.post-68094070783763903052015-10-18T23:48:00.000+01:002015-10-18T23:48:16.041+01:00Bicester Pre-Opening Report Part Three Bicester Town/Village StationFinally I went to have a look at Bicester Town station or Bicester Village as it will be known. At first glance the station itself look reasonably complete whilst the approach road and car park still have a way to go. However on closer inspection there is still quite a bit to finish on the station itself. London Road level crossing was closed so getting to both sides of the site involved quite a diversion.<br />
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First the London Road level crossing. A cement mixer is filling the rail mounted mixer. I didn't notice it at the time (or I might have availed myself of it!) but there is a notice on the bus stop saying that there is taxi to to take pedestrians to the other side of the crossing if you wait there.<br />
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Improvements are being made to Station Approach widening the entrance.</div>
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The car park still full of construction materials </div>
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The station building seen from Station Approach. The footbridge is now in place and associated staircases. The car park to the right is not part of the station as I first thought but an extension of Bicester Village parking facilities.<br />
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The station seen from the south side of the line. The vegetation disguises the fact that it is not finished.<br />
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One of the platform shelters with the footbridge behind. Reasonably complete here although the fencing behind the shelter is still to be installed.<br />
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Looking the other way still quite a bit to do. The electronic train information board has a sign with "car stop" on the end. The preliminary route indicator has the the look of a cactus!<br />
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This is the exit from the station building on to the platform. Permanent fencing still to be installed.<br />
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Same shot from a different angle courtesy of a fire escape.</div>
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Now looking towards the west end of the platform. Lot of activity here.</div>
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Zooming in reveals a lot more to be done here. Could that building to the right of the picture be a dedicated entrance to Bicester Village?<br />
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Here are the two preliminary route indicators seen behind the hoardings. Going to be a while before the left hand feather on the nearest sign sees much use unless it is a waste train for Calvert perhaps<br />
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Finally a large concrete foundation has been poured inside the work site. I am not sure what is for but for something not vital to the re-opening I am guessing. Hats off to Buckingham Group if this all ready for the 26th October. It looks like they are pulling out all the stops but there is still a lot to do.</div>
Hitchin Grade Separationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395467868719641571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28496957946121843.post-52029762363126788292015-10-18T19:00:00.000+01:002015-10-29T21:52:39.570+00:00Bicester Pre-Opening Report Part Two Tubb's CrossingAfter Gavray Drive, I moved round to Tubb's Crossing. The reason for the carpenters' work was revealed as was the purpose of the rows of steel pipes seen previously. I saw three road rail machines in action here.<br />
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Here is the first of the road railers loaded with reinforcing bar. </div>
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In this picture construction workers are removing the shuttering from some pretty substantial concrete blocks.<br />
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On the east side of the bridge. work is being carried out on the blocks.</div>
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A bit further on piles of shutter can be seen against the fence. Not quite sure what all this work is for. Maybe sound barrier work although they seem a bit too substantial for that.<br />
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Another machine arrives pulling a generator and cement mixer.</div>
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It then proceeds to pour its load into partly filled block. I understand the yellow T sign indicates the end of a temporary speed restriction. I am grateful to the person that pointed this out..<br />
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The first machine having unloaded the rebar returns to the compound.</div>
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Followed by another towing a flat bed wagon.</div>
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Finally a shot towards Gavray junction from far side of the footbridge. Notice the piles on the left which I guess will support more concrete blocks.<br />
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Part three Bicester Town/Village station to follow.<br />
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<br />Hitchin Grade Separationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395467868719641571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28496957946121843.post-91086582509472531822015-10-18T15:13:00.001+01:002015-10-19T23:52:28.956+01:00Bicester Pre-Opening Update Part One Gavray DriveI managed to get out to Bicester to have a look before the station re-opens and the new chord go into service. With just over two weeks to go I imagined it would just be a case of tidying up the site. I couldn't have been more wrong! I found a hive of activity in all areas from the chord to the station. I had thought to check out the line from Bicester to Oxford but I didn't know about the Oxford half marathon and the road closures that this involved. That will have to wait until another day. I went first to Gavray Drive to the new chord site. I was pleased to find that the footbridge was now open which allowed a much better look at the new line. On Charbridge Lane I was able to see that the speed limit coming off the Chiltern line onto the chord was 40mph.<br />
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Here the chord can be seen rising towards the Chiltern line. Now that the new embankment has grassed over it is easier to make out. Permanent fencing has been installed. Two construction workers were walking the line and can be seen centre of picture.<br />
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View from the footbridge. It appears that both lines will be bi-directional from the signals.<br />
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Zooming in on the set for Gavray junction. Note the stop boards on both lines</div>
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And further on the set protecting Bicester South Junction. It appears that the Chiltern main line is steeply graded here but it is an optical illusion.<br />
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This is from the centre of the bridge.</div>
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And this from the far side staircase.</div>
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Looking the other way not so tidy here.</div>
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In the work site some chippies were hard at work. I wondered what for. This became apparent later on.<br />
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Moving under the Chiltern line, here are the recently installed signals with associated control cabinets on the re-doubled Varsity line.<br />
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Looking east from the same spot.</div>
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A bit further on the red buffers mark the end of the new double track section.</div>
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At some stage the wing walls have been unsympathetically reinforced</div>
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The underpass has been lengthened by the reinforcing</div>
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And more on the opposite wing wall</div>
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This is a fairly substantial culvert adjacent to the footbridge<br />
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Still some construction materials waiting to be used. Two culvert or drain outfalls and some stancions inside the strip of land between the temporary and permanent fencing.</div>
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<br />Hitchin Grade Separationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395467868719641571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28496957946121843.post-4988198723200389732015-08-31T13:47:00.000+01:002016-03-25T18:24:39.472+00:00Bedford to Hitchin - Part One - Hitchin to Ickleford.Continuing a look at what remains of the Bedford to Hitchin line. <br />
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Heading towards Ickleford the trackbed can be walked for a short distance although the 50 odd years of tree growth has narrowed it somewhat.<br />
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Next bridge (no 4) was the one over the Icknield Way which is reputed to be one of the oldest roads in Britain. One abutment survives which is gradually being taken over by ivy. The cap stones from the other abutment are variously located along the path next to the embankment.<br />
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This is a picture from 1964. It is quite clear from this photo that the line was double tracked originally and one deck was removed when it was singled.<br />
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This one shows a DMU passing over bridge 4. The embankment is much more defined in this picture.<br />
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This picture, again from 1964, shows bridge 4 looking towards Hitchin. In the distance the line can be seen turning to run alongside the ECML. Again it is quite clearly originally a double track embankment.<br />
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Adjacent to bridge 3 is Gerry's Hole which is explained by the sign above.<br />
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Not a great picture but taken from the top of the remaining abutment shows the Gerry's Hole sign with one of the cap stones on the ground behind it.</div>
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Next bridge along is the River Hiz underbridge. It is still extant today and in reasonably good condition. The pictures above are from 1964. The top one looks north and you can see the houses of Ickleford top right. The lower one is taken from the east side of the line.<br />
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This was taken in 2006. Residents of River Court have taken over the embankment with some steps being installed as can be seen on the right of the bridge.<br />
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Bridge 6 is the one in the centre of Ickleford over Arlesey Road.. It was removed many years ago and no trace of its existence remains other than the house next to it is called "Bridge House"<br />
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Looking towards Hitchin, again the evidence of singling is quite clear to see. The wider bridge abutments where the deck has been removed are protected by fencing.<br />
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Looking the other way, the line continued towards Bedford on an embankment which has been completely removed.<br />
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Looking north towards Snailswell Lane from Arlesey Road, this is the line of the former embankment. The grass is quite noticeably different to the rest of the field. I am pretty sure the fence on the right is original railway fencing.<br />
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This looks the the other way. Bridge House is centre background. The line passed to the right of this. I will replace this picture with a better shot when I get opportunity.<br />
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Next Ickleford to Henlow Camp.<br />
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<br />Hitchin Grade Separationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395467868719641571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28496957946121843.post-53132137403263845062015-08-12T23:15:00.000+01:002016-03-25T18:26:02.646+00:00Bedford To Cambridge Central Section Shortlist Announced. The East West Rail Consortium has finally announced its preferred shortlist of two possible route corridors for the central section. This has been whittled down from seven route corridors that were under consideration. Further work to decide which which corridor offers the best value and then the route within that corridor is to be carried out. Bearing in mind one of the reasons that the original Varsity Line closed in the first place was that it was quicker to travel into London and out again than take the direct route, some of the seven routes were going to be non starters. I could see no point in an improved 100 mph railway between Oxford and Bedford if the next section went via a convoluted route. Whilst there would be obvious benefits in the other options, East West Rail's core route of Oxford to Cambridge has to be fast and direct to succeed. <br />
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If I was in charge of the route selection, a quick glance at the map on my office wall would tell me that I should be looking at a route corridor that should go via Sandy but certainly no further north than St Neots and no further south than Biggleswade. I am not advocating reinstating the Sandy Cambridge section as it was because it was not particularly direct and much of the route is lost. However a more direct route from Sandy joining the Hitchin to Cambridge line at around Shepreth must be worth looking at. This would remove the difficult and costly problem of getting the line into Cambridge. It would also have the benefit of passing Addenbrookes hospital and the adjacent proposed science park which will surely get its own station eventually.<br />
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The other option is going via Hitchin which presumably means rebuilding the Bedford to Hitchin line either using some of the original route or following a new route. This does have some merit although it does involve quite a detour. It is effectively two sides of a triangle as opposed to one via Sandy. In rough terms Bedford to Cambridge is around 25 miles as the crow flies whilst Bedford Hitchin Cambridge is about 40 miles. Once you reach Hitchin you then have an existing twin track electrified railway to Cambridge so the new build aspect would be about 15 miles. The question then is do you include Hitchin as a stop which would involve a reversal or do you bypass it to the north and go straight to Letchworth? I am sure Hitchin would have to be included because one of the aims is inter-connectivity with the various main lines it crosses. It would be unthinkable not to have an interchange with the East Coast main line.<br />
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The Bedford line approached Hitchin on a shared embankment on the west side of the mainline some of which was used for the Hitchin Flyover. However I am sure this could be overcome and Network Rail stated that passive provision was made for this. The problem would be that if trains from Cambridge to Oxford called at Hitchin, then they would have to cross the East Coast mainline to get on to the Bedford line. So how could it be done without re-introducing the problem that the Hitchin Flyover solved? <br />
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This is only my idea and I am probably making it sound simple when there are probably any number of reasons why it can't be done. Rebuild Hitchin station on the other side of Cambridge Road in the former Midland Railway's goods yard.where there is plenty of room. It would be built with four through platforms and two bay platforms. Cambridge trains would use the inner slow line platforms and Peterborough trains could use either allowing two up or two down trains to be in the station at the same time. The bay platforms would be used for East West trains and would be situated on the west side of the main line. As the Bedford to Hitchin line was originally built as a twin track main line, the embankment is wide enough to take two tracks again. One track would go to Bedford and the other to Cambridge via a junction just before the viaduct but after the Cambridge down line has left the ECML. It would only work if the viaduct could be made bi-directional and I am not sure if this would be possible. Cambridge to Bedford trains would then come back over the flyover and into the bay platforms and then reverse. It will be interesting to see what solution the East West Rail Consortium comes up with if the Hitchin route is the preferred one. A "light" option could be just be putting the two bay platforms in the goods yard and providing a link to the main station.<br />
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Here is a old photo of Hitchin station I recently purchased.</div>
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Zooming in on the up platform, you can just make out the sign on the wall proclaiming it to be "Hitchin Junction" Underneath it says "for Cambridge for Bedford" It might well become this again if the preferred route is via Hitchin!<br />
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In the meantime, over the next few weeks I will have a look at what remains of the Bedford to Hitchin line to see what might or might not be possible. I also have some older photographs of the line which I will also put up for illustration and historical interest.<br />
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First section from Hitchin through Ickleford can still be quite clearly seen on Google Earth although on the ground it is not so obvious.<br />
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http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/maps/index.php?view=51.95666,-0.26759&map=NPEMap&zoom=16&layer=3&markers=51.95778,-0.26945,<br />
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This shows the Bedford line in 1964 looking towards Hitchin. The twin track is still extant but the right hand line was used as a head shunt for the goods yard. The left hand track was the running line<br />
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Looking the other way there is stop block on the running line which had already closed between Hitchin and Shefford.<br />
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This is the bridge by the scrapyard where the Hitchin flyover starts now. The Bedford line is nearest to the camera and is lower than the main line bridge behind.<br />
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This one shows the end of the headshunt with the guard rail of the scrapyard bridge seen behind.<br />
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This shows the embankment after tree clearance but before the flyover work started, looking south from roughly the same spot as the last picture.<br />
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Some grab shots from a northbound train showing the Bedford line solum just after the goods yard just before the Grove Road bridge with new railings installed as part of the flyover work.<br />
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A bit further on, the trackbed is clear providing vehicle access to the worksite.</div>
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Finally the trackbed just before the scrapyard after which it curves away north west and passes through the centre of Ickleford. More to follow soon.<br />
<br />Hitchin Grade Separationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395467868719641571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28496957946121843.post-69949269837285210732015-07-17T23:32:00.000+01:002015-07-17T23:32:15.999+01:00Bicester Town StationSince my last visit, work on the new Bicester Town station has moved on quite a bit. All traces of the old station have gone as have some adjacent industrial units. Through access to Bicester Village has been closed off and the bus replacement service no longer leaves from Station Approach. It apparently leaves from Pingle Drive outside the Village shopping mall. This would appear to defeat the object of a rail replacement bus service if it does not leave from the same location as the train. The fact that you cannot walk easily to Pingle Drive from Station Approach any longer must be very annoying to those used to catching the bus from the station site.<br />
However the new station is taking shape and new hoardings on London Road proclaim that you will be able to catch a new fast train service to Central London from this summer. This would appear to be a tad optimistic or we can look forward to a longer summer this year!<br />
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Here is the hoarding along the work site on the south side of the line.</div>
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A closer look.</div>
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Looking east from the level crossing you can see more evidence of the cabling work and a recently cast concrete base which I am guessing will soon see the installation of a control cabinet.</div>
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Looking the other way from the level crossing, the new station is taking shape. The north side is the site of recently demolished station</div>
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This shows the new westbound platform. The new platforms appear to be slightly staggered with the westbound nearer the level crossing.<br />
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The next three photos show the extensive station work site. Left to right from the London Road end.<br />
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Here are a couple of closer shots of the station building and car park.</div>
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I then moved round to the business park of the south side of the line and took a few shots of the work.</div>
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This was taken from London Road. The new platform is quite a bit higher than the adjacent car park.<br />
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Here is the station building from the other side.</div>
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Here the lift towers awaiting the connecting footbridge look quite imposing.</div>
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One of the lift towers with some of the footbridge support.</div>
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Finally on my last visit I took a shot of the bridge over the A41 just north of Aylesbury Parkway station and commented on its neglected state. Shortly after it was replaced with a new bridge seen here. However the replacement appears to be only single track which could be shortsighted once services commence to Milton Keynes and Bedford. Passive provision for double track would have allowed capacity to be expanded if the service became more popular than expected.</div>
Hitchin Grade Separationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395467868719641571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28496957946121843.post-36275191389712832232015-07-07T23:02:00.002+01:002015-07-07T23:02:45.624+01:00Bicester Round Up 6th July 2015After a few months when I wasn't able to visit the area, I finally had an opportunity to check on the latest developments in Bicester. When I was last there, lorries were still dropping material on the new embankment. Now it looks as if the construction and track laying phase has been completed and cabling and ducting work is underway.<br />
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The first picture looks towards the new junction with the Chiltern mainline</div>
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Moving to the left, two construction workers are returning to the work compound. The dark line is ducting for cabling. New fencing and tidying up of the site is evident.<br />
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Moving further down the chord, more signalling cabinets can be seen. Fencing work still ongoing at this point.<br />
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This is more of an overall shot of the chord from the closed public footpath. Gives a better idea of the gradient.<br />
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Almost down to the level of the Varsity line, a pair of road rail machines are stationary on the chord.<br />
The new footbridge can be partly seen on the left.<br />
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Here is a better look at it. Not DDA compliant like the Tubbs Lane crossing which is much more complex. Sadly not re-opened yet which would allow some better photo opportunities of the chord.<br />
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Here a Chiltern service heads north past the road rail machines and the footbridge.</div>
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At the end of Gavray Drive, I took a few shots of the junction. Security fencing didn't help unfortunately. Looking east. Nearest line is one of the chord pair. The other starts just to the left of the green cabinet.<br />
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The green cabinet plus a grey one are recent additions.</div>
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Looking west, more evidence of the cabling and ducting works. House that were previously hidden behind trees now have new fencing.<br />
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Looking down from Tubbs Lane footbridge, evidence of recent cable work at yet more cabinets.<br />
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Looking towards the new junction and the Chiltern line bridge. Double track now extends under the bridge. Will try to have a look at the other side from the public footpath at some stage..<br />
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Moving to the far side of the footbridge brings into shot the green cabinet and part of the other footbridge.<br />
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Sadly as so often happens, graffiti has appeared in several places since my last visit.</div>
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What was obviously temporary lighting has been replaced by permanent lighting with steel conduit.<br />
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Looking towards London Road, the track looks pretty much the same as last time, but ducting and drainage work has been carried out on the left.<br />
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The temporary pump and pipework has gone and evidence of a new culvert can be seen adjacent to the bridge. Next post will be on the progress of the new Bicester Town station.Hitchin Grade Separationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395467868719641571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28496957946121843.post-4270360821268487322014-12-28T20:55:00.000+00:002014-12-28T20:55:19.746+00:00Claydon Junction to BicesterTo complete the survey of the line from Bletchley to Bicester, these a selection of pictures of the various road crossings. First bridge west of Calvert is the overbridge on the Charndon to Twyford road. This is quite a substantial three arch bridge as seen below taken from the adjacent public footpath. This is not so apparent when travelling along the road.<br />
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Looking back towards Calvert, the trackbed is quite clear here. Another small yellow sign like the one after the next bridge can be seen to the right. Both have the number 13 on them.<br />
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If you zoom in a bit you can see that the track switches sides just before the bridge.<br />
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Looking towards Bicester from the same bridge.</div>
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If you zoom in here, you can just make out the blue bridleway bridge in the distance. There are numerous footpath, bridleway and farm crossings along the line. These are subject to public meetings to decide their future. The one above is fortunate enough to be on an over bridge so won't be affected. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwT1OJKeH5eppFTJiDhgKxWDmxIZtVyfx76l98-uZesGOw85BvQQq-uIfDQKBAs0iV2Gsjn5L0z1Fic3Cu0QYPTk_krc0jUZxtGzZVYe6lNR9flxjM_3o-uMsonN3Mq4BQXh09haOX3A/s1600/IMG_4020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwT1OJKeH5eppFTJiDhgKxWDmxIZtVyfx76l98-uZesGOw85BvQQq-uIfDQKBAs0iV2Gsjn5L0z1Fic3Cu0QYPTk_krc0jUZxtGzZVYe6lNR9flxjM_3o-uMsonN3Mq4BQXh09haOX3A/s1600/IMG_4020.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a>Next bridge is at the site of the former Marsh Gibbon and Poundon station, another that won't be re-opening. This view looks north. Not the usual arched bridge style.</div>
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Looking south with the former station entrance on the left.</div>
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Some bridge plates appear to have been recently added. It states that this Bridge OXD 34 but I am slightly confused by the Thornhill at Bicester North. This line passes through Bicester Town.<br />
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Next road bridge is at Bicester Road Marsh Gibbon. Bit of a mixture of blue brick and Cotswold stone style blocks with a steel girder and concrete deck. This looks south.<br />
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The opposite view north.</div>
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This bridge has also had recently added bridge plates. This one also claims to be OXD 34 but the location makes more sense.<br />
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Next is the Launton Level Crossing. Will this be replaced by a bridge? Once this becomes a busy passenger line, I would imagine that Network Rail would be keen to close it. <br />
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Looking towards Bicester, this was the site of the former Launton station although there is little evidence of it now.<br />
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Looking east towards Bletchley.</div>
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Finally this is the road overbridge at the other end of Launton Village. This is single lane traffic light controlled. This looks towards Bicester from the Launton side. It has had some recent work to increase the height of the parapet walls. There is a full pavement on one side but on the other side, the parapet leans inwards somewhat disconcertingly as I found out when I took a picture of the line.</div>
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This looks across the Charbridge Lane level crossing. In the distance you can just make out the edge of the Bicester chord work site.<br />
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Zooming in reveals that this is a driver operated level crossing. At the very least this will have to be upgraded to automatic operation.<br />
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Looking the other way towards the former Launton station.</div>
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Finally zooming in here you can see the track switches to the other side of the formation. This is better than my previous attempt to show this. In the next post I hope to cover the Bicester to Oxford section to see how the upgrade is going. </div>
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Hitchin Grade Separationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395467868719641571noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28496957946121843.post-18573431812239321182014-11-29T21:31:00.001+00:002014-11-29T21:31:31.524+00:00Bicester update 29th November 2014I apologize for the lack of recent updates. No opportunity to visit the area unfortunately. However I was passing nearby and got a few pictures of the work at Gavray Drive. Work seems to have stepped up a gear now with lorries entering and leaving the site at short intervals. The new foot bridge taking the public footpath over the new chord has been installed. The new foot bridge will be great for photographing later on. You would wonder why these embankment works were not carried out during the summer months with the benefit of the better weather. <br />
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Here is the aforementioned foot bridge. Same colours as the Tubbs Lane crossing but much simpler in design.<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">I could not gain access to the footpath that will cross the bridge when it opens. It was flooded at the entrance and my footwear did not allow me to get through. Here we can see one of the lorries returning after dropping its load.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYzkwFBfw5ElbIXfntgvaucXr8S4J4_60kmB4yCdW7kIMm9B_E8lX3DXA_yKxI2TIM0aLCqFtv3t_tVfeKhToxR3qoDn9j2wUqsJPmj44X_WacrGbfHrtaGhvjUoJ_7DMZxSAKYjFqQ/s1600/IMG_4100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYzkwFBfw5ElbIXfntgvaucXr8S4J4_60kmB4yCdW7kIMm9B_E8lX3DXA_yKxI2TIM0aLCqFtv3t_tVfeKhToxR3qoDn9j2wUqsJPmj44X_WacrGbfHrtaGhvjUoJ_7DMZxSAKYjFqQ/s1600/IMG_4100.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Another lorry drops its load. It appears that the chord is a lot longer and more gradual than I first imagined.</div>
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Moving around to the right, you can see the white geo textile matting as the chord rises tro meet the Chiltern line.<br />
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Same area taken from a different angle. The flooding that prevented access to the field can be seen in the foreground. The following two pictures are grab shots so the quality is not great.<br />
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Heading south from Bicester on the A41, the Chiltern line crosses the road on this bridge. Very well maintained and signage in good condition. However the same cannot be said of the former Great Central main line bridge just to the north of Aylesbury Vale Parkway station.<br />
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It has a very neglected look to it with rusting steelwork and faded signage. Although it has been a freight only line since the closure of the Great Central, it is surely false economy to neglect it in this way. However it appears that work is now being carried out with scaffolding erected to the left and quite a bit of activity on the embankment. This could be the start of preliminary works to upgrade the line to passenger carrying standard.<br />
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<br />Hitchin Grade Separationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395467868719641571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28496957946121843.post-46986665494808950572014-08-09T21:14:00.002+01:002014-08-09T21:14:55.190+01:00Bicester Update August 2014Not a huge amount to report. Track work appears to be finished and the level crossing upgraded to double track. The new footbridge has been commissioned. However the work on the chord doesn't seemed to have advanced very much since my last visit. I wonder whether this was because there was no rail access for bringing in material. I believe that both junctions are now in place although I can't be certain about Bicester South on the Chiltern line.<br />
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Upgraded level crossing fully operational again. Work compound is on the left behind blue hoardings.<br />
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Trackwork finished and stretching away towards Oxford. There is a sleeper and stop sign on the new down line. No sign of work starting on the new station.<br />
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However zooming in reveals that the new track doesn't quite reach the bypass bridge.</div>
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Looking across the level crossing there is a similar arrangement of sleeper and stop sign.</div>
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Moving on to Tubbs Crossing, the new footbridge is now sporting yellow hand rails and lighting. I counted 86 steps to cross to the other side. The ramp crossing involves six ramps on this side and four on the other side. Somebody was pushing a buggy up whilst I was on the bridge and it seemed to take an age. This is a very busy crossing for schoolchildren and it is absolutely right that they are not put in danger. However if I had to cross here several times a day, I don't I would be that happy with the effort involved!<br />
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It is very well lit which will be reassuring during the winter months. A slight worry is the lights are fitted to plywood which is cable tied to the balustrade. I hope they stand the test of time!<br />
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Looking east from the new bridge. Trackwork finished for now. Just waiting for the chord to be completed.<br />
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Zooming in the edge of the work compound can be seen. Double track extends under the Chiltern line bridge. All the new points and crossovers have a small grey box connected to them. Looks a bit like a generator but I don't think it is.<br />
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There is another one here. Maybe a power pack to test the points?</div>
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Now looking west from the bridge towards the London Road crossing. Still pumping water away it seems .<br />
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Same view but through the fencing on top of the bridge</div>
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These pictures show the reason why the pump was still needed. Work to construct a culvert under the line is still ongoing.</div>
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I then moved to Gavray Drive where the main work compound is situated . The end of the new track can be seen at the end of the road along with a stack of cable ducting.<br />
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Moving left to right, view across the compound with the Oxford Cambridge line running along the tree line.<br />
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Continuing right, the bridge carrying the Chiltern line can be seen in the background.</div>
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Here you can see the new embankment work. I wouldn't have expected it to be so high considering how near to the junction with the east west line it is at this point.. It may just be building up the existing embankment and grading it later.<br />
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Further to the right and work is being carried out alongside the Chiltern line.</div>
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Last picture looks over to the other new junction where it looks like a supporting wall is being constructed.<br />
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Hitchin Grade Separationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395467868719641571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28496957946121843.post-56241910797637971882014-07-27T23:51:00.001+01:002014-08-02T22:21:49.286+01:00Verney Junction to Claydon JunctionApologies for the delay in posting an update. Various things conspired against me to prevent me from finding enough time to visit the area. However today I was able to continue the survey of the line from where I left off at Verney Junction as far as Claydon Junction. <br />
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This is the next overbridge west of Verney Junction. First view looks east. No track here and nature is quickly reclaiming the recently cleared track bed.<br />
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Looking the other way also no track but there are a few odd sleepers and a length of rail. You can see quite clearly where the track has been removed. Was this done by Network Rail or was it an opportunistic theft?<br />
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It is not quite true that there is no track. Looking over the western parapet a short section of track can be seen emerging from the bridge.<br />
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Interestingly new fencing and access gate has been recently installed. No lock on the gate which leads to concrete steps.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XtFmXoKc-qO7Kr6jmynnDI6XEuzboMBc-VL-MS9e6Z2cR3C0eHW5iYj-fZUDeG4PdREFQhUIzYjNSi8Sg8ohiTCeDEDf9DefJ6dXQjLMq1JDvgsv1Fnbae4A2QHFGjigqViWgKOItA/s1600/IMG_3994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XtFmXoKc-qO7Kr6jmynnDI6XEuzboMBc-VL-MS9e6Z2cR3C0eHW5iYj-fZUDeG4PdREFQhUIzYjNSi8Sg8ohiTCeDEDf9DefJ6dXQjLMq1JDvgsv1Fnbae4A2QHFGjigqViWgKOItA/s1600/IMG_3994.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
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Also there have been some recent repairs to the parapet.</div>
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The next road crossing to the west is the level crossing at the former Claydon station. Despite the sign, there was no evidence of any lights.<br />
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Looking east, you can just make out the platform remains. The trackbed is neatly fenced off on both sides of the road by some white palisade fencing.<br />
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Looking west across the level crossing. It is quite overgrown on that side although the operational section of the line is not much further on from here.<br />
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There is a signal on the east side that is gradually being swallowed up by nature.</div>
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The line approaches from the east on an embankment as seen here with former railway workers cottages behind. However it arrives at the crossing on the level. Claydon station was built to serve the cluster of villages with Claydon in their name.<br />
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Next bridge west sees the end of the operational section with the run round loop for accessing the east south chord to Calvert.<br />
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Zooming in reveals the stop boards just showing in the undergrowth.</div>
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Looking the other way, you can just make out the red signal at the end of the run round loop protecting the chord.<br />
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Just below the bridge is another signal and associated cabinets which have suffered the attentions of graffiti "artists"<br />
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This is the west side of the bridge. A salt bin stands ready in case of ice on the access steps. Hopefully won't be needed for a while!<br />
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Looking back east towards the junction from the next bridge. This scene would have been very different in the 60s. The former Great Central crossed the Varsity Line on a bridge that would have been situated just this side of the small yellow sign on the right. The Varsity Line would have been double track. This scene will change again dramatically if the proposed HS2 goes ahead as it will cross here at the same point. However the plans suggest that the East West line will pass over HS2 By then we should also have double track again.<br />
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Looking down from the parapet, there is some sort of board arrangement for what purpose I am not sure.<br />
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Looking west towards Bicester from the same bridge.</div>
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Now turning and looking north from the road bridge, the dip in the road marks the point where the Great Central crossed the road at an angle. No trace of the bridge or the embankment as far as I could see. Again HS2 will cross here but the road is possibly going to be closed so no bridge will be necessary if that is the case. Whilst I was here I decided to have a look at Calvert Station as the line through there will become an important part of the East West project connecting Aylesbury with MK, Bedford and eventually Cambridge.<br />
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Looking south from the overbridge in Calvert. This was the first station on the Great Central after the end on junction with the Metropolitan at Quainton Road or the last station on the line depending on which way round you look at it! It was a typical island platform with staircase access from the bridge. The bridge itself was built large enough to cope with quadrupling in the future.<br />
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Moving across the bridge to the other side of the platform there is actually a third track. I hesitate to say passing loop because it is a very long time since passenger trains called here. The two lines merge under the bridge before splitting again on the other side. In the distance you can see the gantry of the waste transfer site. This is the only remaining southern section of the Great Central left although it only exists to serve waste trains. However these have at least ensured its survival and that of the section of the Varsity Line east of Bicester. However the short term future is more rosy with the East West rail project. <br />
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The blot on the horizon is HS2 which is shown as sharing the railway corridor with the former Great Central from Quainton Road to Calvert with a slight deviation to the east after. There were many "Stop HS2" posters in Calvert understandably. It will dramatically change the area but with no benefit at all to local residents. There is also a proposed infrastructure maintenance depot just north of Calvert.<br />
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Looking north, the line splits again, the left is a head shunt and the right connects to the single running line to Claydon junction.<br />
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Moving directly over the running line, there is a four lever ground frame to the right of the points.<br />
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Zooming right in to the point where the chord left the former Great Central which continued straight on. Apologies for the poor quality. Just to satisfy my curiosity, I decided to see if there was any evidence of the Great Central after the chord. There was a footpath through the nature reserve alongside the line so I followed this.<br />
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This was the start of the path. Quite a peaceful scene with a lake on the left and a wooded area on the right.<br />
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After passing the lake, I suddenly came across this small underbridge. This is the bridge that could be seen from a passing train on the chord.on one of the Youtube videos.<br />
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A closer inspection reveals that it is still in pretty good condition despite being abandoned since 1966<br />
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The trackbed is completely overgrown but I managed this shot from the side of the embankment. I did wonder what purpose it served. I thought possibly a cattle creep but it appeared there was no need for it when the chord was built forty odd years later. There is not an equivalent in the slightly lower embankment of the chord just a few feet further on. I did a little bit of digging (metaphorically) and found this picture which is clearly of exactly the same design as the one above. This one is just to the north of the East West line in the field to the west of the road with dip in it. I will endeavour to see if it is still there next time I am in the area. It is stated to be a farm access bridge so my guess is probably not far off.. It would seem inconceivable to the man in the picture that the one above would end up like this.<br />
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This picture is on <a href="http://www.railwayarchive.org.uk/map/index.php">http://www.railwayarchive.org.uk/map/index.php</a> which has a lot of interesting Great Central history. At first I thought this was the same bridge but although it is a black and white photo, I think the bricks are lighter coloured whereas the one I saw was blue brick. <br />
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This is a Bing Maps aerial picture which gives a better idea of the layout. The course of the Great Central is still quite obvious even though on the ground it is not easy to see. The bridge I found is located next to the hedge line where the chord starts to move away but before the curve. This would suggest a former farm access which might have become redundant when quarrying operations started. The bridge in the black and white picture was/is at the top left of the picture just to the right of the farm buildings.<br />
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Shortly after the bridge the path went up on to the embankment on a staircase. This shot looks north along the track bed. Hard to believe this was once a main line railway. <br />
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I will cover the last section from Claydon Junction to Bicester shortly.<br />
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<br />Hitchin Grade Separationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395467868719641571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28496957946121843.post-36411605625473558902014-05-11T22:05:00.000+01:002014-05-13T11:01:07.212+01:00Bicester update 11th May 2014I found a brief opportunity to visit Bicester today to see how the work was going. I was quite surprised to find that it was a hive of activity with work ongoing from Bicester Town station site to the new chord with the Birmingham line. The level crossing on London Road has been reinstated to double track. A new unballasted single track has been laid past the site of Bicester station. and some double track with crossovers was being installed on the east side of the level crossing. Between Tubbs Crossing and Gavray Drive points for the new junction were also being installed. On the way back I took a few photos of the Bicester to Claydon junction section but I hope to do a better job in the near future.<br />
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The first shot is taken from the remains of Bicester Town station. The platform has been removed completely. A large stack of concrete sleepers is lined up along side the track bed. The recently laid single track is in the foreground.<br />
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Looking south across the reinstated London Road level crossing now double track again.</div>
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This looks east from the level crossing. Work to install a crossover was underway. </div>
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Here a track panel is being lowered into place as the next picture shows.</div>
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The next set are from Tubbs Crossing</div>
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Looking west towards London Road from the temporary crossing. Here there is a block on the line which will be removed once the footbridge opens.<br />
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Moving further over to get a better angle, you can just see the work at the level crossing. The red and white crossing barrier can be seen centre of picture.<br />
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I have to say the almost completed footbridge was a bit of a surprise. Obviously it is right that it is DDA compliant but the size and complexity of it was quite something. A local resident informed that he was told it cost £800,000. This is the view approaching it on the footpath from Mallards Way.<br />
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This the ramped section with the staircase behind on the south side of the line.</div>
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And this is some of the the counterpart on the north side. I couldn't get it all in!</div>
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Looking at the north side across the track. Only double decked that side but with a much longer ramp.</div>
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And this is the actual footbridge. It is very well protected with anti-climb frames and mesh top cover. It might have been a good location to photograph trains taking the new junction but not as it is now although there is a small section to the left which will probably work..<br />
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Looking towards the bridge that carries the Birmingham line over the East West line, work to install the points was being carried out.<br />
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A closer look reveals the two sets of points with a diamond crossover just to the right of the group of workers. It looks like there will be three tracks for a short distance where the new down runs along side the two East West tracks. Presumably the up will cross straight over onto the chord.<br />
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I then moved round to Gavray Drive where the main construction site is located. As I arrived the hydraulic lifting machine was just returning to the site probably to collect another track panel.<br />
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Looking towards the bridge across the site. The machine has stopped at a group of waiting construction workers.<br />
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The construction of the new chord is definitely underway now as this picture shows. At this point it is pretty much the same height as the Birmingham line so it would appear there will be quite a gradient on the section to the left that has not been started. I guess it will all become apparent in time.<br />
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Looking further to the right, there is not much obvious change from last time.</div>
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Finally looking across the site. The row of conifers marks the East West line.</div>
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On the way home I took a few shots of the level crossing on the Buckingham road. This will need significant modification to take two tracks unless it is being replaced with a bridge which would be quite feasible here unlike London Road which would pose some difficulty. Presumably this level crossing was a relatively new installation but the low volume of trains using it didn't merit the cost of a bridge.<br />
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A closer look reveals the location plate and phone number to ring if necessary.</div>
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Looking west towards Gavray Drive. Some lengths of rail stored here.</div>
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Zooming in, you can see the extent of the current work with the new track visible behind the fence.<br />
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Looking east from the same spot.</div>
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And zooming in here, you can just make out that the track switches sides just past the speed restriction sign for some reason.<br />
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<br />Hitchin Grade Separationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395467868719641571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28496957946121843.post-4931815098038099312014-03-23T23:07:00.001+00:002014-03-23T23:07:43.943+00:00Bletchley to Verney JunctionOn a very sunny Sunday morning, I took the opportunity to take a look at the section of line between Bletchley and Verney Junction. I started just past the point where the double track section ends and pretty much where the train in the video in my last post reversed. I then work my way along the line to Verney Junction. I had read elsewhere that the undergrowth that had built up on the line had been cleared and thought it worthwhile to record what is there now.<br />
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The first bridge which gives access to some allotments. The fencing here is relatively new and the access staircase well maintained. The allotments can be seen to the left of the line in Bletchley flyover video. The bridge is quite small but would still take double track.<br />
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Same bridge from the allotments side. It has bridge number of 4</div>
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The next bridge is a much larger three arch construction. The two side arches have been brick up at some stage with small arched access apertures. The other side of the bridge is the sign that proclaims that you are entering Newton Longville. A new station has been mooted here because of new housing development although it is not in the existing plans. Just above the left arch is palisade fence blocking the line.<br />
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Looking back from the other side. Again the fencing is good on the right side of the bridge with a modern access staircase but poorly maintained on the other side. The bridge marks the boundary between the operational section and the mothballed section.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGX-gYvdKzfTw7T-I_qte47K1-mOt7mZgWCCztkFfMJFi8EqfS7oWzK9BqgihZ0akL17-NtBkPFar1b64jMdf7Q2l1eqJRj-wP02QcS_K2cLnl__rMLlr0R1BVZd3Xd7BLmwnKqemuEg/s1600/IMG_3863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGX-gYvdKzfTw7T-I_qte47K1-mOt7mZgWCCztkFfMJFi8EqfS7oWzK9BqgihZ0akL17-NtBkPFar1b64jMdf7Q2l1eqJRj-wP02QcS_K2cLnl__rMLlr0R1BVZd3Xd7BLmwnKqemuEg/s1600/IMG_3863.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
There was an informal footpath running up from the bridge alongside the line so I managed this shot of the fence across the line without trespassing.<br />
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And this one looking west from the same spot. Evidence of the flailing can be seen here.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypZc9P2kjwQrkwriQ0ACBPZH-fBuKrouOwY6l0kqx8pO8qWAgG0FDFRJo0srRb696MPTRf-_wJofyM9_F0cyGYpy9rJL8OG7VnY4N82CBOMBhOznYN4GcbYkLXv_Y7YWtpH35kIHe6g/s1600/IMG_3867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypZc9P2kjwQrkwriQ0ACBPZH-fBuKrouOwY6l0kqx8pO8qWAgG0FDFRJo0srRb696MPTRf-_wJofyM9_F0cyGYpy9rJL8OG7VnY4N82CBOMBhOznYN4GcbYkLXv_Y7YWtpH35kIHe6g/s1600/IMG_3867.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
This is taken looking east from the overbridge on Whaddon Road that runs from Newton Longville to the peculiarly named Bottle Dump roundabout on the A421. Sadly some evidence of flytipping here. Although the track is extant it is unuseable because there is a short piece missing which you cannot see in the photo.<br />
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Now looking west from the same bridge. A dog walker can be seen in the distance. He is obviously not expecting a train any time soon!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZM4xtpvWl474TNeTrpCwFwph1JcROYVHRXpzCL7Og7A_TwbWpma4-FsS_q4TFu8AGH7ow_p3rO_9c82w_vgM01hCjSkuH3hHxb_jBmc_MKPzYs_wqg9HDbmY9bq1aphXK9G662dtkHg/s1600/IMG_3870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZM4xtpvWl474TNeTrpCwFwph1JcROYVHRXpzCL7Og7A_TwbWpma4-FsS_q4TFu8AGH7ow_p3rO_9c82w_vgM01hCjSkuH3hHxb_jBmc_MKPzYs_wqg9HDbmY9bq1aphXK9G662dtkHg/s1600/IMG_3870.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
This is taken from two bridges further west from the also slightly confusingly named Whaddon Road that runs from Mursley to the A421. I am pretty sure this is the same dog walker!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8oB8Lzsbo3kaA5ToZx8ZDpgkPbbabk6pj-I0dqGG3gJsd-CDqO6N7bNKeSZRkGFtKQlYJiLfpEdTrN7VVbfjxI1wER2XSlukbyp9u1yvyLKZRLkIB_lOy_3stvtVrJlckkOHxO3SECA/s1600/IMG_3869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8oB8Lzsbo3kaA5ToZx8ZDpgkPbbabk6pj-I0dqGG3gJsd-CDqO6N7bNKeSZRkGFtKQlYJiLfpEdTrN7VVbfjxI1wER2XSlukbyp9u1yvyLKZRLkIB_lOy_3stvtVrJlckkOHxO3SECA/s1600/IMG_3869.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
And looking west some horse riders are taking advantage of the trackbed. Vegetation clearance has not been carried out here yet. The track ends at the bridge as the next picture shows. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3PAXeo3QQAyYrxFxH41BbMrncjJnqZ_HmgxLloey6Gk3mU8a6bzwwZZNsFS9RWV5-h_OeqAJX-RBhmhvlpDdb2USOI0nw-A-5oWvEfvRYDDBnpI_9vKm8V5kvw_rNIFgnUm-epsPRaA/s1600/IMG_3871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3PAXeo3QQAyYrxFxH41BbMrncjJnqZ_HmgxLloey6Gk3mU8a6bzwwZZNsFS9RWV5-h_OeqAJX-RBhmhvlpDdb2USOI0nw-A-5oWvEfvRYDDBnpI_9vKm8V5kvw_rNIFgnUm-epsPRaA/s1600/IMG_3871.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Quite surprisingly the ordnance survey map has been updated to show this missing section of track although more is missing than the map shows.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG21UT2bNcW1vCEJ9HplxpNvOg9ShGkFwHwRIQqhInDlq4NFjOkGTjOkr_uSK_U66cN5JrFFr4JvfeG3WAEhRNSjoB3k78u_lqGhcxn4DXSOYv9Bf0bb6RyfdGFqs3R-lBEXx-5v-OVQ/s1600/IMG_3872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG21UT2bNcW1vCEJ9HplxpNvOg9ShGkFwHwRIQqhInDlq4NFjOkGTjOkr_uSK_U66cN5JrFFr4JvfeG3WAEhRNSjoB3k78u_lqGhcxn4DXSOYv9Bf0bb6RyfdGFqs3R-lBEXx-5v-OVQ/s1600/IMG_3872.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
Now moving on to the optimistically named Station Road, this looks east. The track resumes here. The flail has been at work both sides of the bridge.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPt-3UHPkbeFPgqiFfAsIbEfdXL-GM4SkidRenuBgHOHmQaVeyNr0c63E5_LoAhUkECTtq9zPoKDvtxs-iGlSA1_7WJ5xVJBZguyNoQMGyo9JMa74sMZG0rcEBx-MBIinbtP0ao_9f0g/s1600/IMG_3875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPt-3UHPkbeFPgqiFfAsIbEfdXL-GM4SkidRenuBgHOHmQaVeyNr0c63E5_LoAhUkECTtq9zPoKDvtxs-iGlSA1_7WJ5xVJBZguyNoQMGyo9JMa74sMZG0rcEBx-MBIinbtP0ao_9f0g/s1600/IMG_3875.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Looking west from the same bridge towards Swanbourne station.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsE9h8-m3Bv5HrgDTYyf8heRefMCgSeJojKWkp0bNOQVDzVYjLeJQb4agp8P87-QKVhqUKXEzB9fkHIcsATZycCqd_8AIcsxMfjTpww7gLhFQrNog0_bskSbKcvjNJFkEF2pfjR5g4mQ/s1600/IMG_3876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsE9h8-m3Bv5HrgDTYyf8heRefMCgSeJojKWkp0bNOQVDzVYjLeJQb4agp8P87-QKVhqUKXEzB9fkHIcsATZycCqd_8AIcsxMfjTpww7gLhFQrNog0_bskSbKcvjNJFkEF2pfjR5g4mQ/s1600/IMG_3876.JPG" height="488" width="640" /></a></div>
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Zooming in you can just see the end of Oxford bound platform.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxoWWZXlpggqDIY0ORwS6lgOLrH3lyggy2ISqet4Ecwruf08xZ6BQEhortOAqXHii_feFq-6jGBakhYqrK3VWV32tYveb8MjJqFVjTt4MABe1TKgSjUnl2Fi-kTlXGq-3UVyQlc4F3g/s1600/IMG_3877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMxoWWZXlpggqDIY0ORwS6lgOLrH3lyggy2ISqet4Ecwruf08xZ6BQEhortOAqXHii_feFq-6jGBakhYqrK3VWV32tYveb8MjJqFVjTt4MABe1TKgSjUnl2Fi-kTlXGq-3UVyQlc4F3g/s1600/IMG_3877.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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The parapet brickwork is certainly in need of attention here. It is an odd mix of red and blue bricks on this side whilst the other side is pretty much all blues.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnE9DD1a9-I0gSARHMySoM6F0tZna9Zj6CuKYURBE6V5-W3kj1TY-J6HmGnEE_DDGOMrzFUvqCGPUgJbHTUbTu-hYQOhHUyfEAWsYN3JwLCG9o8yYyv3r0YJj0LduZ1FRCMsVSsOd_Q/s1600/IMG_3879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjnE9DD1a9-I0gSARHMySoM6F0tZna9Zj6CuKYURBE6V5-W3kj1TY-J6HmGnEE_DDGOMrzFUvqCGPUgJbHTUbTu-hYQOhHUyfEAWsYN3JwLCG9o8yYyv3r0YJj0LduZ1FRCMsVSsOd_Q/s1600/IMG_3879.JPG" height="448" width="640" /></a></div>
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Looking back at the bridge from just east of Swanbourne station.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63InEmDQYXU6_dFo5A8Vg0CfYQejcfGeeBnkyO888QnKmD8Ha645QaancUJRykfAv9k0Oestw6yXuEWqt2wnTrmbifZyMYizADrGgh5a6ykOjktOv40C9fj4zZRcLBoU907qzpDTDAA/s1600/IMG_3880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63InEmDQYXU6_dFo5A8Vg0CfYQejcfGeeBnkyO888QnKmD8Ha645QaancUJRykfAv9k0Oestw6yXuEWqt2wnTrmbifZyMYizADrGgh5a6ykOjktOv40C9fj4zZRcLBoU907qzpDTDAA/s1600/IMG_3880.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
Swanbourne station which is not going to re-open with the line. No surprise as it is not near any houses. In fact it is nearer to Mursley and Little Horwood than Swanbourne.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8agzyp6Gie5VG6b5LUetpDMJtmsA_RuTNBFj6448XhnrhWyyn5ftT2Ag0MKVz6DVfzwHw7mShtDIOUNQ53cx7yrZVnWgZUgWXDpgd6HyGyRLQ13yT9W2yqcgoD83fd0KOFr3JFpzRAg/s1600/IMG_3882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8agzyp6Gie5VG6b5LUetpDMJtmsA_RuTNBFj6448XhnrhWyyn5ftT2Ag0MKVz6DVfzwHw7mShtDIOUNQ53cx7yrZVnWgZUgWXDpgd6HyGyRLQ13yT9W2yqcgoD83fd0KOFr3JFpzRAg/s1600/IMG_3882.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
I then took at look at Winslow. There was nothing to see in Station Road where the station site has been completely built on. This is taken looking east from Buckingham Road. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioj4KHGTVw6W8LB6Jnly5fVRX3DPvwwcfL6h2sJU8aXiNJ5yJZh805AlY0_PgDondGgDFYuUKqOMzK5DGcuW2wxpIjYx7Y-CjMDR8h1boyOUMxbZKOOn3Oul7WhH2fm8PGnSKF9DvVUA/s1600/IMG_3884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioj4KHGTVw6W8LB6Jnly5fVRX3DPvwwcfL6h2sJU8aXiNJ5yJZh805AlY0_PgDondGgDFYuUKqOMzK5DGcuW2wxpIjYx7Y-CjMDR8h1boyOUMxbZKOOn3Oul7WhH2fm8PGnSKF9DvVUA/s1600/IMG_3884.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a>Now looking west from the same bridge. I believe this is where the new station will be situated.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilY8v8lGCxD5zrtoAUfQakJNaWY43g2YB1CAsq-dVlS6YNzOaokS9X08l0HmM7t1X65AtLmivy5eiKdW9J694v3BK-cImLBdS82cIsrInZjgdqwcaL3xNytlQYU5HUWm-PVYAWem5hnQ/s1600/IMG_3884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilY8v8lGCxD5zrtoAUfQakJNaWY43g2YB1CAsq-dVlS6YNzOaokS9X08l0HmM7t1X65AtLmivy5eiKdW9J694v3BK-cImLBdS82cIsrInZjgdqwcaL3xNytlQYU5HUWm-PVYAWem5hnQ/s1600/IMG_3884.JPG" height="418" width="640" /></a><br />
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Zooming in you can see a footbridge and Furze Lane overbridge.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOG9kRmhji3rTqPufxjwWmtFnVcd6WDxGnIDgStvXSfCc_tLEbdzoOVPSPYGw4kW60xBhSlC-mvJmonmVqzgoFSSdaSLzbiT-ewx6dH8h1c6-1Ju4IIlUOx_31c2lQF_ku7Ja6IxyPg/s1600/IMG_3896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjOG9kRmhji3rTqPufxjwWmtFnVcd6WDxGnIDgStvXSfCc_tLEbdzoOVPSPYGw4kW60xBhSlC-mvJmonmVqzgoFSSdaSLzbiT-ewx6dH8h1c6-1Ju4IIlUOx_31c2lQF_ku7Ja6IxyPg/s1600/IMG_3896.JPG" height="398" width="640" /></a></div>
I then headed for my final destination of Verney Junction. On the way from Winslow I passed under two substantial bridges. This is the first no 22, a three arch bridge.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPySIGSKkiuRw5bd9HN3YtMgJskV6C2yt2KTiwq-DgWBrDuuwYFeWC9OBq11Z6tvjRm5J5NG0me9OJT6Z9WfA_go2fEuJld4yyK-pbnE9K69nDYjze9hVCS7FgK1Q4SRR_kjJHtKNA0A/s1600/IMG_3897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPySIGSKkiuRw5bd9HN3YtMgJskV6C2yt2KTiwq-DgWBrDuuwYFeWC9OBq11Z6tvjRm5J5NG0me9OJT6Z9WfA_go2fEuJld4yyK-pbnE9K69nDYjze9hVCS7FgK1Q4SRR_kjJHtKNA0A/s1600/IMG_3897.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Looking right the trackbed looks to be in good condition here.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TouJ-mHRYvt8121oPMqQInzaHvbO3XGYwTeJWUcuUfqJ2QL0gx3HsIMdq2Ucf1KgePhkRg3cslEaKFXGwf8nNLtW2xNMxvV6ajWvwmnOvYvUCSQHUw-LGXHG-d8R_FNLrEwM0qVqQw/s1600/IMG_3885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TouJ-mHRYvt8121oPMqQInzaHvbO3XGYwTeJWUcuUfqJ2QL0gx3HsIMdq2Ucf1KgePhkRg3cslEaKFXGwf8nNLtW2xNMxvV6ajWvwmnOvYvUCSQHUw-LGXHG-d8R_FNLrEwM0qVqQw/s1600/IMG_3885.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
The next one is an impressive four arch bridge (no 24) that looks to be in very good condition. The middle arches take the road and river under the railway.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_exyG81KLk6KH75v4gPOuKxtbaR-EbWYNkfodEcP0uXMIYbdCWNAusTbxR7ObEsaUrBZt5jGedyYqCuHz4ISyWMnjO10NKEyBGQ0S-yzhkqpoB_7aEohtnFjN4yc30PGzbVO-ind2g/s1600/IMG_3888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_exyG81KLk6KH75v4gPOuKxtbaR-EbWYNkfodEcP0uXMIYbdCWNAusTbxR7ObEsaUrBZt5jGedyYqCuHz4ISyWMnjO10NKEyBGQ0S-yzhkqpoB_7aEohtnFjN4yc30PGzbVO-ind2g/s1600/IMG_3888.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is taken from the other side. The guard rails look to be fairly recent additions.</div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzIj4KXeSN4a_u-ahvfS5sM37vCaY6Xt67nYflgYHSCCHzLjZ25JPtG5SzzpC7xbhHIqGDqpBNR3iKEPy_QO0Wukq56jz_GKQhIcZlwRe8cDp55E_J1pn4bkMY_aBT-yzAmpOKn5jD4w/s1600/IMG_3887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzIj4KXeSN4a_u-ahvfS5sM37vCaY6Xt67nYflgYHSCCHzLjZ25JPtG5SzzpC7xbhHIqGDqpBNR3iKEPy_QO0Wukq56jz_GKQhIcZlwRe8cDp55E_J1pn4bkMY_aBT-yzAmpOKn5jD4w/s1600/IMG_3887.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Looking east across the bridge. Trackbed has been cleared here.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQgZQKjgskT0ZlfLVnnB9Nta6U2XXmLcnvidwbzLmgzuc67KIuxsSSPrw9z_B7veTrnKYeN_8F4wVVh-njuIZJQbSqZYHzXVC5IOEH86Dh6f45VcSHZyHxETW30Ru0fvDC0cczQqJjsw/s1600/IMG_3886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQgZQKjgskT0ZlfLVnnB9Nta6U2XXmLcnvidwbzLmgzuc67KIuxsSSPrw9z_B7veTrnKYeN_8F4wVVh-njuIZJQbSqZYHzXVC5IOEH86Dh6f45VcSHZyHxETW30Ru0fvDC0cczQqJjsw/s1600/IMG_3886.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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And looking west from the same spot.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKFqt9vIqHellhTmy-QOfqGArXmRe-Os-i40zBznxsz5ICFRWIcCB0s7O09umciuhHOV5oM8_eU3XaZXCgSbg03bqF6JhHznGWve85cEvLTC_4btiwXvWo5wyhcDMsHLtghbcAbjJlw/s1600/IMG_3895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQKFqt9vIqHellhTmy-QOfqGArXmRe-Os-i40zBznxsz5ICFRWIcCB0s7O09umciuhHOV5oM8_eU3XaZXCgSbg03bqF6JhHznGWve85cEvLTC_4btiwXvWo5wyhcDMsHLtghbcAbjJlw/s1600/IMG_3895.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Continuing on to Verney Junction the road passes through the abutments of the former line from Quainton Road which can be seen crossing the centre of the picture. (Looking back east towards bridge 24.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNdZ9-9zE7w_73JUOV99ieoORXvGJnXO4ATeOP5ZSVor6jP716ozTRWRFbzi7HVrdvyfgH6u9ux5ZKfUq7ATP7EamX3gOKAaIjimqsI_D4RXN3yY7mANzVkctDNLXw8QyGzg5Eq5lQg/s1600/IMG_3894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNdZ9-9zE7w_73JUOV99ieoORXvGJnXO4ATeOP5ZSVor6jP716ozTRWRFbzi7HVrdvyfgH6u9ux5ZKfUq7ATP7EamX3gOKAaIjimqsI_D4RXN3yY7mANzVkctDNLXw8QyGzg5Eq5lQg/s1600/IMG_3894.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
This is the well maintained Verney Junction station house. Now in private hands they are probably less than enamoured with the idea of a double track mainline passing their house as are the other former station building owners I am sure.<br />
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There are two features that confirm that this is a Victorian building. The date is shown as 1870 with a V above. Not sure whether this stands for Queen Victoria or Sir Harry Verney, the local landowner after whom this station was named. </div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QC55tjNoPQoMGEIqi4m06y9l4x6uGUIQjzmdROkSf_SycTi05rDGUo_heAAW-5F9u3zV5Uen3N-jnjkyi0_51bbb-9NFKnLTWYjMQr6NQS0UKnBnEMDpXYyYaWtky-Q6WLspCn03Kg/s1600/IMG_3893+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QC55tjNoPQoMGEIqi4m06y9l4x6uGUIQjzmdROkSf_SycTi05rDGUo_heAAW-5F9u3zV5Uen3N-jnjkyi0_51bbb-9NFKnLTWYjMQr6NQS0UKnBnEMDpXYyYaWtky-Q6WLspCn03Kg/s1600/IMG_3893+(2).jpg" height="502" width="640" /></a><br />
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Zooming in reveals the second, a Victorian hole in the wall post box still in use today!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4WaHRHO6eIZVKGPDvkEDxGWTb0q2MDY2ilsdP09NO1FMGsBEYKMu3wf2LzAai6lr1sPQz3dDbHfzsH7lrGIokuZIpFawZozOZP3XyYBTEXr5AxjcxoJNuJ4avRIq-efRvAs7T_4l4Q/s1600/IMG_3889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4WaHRHO6eIZVKGPDvkEDxGWTb0q2MDY2ilsdP09NO1FMGsBEYKMu3wf2LzAai6lr1sPQz3dDbHfzsH7lrGIokuZIpFawZozOZP3XyYBTEXr5AxjcxoJNuJ4avRIq-efRvAs7T_4l4Q/s1600/IMG_3889.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
Now moving towards the level crossing. The portable toilet looks to be a recent addition and is probably there for the comfort of the flailers.<br />
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The sign is interesting. Those using the crossing seem to have a cavalier disregard to the £100 fine for not closing the gates. Finding a local British Rail manager to notify will prove somewhat difficult! The instruction to cross quickly is a little unnecessary when you have probably got three years until the next train!<br />
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Looking east from the level crossing</div>
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Looking west through the platforms of the former station which definitely will not be re-opening! I can't imagine it ever saw many passengers serving the few railway cottages that originally made up Verney Junction.<br />
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Finally the tree line seen crossing left to right is the former line from Verney Junction to Banbury. The last remaining section from here to Buckingham closed in 1966.</div>
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I hope to cover the Verney Junction to Bicester section next.</div>
Hitchin Grade Separationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395467868719641571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28496957946121843.post-74324613715917791972014-03-20T22:25:00.000+00:002014-03-22T19:38:08.008+00:00East West Rail Videos<div style="text-align: center;">
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Just for interest, here are a few videos that show the East West route. Some are older ones that show the route as it was and some are more recent. None of them are my work so I am grateful to those who have made them available.</div>
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This is a very rare and interesting video that shows the Varsity line from Cambridge to Bedford just before closure. It is possible to pick out some of the features in the Sandy Bedford section that can be seen in an earlier post such as the station at Blunham and in Willington. Also note the destination blind as the train leaves Cambridge. </div>
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This one shows Sandy to Bedford as it is today. </div>
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Now a collection of three videos that show the reinstated line over the Bletchley flyover.</div>
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First shows a cab ride from Fenny Stratford to the other side of the flyover to the end of the double track section. Shortly after Fenny Stratford the train takes the chord which links the Varsity line to the link from the WCML up onto the flyover. It all seems to have modern signalling which indicates they were expecting more than an occasional use of the line.</div>
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Part two shows the return journey but this time taking the WCML link down towards Denbigh Junction. Just before the point that the lines separate is reputed to be the location for the future Bletchley high level platforms.</div>
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Part three starts on the WCML south of Milton Keynes and then takes the flyover line at Denbigh Junction. It continues to the end of the double track section , changes sides and continues to Fenny Stratford. I suspect that this was actually the first in the series. <br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/8WE5qlDvrYU?rel=0" width="640"></iframe><br />
This is a recent video of the now lifted line at Bicester town station showing an empty waste train returning from Calvert.<br />
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Finally a video that shows the line to Aylesbury from Claydon Junction to Grendon Underwood Junction. Whilst not strictly East West, it will provide an important feeder service in the future. As it starts the East West route can be seen on the right. An interesting feature which can be seen at 1min 25 secs is the bridge on the right, a remnant of the former Great Central Railway which continued from here northwards across the East West line. It then continues through the waste disposal site at Calvert to Grendon where the fast link between the GCR and the GCR alternative route via High Wycombe & Princes Risborough diverges. It is only a stub now.</div>
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Hitchin Grade Separationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395467868719641571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28496957946121843.post-68268920689952251292014-03-16T16:01:00.005+00:002014-05-11T22:05:37.313+01:00Bicester update 14th March 2014I took the opportunity for a very quick visit to Bicester while passing on the M40 but this was a costly mistake as I got caught up in a very long delay further north! I knew that Bicester Town station had closed on 15th February and wanted to check if work had started. I am pleased to report that it is indeed underway and there was evidence of this from the station to the site of the new chord. It would have been disappointing for regular users of the station if this was not the case. The station itself is still pretty much as it was on my last visit. It is going to replaced by a brand new twin platform station. However the track has been removed with the exception of a short stretch straddling the level crossing. Diggers were in evidence at the station site and at Tubbs crossing. A huge pile of ballast was being stored on the other side of the line to the station.<br />
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First stop was at the station itself. Looking towards the entrance, Heras fencing has closed off access to the platform. Two small notices advise that the station is closed.<br />
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However more information about the work and the bus replacement service is displayed on the noticeboards on the wall to the left of the approach.<br />
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A closer look at the timetable and planned work. The compatibility with the East West Rail project is noted.</div>
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Looking through the security fencing across the platform. I am pretty sure that the remains of the former second platform have been exposed. The large heap of ballast can be seen in the background.<br />
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Looking west from the same spot. The double track is still in place a short distance from here which I observed passing over the line by Bicester Village on the bypass.<br />
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Moving round to the level crossing, this looks west towards the station. Short section of track not yet removed. Will go when the level crossing is reconfigured to double track I am guessing<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Now looking east. The signal that protected the level crossing has gone.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">A better view of the trackbed. No Heras fencing here to obscure the view.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">A closer view of the platform. A lighting rig sits on the platform which hopefully won't be needed now the longer days are coming.</span></div>
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I then moved on to Tubb's Crossing where I was surprised to find a hive of activity! The foot crossing is being replaced with a footbridge. The crossing had been diverted to the west and this was extremely busy so photographing here was difficult. There appeared to be drainage problems here and a large pit has been dug. This picture looks across the pit to the original crossing site.<br />
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Moving over the temporary crossing, this looks east. You can just make out the Marylebone line through the "arch" of the digger on the left.<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">Now looking west. The trackbed has been cleared and you can see how it was once a double track mainline railway and will become so again next year.</span></div>
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Finally round to Gavray Drive where the work to constuct the new chord is being carried out. This looks towards the future junction on the London to Birmingham line. It would be nice to think that the row of shipping containers in the DHL yard had just arrived by rail by sadly it is not rail connected.<br />
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A digger was working on the embankment when I arrived. It looks as if the existing embankment is being stripped of vegetation and tree roots.<br />
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Here is the bridge that crosses the future East West line. No more rail delivery of material now the line has been lifted unless it is being routed via Claydon Junction which would require a reversal. It is only an east facing junction. That will have to wait for another day.<br />
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A large pile of earth has replaced the pile of used ballast that was here last time..</div>
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A row of small dumper trucks parked up with one large one. A bulldozer was working on the trackbed just behind them.<br />
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Turning to the left, the cleared track bed.</div>
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Judging by this van parked outside the work site, the dreaded Japanese Knotweed must have been discovered. Provision to deal with this was made in the Evergreen 3 proposal. Judging by the phone number, it has travelled a fair way!<br />
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Hitchin Grade Separationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395467868719641571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28496957946121843.post-85846810242381034052014-01-17T10:41:00.000+00:002014-01-20T10:48:01.327+00:00Bedford to SandyLast July I joined a group of people interested in promoting the reopening of the Bedford to Cambridge section of the East West Railway. They included representatives from Railfuture , MPs and councillors and ordinary members of the public. We met in Priory Park and after a photo shoot set off to walk the disused line to Sandy. I took a number of photos and here are a selection:-<br />
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Banner displayed on the day on the side of the cafe</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcmeyTeUggSq0qW3OtXcZWbR7i0_MZk4Pa3yGboq92ZXEe1g1mf2yJNk2zzhhDOHxtNEx39lKS3V4GuZD2KbUskpSONIvDs5xxjoU2lgVJmvkcz9Px7eeR9484uEfNmcVhgAx1cAjzg/s1600/IMG_3402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcmeyTeUggSq0qW3OtXcZWbR7i0_MZk4Pa3yGboq92ZXEe1g1mf2yJNk2zzhhDOHxtNEx39lKS3V4GuZD2KbUskpSONIvDs5xxjoU2lgVJmvkcz9Px7eeR9484uEfNmcVhgAx1cAjzg/s1600/IMG_3402.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Quite soon after leaving the park we came to the first bridge over the Ouse. It appeared to be in reasonable condition.</div>
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Next feature on the line was the Meadow Lane overbridge. This shot taken looking back towards the Bedford.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8de-R7f6WmtckxlOFYnBbajOEyth43UWxhQ7CJqdpK-STWXrLvt78ho4YeXqEwIoJtYduBVb2HDJZvAS37N9geHWVy3GuPDwjE7HT0CJ37ykX1elKZp7-V3fgsYeWgoCHSg2d0aSsw/s1600/IMG_3400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg8de-R7f6WmtckxlOFYnBbajOEyth43UWxhQ7CJqdpK-STWXrLvt78ho4YeXqEwIoJtYduBVb2HDJZvAS37N9geHWVy3GuPDwjE7HT0CJ37ykX1elKZp7-V3fgsYeWgoCHSg2d0aSsw/s1600/IMG_3400.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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And from the same spot looking the other way towards Sandy. Just out of sight is the Bedford Southern Bypass.</div>
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The aforementioned bypass which has breached the track bed. However a bridge (offset to the left) has been provided for walkers and cyclists.<br />
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Looking towards Bedford from the same spot. John Henderson of Railfuture is returning on his bike so he can travel to Blunham by car with all the rally banners etc.<br />
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Looking towards the bypass from the other side at the point where the path regains the track bed. It wouldn't be out of the question to provide a road overbridge here.<br />
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Looking towards Sandy from the same spot.</div>
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Here there is a dog leg in the cycle path at a junction with other trails. Bedford Sewage works can be seen in background.<br />
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Looking east from the same spot the path moves into a wooded section. All of this section is well surfaced and easy to walk or ride. On the approach to Willington, the path deviates from the track bed although it is marked on the map as following it.<br />
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This is the point where it rejoins the former Varsity line. Looking towards Bedford along the impassable section.<br />
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Looking east towards the former Willington station.<br />
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It looks as if two competing camps have been graffitiing the remains of what I believe is the base of the former signal box at Willington station. Looking at old photos it looks like there was one at end of the Bedford platform. "No rail link" has been changed into "Now! rail link"</div>
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Remains of the Bedford platform. No evidence of the Cambridge platform remains.<br />
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More altered grafitti at the far end of the platform<br />
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Looking back towards Willington station from Willington Lock. The path meanders its way along the track bed.</div>
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Looking the other way the track bed is blocked ahead and the cycle trail has to make a deviation via a public footpath. </div>
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A closer look reveals a sign warning cyclists that they must dismount for the footpath section.<br />
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Now at the other side of the deviation looking back. At the tree line the path turns right down to the lock on the Ouse</div>
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And looking the other way towards Sandy from the same point.<br />
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A replacement bridge has been installed under the Willington to Great Barford road. View looks towards Bedford. This would certainly have to be rebuilt if it were to used for the East-West route.<br />
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Further on towards Blunham the line entered a shallow cutting (seen on the right) but the cycle path went up along top edge. View towards Willington.<br />
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Just before Blunham the trackbed enters a wooded section again. Just out of sight is a small housing estate built in the forecourt area of the station called "Old Station Court"<br />
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The former Blunham station. Now home of "The Dog Lady"</div>
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The bridge abutment on the Sandy side is substantially intact. Just some brickwork at ground level remains on the other side. The cycle path takes a southern deviation here.</div>
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This is an underpass for the public footpath that crosses the line. Almost hidden from view.<br />
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However a closer look shows it is quite unobstructed when you get inside. There appears to be a later wooden decked extension on this side. Shortly after this the trackbed is regained via a quite steep ramp.</div>
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On the approaches to Sandy, the line crossed several river bridges. This is the first.<br />
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A small sign tells us of the the company that refurbished the bridge.</div>
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And this is the second of the bridges.<br />
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And the third<br />
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Here the cycle path shares an access road to a farm. Looking west from the side of the A1.<br />
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This would have been roughly the site of the short lived Girtford Halt just to the west of the A1. Opened 1938 closed 1940 after passenger numbers didn't materialise as expected. The bridge under the A1 has found a new purpose serving the housing estate that has been built to the east of the Great North Road. The trackbed has been built over by some of this estate as well as by a school. However there is a short section that can be seen just the other side of the bridge as well as a length of embankment as the line approached the crossing over the East Coast main line. Even this has been breached in several places. If this were the route taken by East-West Rail then I am sure it would be possible to make a deviation to the north of Sandy and rejoin the original route to the north of Potton. This might even improve journey times as the original route was a bit winding from Sandy through Potton. However the loss of an interchange station at Sandy would be a disadvantage.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="480" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="https://maps.google.co.uk/?ie=UTF8&t=k&ll=52.134384,-0.290709&spn=0.012644,0.027466&z=15&output=embed" width="640"></iframe><br />
<small><a href="https://maps.google.co.uk/?ie=UTF8&t=k&ll=52.134384,-0.290709&spn=0.012644,0.027466&z=15&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small>
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This is a Google satellite image showing the trackbed curving round from top left to bottom right.</div>
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Hitchin Grade Separationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395467868719641571noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28496957946121843.post-64902899438420111662013-12-30T23:57:00.000+00:002014-01-01T22:02:17.948+00:00Bicester 29th December 2013I thought that a visit to Bicester would be as good a place as any to start the new blog. I can then work back towards Bletchley as time allows. I had heard that the work to build the new chord linking the former Varsity line to the Marylebone to Birmingham line was underway. According to the Evergreen 3 website Bicester Town station is to close in February 2014 to permit the upgrading works to be carried out. However I did not see any notices to this effect whilst I was there. They are promising twelve weeks notice of the intended closure so I guess it has been put back. This was my first ever visit to Bicester so I must say I was surprised by the somewhat modest facilties of the Town station. Quite a short single platform accessed off an industrial road which is not particularly pedestrian friendly. Probably just about sufficient for the terminus it currently is. As part of Evergreen 3 a new two platform station will be provided which will be essential when the East West route re-opens.<br />
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Two shots of the platform looking north east towards the London Road level crossing. At first glance it appeared the line was double tracked to the buffers seen on the right. However I know it is single tracked so I am pretty sure the other line must be a head shunt or reversing siding for the extensive Bicester Military Railway located to the south of the town. </div>
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Looking back from London Road. Poor angle was due to the low winter sun which I manage to hide behind the trees on the left. Work will need to be done here to accommodate the future double tracking.<br />
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Looking the other way, the signal will have to be moved. The whistle sign is for Tubbs Crossing out of sight around the curve.<br />
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Now at Tubbs Crossing looking north east. Just around the curve is the site of the new Bicester chord where the line swings more to the east.<br />
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Again at Tubbs Crossing looking back towards Bicester Town station. I understand that the bushes have been cut back here to improve visibility for people crossing the line following a tragic accident involving a waste train. The crossing will be replaced by a pedestrian bridge with facilties for bikes and buggies as part of the Evergreen work. <br />
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I then continued on to Gavray Drive and took this shot looking back towards Tubbs Crossing. I am sure the tree clearance here is to do with Evergreen 3.<br />
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Turning around you can see the work site for the new chord. A large pile of used ballast can be seen in the centre which I believe was rail delivered. The Marylebone to Birmingham line runs behind the site and crosses the Varsity line on the green bridge.<br />
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A closer look at the bridge reveals the top of a smaller arch taking the public footpath<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9e-zI0TjJYlrYTbe7VQrqs_T4nQSzrvuacM8EURDoOj1I8VHgBAy3YvLdlc9ztiemgUFvtQ8RRFzQR_gNQyR_OoKF2AoYtQlp7LZA_UApu0RU3lNskfhLkWB4iXC5dw2Z27EyBDjBA/s1600/IMG_3769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9e-zI0TjJYlrYTbe7VQrqs_T4nQSzrvuacM8EURDoOj1I8VHgBAy3YvLdlc9ztiemgUFvtQ8RRFzQR_gNQyR_OoKF2AoYtQlp7LZA_UApu0RU3lNskfhLkWB4iXC5dw2Z27EyBDjBA/s640/IMG_3769.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here is the notice announcing the closure of the same footpath. It will be reopened via a footbridge ove the new embankment.</div>
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I managed to negotiate a fairly waterlogged entrance to the field when a Chiltern Railways service headed south towards the future junction.<br />
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Looking over towards the bridge a large mound of earth can be seen although I don't believe it is part of the new embankment yet.<br />
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Plant in the work site. The Varsity line runs behind by the tree line.</div>
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The temporary fencing shows the extent of the site and the location of the future junction. Due to fairly tight constraints of the site, it looks like the gradient of the new embankment will be quite steep.<br />
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Hitchin Grade Separationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395467868719641571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28496957946121843.post-75991316145936451542013-12-29T23:26:00.001+00:002013-12-29T23:28:59.426+00:00East West Rail and Evergreen 3Now that the work on the Hitchin Grade Separation project is all but finished with only the drainage work from the viaduct to the River Hiz to be completed, I thought that I might start a new blog on the East West Rail project. I will also include the Evergreen 3 project as this is uses the western end of the line from Oxford to Bicester. This work will help facilitate the first section of the East West route and is an integral part of it. I won't be able to do such frequent updates because of the distances involved. I thought I would start by taking a look at the developments in Bicester but this involved a drive of an hour and a quarter so this will not be possible that often.<br />
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The East West Rail project has been very slow to get going but now I think the momentum is picking up. It has always been a source of dismay locally that the route was lost in 1967. With virtually all other east west links also closed, if you want to travel cross country, then you have to travel into London and back out again. The project was formally started in 1995 by Ipswich council as the East West Rail Consortium. It now consists of all local authorities along the route plus local businesses and other interested parties. When it is finally completed, it will provide an orbital rail route that will link the Great Western, West Coast, Midland, East Coast, and Great Eastern main lines. It will even take in the stub of the Great Central.<br />
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The western section is now confirmed and should be operational by 2017. This will mean the section from Oxford to Bedford will be open throughout and will include links to Aylesbury and Milton Keynes. The pressure for the central section by East West Rail Consortium and Railfuture has finally resulted in some positive news. The government has announced its support for the this section by including it in its Tech Connected document. Feasibility studies are to be carried out to decide on the most suitable routes.<br />
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I will endeavour to report on developments as they happen and also take a look at what is actually left of the various routes that will or could be used. This will probably include the Oxford to Bletchley section, Bletchley to Bedford, Bedford to Sandy, Sandy to Cambridge and Bedford to Hitchin.<br /><br />I would also welcome any contributions from anyone interested in the project and would be happy to acknowledge this in the blog.<br /><br />East West Consortium website:- <a href="http://www.eastwestrail.org.uk/?url=welcome-east-west-rail">http://www.eastwestrail.org.uk/?url=welcome-east-west-rail</a><br />
Railfuture website:- <a href="http://www.railfuture.org.uk/ox-cam/index.php">http://www.railfuture.org.uk/ox-cam/index.php</a><br />Tech Connected document:- <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/263864/tech-connected.pdf">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/263864/tech-connected.pdf</a>Hitchin Grade Separationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395467868719641571noreply@blogger.com0