Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway

Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway
Pannier Tank at Chinnor Station. 5700 class Pannier tank 9682 waits while passengers board at Chinnor Station on the preserved Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway
Locale Buckinghamshire and
Oxfordshire, England
Terminus Chinnor and
Thame Junction
Connections Chiltern Main Line at Princes Risborough
Commercial operations
Name Watlington and Princes Risborough Railway Company
Original gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Preserved operations
Operated by Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway
Stations 1
Length 3.5 miles (5.6 km)
Preserved gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Commercial history
Opened 15 August 1872
Closed 1 July 1957 (passenger)
20 Dec 1989 (goods)
Preservation history
August 1989 C&PRR formed to save and preserve the 4 miles of track
26 July 1994 Transport and Works Order active
20 August 1994 First public service
1996 C&PRR extends to Thame Junction (the line's current length)
20 August 2004 The C&PRR sees 10 years of operating services along the line
August 2009 The C&PRR marks 20 years since formation and 15 years of operation
Headquarters Chinnor
Chinnor station is the headquarters of the preserved Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway
The run round loop and sidings

The Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway is a preserved heritage railway with its headquarters and only station at Chinnor in South Oxfordshire, England. It runs along the foot of the Chilterns escarpment.

History

The line was part of the former Great Western Railway branch line between Watlington and Princes Risborough. British Railways closed the line to passenger traffic in 1957. The section between Chinnor and Princes Risborough then carried a freight-only cement service until 1989.[1]

Preservation

Reopening

The Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway Association was formed around August 1989. It began to operate passenger trains between Chinnor and the site of the former Wainhill Halt (about 1 km NE of Chinnor) in August 1994. In 1995 the route was extended by about 3 km to Horsenden Lane, and then to Thame Junction in 1996.[1] The 4 km route has been unchanged since then.

The railway operates on standard gauge between Chinnor and Thame Junction, near Princes Risborough. As of 2015, there is no platform at Thame Junction, so each trip from Chinnor is a return journey of about 8 km.

Princes Risborough extension

An extension of about a mile (1.5 km) to Princes Risborough mainline railway station is proposed and the railway is in discussion with Network Rail, with a view to running into Princes Risborough station.[2] This would allow passengers to connect from Chiltern Railways services on the Chiltern Main Line. Once the extension takes place, the line would then be 4 miles (6.4 km) in length. The line has been reconnected for special events allowing trains to run into Princes Risborough station in the past. The line was last reconnected for the first 3 weekends in October 2013 for the railways "Haversham & Friends" celebrations.[3]

The first through train to Chinnor for 57 years, a railtour from Aylesbury via Princes Risborough, ran on 5 October 2013.[4][5]

Future projects

Consideration has been given to extending the line to the south-west from Chinnor towards Aston Rowant near the A40, taking its total length to 6 miles (9.7 km).[6][7]

A purpose built Maintenance and Education center at Chinnor station is also planned,[8] with construction expected to commence in 2014.

On-screen appearances

Chinnor station has been used for the filming of various TV series including Miss Marple and Midsomer Murders.[9]

Motive power

Steam locomotives

Diesel locomotives

Diesel multiple units

Electric multiple units

References

  1. 1 2 "History". Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
  2. ↑ Fagg, Roger (May 2012). "Princes Risborough Extension, Progress at May 2012:". Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
  3. ↑ "Haversham and Friends". Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway. 2013-08-28. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
  4. ↑ Johnston, Howard (30 October – 12 November 2013). "Regional News". RAIL (734): 24.
  5. ↑ "Haversham and Friends, day 1.". Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway. 2013-08-23. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
  6. ↑ Oppitz, Leslie (2000). Lost Railways of the Chilterns. Lost Railways. Newbury: Countryside Books. p. 24. ISBN 978-1-85306-643-6.
  7. ↑ "Travel: Reopened rail line could relieve M40". The Independent. 1997-12-22. Retrieved 2014-01-27.
  8. ↑ "Restoration and Education Centre Appeal". 8 April 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  9. ↑ Street, Joan. "Midsomer Murders Locations - Chinnor, Buckinghamshire". Archived from the original on 2009-08-04. Retrieved 2008-05-14.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway.

Coordinates: 51°41′53″N 0°54′23″W / 51.6980°N 0.9063°W / 51.6980; -0.9063

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