Chinnor events in October

[theblackwatch]

The latest issue of Railway Magazine has details of some events at the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway in October that should be if intereest to both track and loco bashers. They are being held to mark the 175th anniversary of Wolverton Works plus the 60th anniversary of resident Class 08, D3018/08011, one of the oldest examples still in existence. Highlights mentioned are:

* Running of trains direct from Princes Risborough using 165001 and one of Chiltern's 'bubble' cars. As far as I'm aware, the only train to run direct onto the preserved railway before was a kettle on a tour from Banbury a couple of years ago - the connection was put in place for the tour and removed shortly after!

* Visits by the two Wolverton 08s to the CPRR. Quite a lot of people had 08629 when it worked at the Great Central Railway in 2011, but 08649 will definitely attract the 'red pen' brigade. I hope the news that Railcare has gone into administration won't have an effect on these visits.

No doubt more info will appear at http://www.chinnorrailway.co.uk/Havershams_60th_Birthday in due course.

 

[Amy Worrall]

I'm definitely interested. I'll be watching the website for more news.

Do you know any more about the connection from Princes Risborough onto the Chinnor line? If they're putting one in place for this event, any chance it will stay, making the possibility of running regular heritage services between them in the future more likely?

 

[The Planner]

Is it disconnected? the appendix makes it look like it is accessible via a double shunt.

 

[CarltonA]

I think it was Adrian Shooter who influenced NR to temporarily reinstate the connection a couple of years ago when he retired from Chiltern. It seems to have been disconnected but is easily restored. A 165 will run through from Aylesbury depot. Chiltern have run a 165 down to Chinnor a few years before that, I saw a photo in the C&PRR mag some time back.

 

[Amy Worrall]

Some more information seems to have been posted:

Saturday October 12Th 2013 – ‘Wolverton 175’’

EVENT OVERVIEW

This weekend commemorates 175 years of Wolverton Works, the world’s oldest continuously operating railway works. Join ex-Wolverton shunter ‘Haversham’ and some of his ex-colleagues from this very special place, for a great weekend of unique celebrations to mark this anniversary.

ATTRACTIONS

• Arrival & departure of ‘Wolverton Wanderer’ heritage railtour from Aylesbury
• Wide variety of diesel, steam and electric rolling stock on display and giving rides
• Visiting ‘friends’ from Wolverton, Aylesbury, Bletchley, Quainton and Buckfastleigh
• ‘Wolverton Bloomer’ heritage shuttles between Chinnor and Princes Risborough stations
• Trains running all day, yard tours, signal box visits
• Vintage bus rides
• Station shop, buffet and food stalls, souvenirs, railway books, beer tent, sideshows
• Bachmann model railways, Mortons railway magazines, ‘Wolverton 175’ book-signing

Featured traction (subject to final availability):-

• 13018 /D3018 / 08011 - ‘Haversham’
• 55020 or 55034 – representing Aylesbury Depot
• 08649 ‘Bradwell’ - representing Wolverton Works
• 55023 - representing Bletchley Depot
• WD 420 ‘Iris’ - representing Chinnor Yard
• GWR No. 12 - representing The Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton Road

TICKET PRICE
£15 per Adult / Senior, £7.50 per Junior (2-16 years)
Includes access to all available trains and free attractions
Food, beverages and shop purchases not included

 

[overtonchris]

Please correct me if I'm wrong-but isn't it 08629 that is named "Bradwell"?........I need that one, but not 08649 "Wolverton"!!!!!!.........

 

[455driver]

Featured traction (subject to final availability):-
13018 /D3018 / 08011 - ‘Haversham’
55020 or 55034 – representing Aylesbury Depot
08649 ‘Bradwell’ - representing Wolverton Works
55023 - representing Bletchley Depot
WD 420 ‘Iris’ - representing Chinnor Yard
GWR No. 12 - representing The Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Quainton Road

I thought there were only 22 production Deltics built, plus they have rebuilt 1980 withdrawal 55020 as well!


Yes I know they are class 121 DMUs and not Deltics!

 

[t_star2001uk]

Is it disconnected? the appendix makes it look like it is accessible via a double shunt.

Have a look at this video
http://youtu.be/rtcpgLUEJBM


From Princes Risborough all the way to the stops at the Thame Branch.

 

[12CSVT]

Please correct me if I'm wrong-but isn't it 08629 that is named "Bradwell"?........I need that one, but not 08649 "Wolverton"!!!!!!.........

You're right 08629 is Bradwell and 08649 is Wolverton (names which were previously carried by 08806 and 08160 respectively).

As far as I'm aware both 08s are due visit Chinnor, but not both at the same time.

Surprised that you need 08629 but not 08649, as 08629 visited the Great Central railway a couple of years ago for a shunter gala. When did 08649 work a passenger train ?

 

[overtonchris]

I missed the Great Central Gala visit unfortunately, and I got "Wolverton" a while ago at Wolverton Depot!!! One of those things I guess.

Thanks 12CSVT....I'll go to Chinnor in hope of catching "Bradwell"......£15.00 to cop one 08?.......why not?!!.....best I don't tell the missus though!!!

 

[CarltonA]

C&PRR membership is only £13 for a year though you still have to pay for a special event ticket.

 

[overtonchris]

Fair Play......my comment was meant to be "tongue in cheek" and I certainly won't begrudge C&PRR a penny........especially if the needed Gronk attends!!!!!!

 

[RPM]

There is a picture here of the C&PRR/NR connection with some info on it too:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rpmarks/9576443219/

 

[IanD]

C&PRR membership is only £13 for a year though you may still have to pay something for a special event ticket.

Membership is £15 according to the website and it appears you have to pay normal rates for special events - so no saving to be had.

 

[CarltonA]

Sorry, yes £15 membership. But you get four round trips on normal operating days for your money.

 

[russellb]

A temporary platform 4 has gone up at Princes Risborough station.

Looks like there are going to be trains from Princes Risborough to Chinnor for 3 Saturdays in October. First trains in 56 years!

Timetable here:
http://www.chinnorrailway.co.uk/events/Chinnor leaflet.pdf

Photo of temp. platform 4 here:
https://www.facebook.com/chinnorrailway

 

[IanD]

Hopefully I'll be there on Saturday.

I suppose having done the work necessary for the through trains from Aylesbury they may as well get their money's worth by running the shuttles to Princes Risborough.

Plus vintage bus service between Chinnor as Princes R should be a good day out.

 

[theblackwatch]

We're having a forum meetup at this event on the final Saturday if anyoe is interested - see http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=89600 for more information.

 

[anthony263]

I will be visiting on saturday 12th october if anyone is visiting that day. I shouldnt be hard to spot

 

[IanD]

We're having a forum meetup at this event on the final Saturday if anyoe is interested - see http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=89600 for more information.

I would have gone on that date but it clashes with the Keele University open day my daughter wants to go to and (more importantly) the Concrete Pint Beer Festival in Milton Keynes - which I'll hopefully catch the tail end of

 

[150219]

Is it disconnected? the appendix makes it look like it is accessible via a double shunt.

The S.A. is ever so slightly out of date. The traditional layout, as depicted in the S.A. would indeed provide a double shunt access to the Chinnor Branch Siding.

Infrastructure wise though, hand points no. 1 are clipped and the track work on the Chinnor Branch Siding would have required a lot of work to bring it back to scratch. The majority of sleepers on this side of the line are quite rotten.

The operation of the steam charter was made possible by the removal of the stop blocks at the end of the Thame Branch Siding, slewing the track over at the end and connecting up to the private infrastructure.

 

[russellb]

Just been down to see the temp. platform 4 at Princes Risborough in action, looking good.

Lots of people there, great to see people making a tight connection from the mainline onto the 11:12 to Chinnor!

 

[MK Tom]

Just been down to see the temp. platform 4 at Princes Risborough in action, looking good.

Lots of people there, great to see people making a tight connection from the mainline onto the 11:12 to Chinnor!

I was there too. Arrived by the 300 bus though! Bit of a balls-up with the heritage bus not showing meaning the trains were a bit crowded, but other than that it was a great day.

Was nice to see the speaker of the house of commons as well as the majors of Aylesbury, Chinnor and Risborough and a lot of Chiltern Railways senior staff all turn out for the ribbon cutting ceremony.

 

[IanD]

I was there on Saturday too.

Very enjoyable day. Good to see lots of people there. Shame about the vintage bus not turning up. The trains were well loaded but I wouldn't call them crowded.

Had a tour of the yard with 2 very friendly chaps.

Took a walk down to the Crown in Chinnor but the greeting was most unfriendly. Couldn't get to the bar due to elderly locals sitting on bar stools and then the bar maid was quite rude when I asked about the real ales available so I left without sampling any. Their loss, my gain as it meant I could try the railway ales instead.

Had a laugh at a couple of people who had come from up North walking in to the beer tent and walking out when they saw the price was £3 per pint. Seemed quite cheap to me. Normally such sites add a premium on to the bar prices - particularly as these were railway specific beers - Haversham Pale Ale and Bradwell Bitter (they also had Wolverton Ale in bottles). Unfortunately, I could only have half of each as I was driving but I'd recommend both, with Haversham having the edge. Bought a bottle of the Wolverton to take home so can't comment on that yet.

Also, bacon sarnie and a tea for £3.30 was pretty reasonable.

There were a couple of bad points - there were so many volunteers and staff knocking about that it was sometimes very difficult to get a decent picture of anything without an orange jacket in. Probably not surprising due to the "historic" nature of the day and the quite narrow platform at Chinnor. Also, the old guy taking the money on the entrance at Chinnor was the most miserable b*gger so not exactly the best first impression for those of us arriving before 10:30. (A lot of the preserved railways I've visited recently seem to roster their less customer friendly staff to sell tickets. A smile and friendly greeting is all that's required. Maybe it's just me - which I'd believe if I'd had time to say anything other than "1 adult, please.")

 

[12CSVT]

The 3 CEP will be in use over the next two weekends, 08:25 and 16:30 deparures from Chinnor on the Saturdays, 09:30, 12:15 and 16:30 on the Sundays.

 

[Supersixevo]

Hi there! Please can you tell me why they are calling class 121 a bubble car?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Hi why are they calling class 121 a bubble car?

 

[CarltonA]

Have recieved the C&PRR magazine last week. The October events are being hailed as a big success. Unfortunately membership fees are to rise next year. They are now allowed back into the north signal box on occasion but it needs a lot of work doing. I wonder how long before a permanent platform four will be in operation at Prisbo.

 

[RPM]

Hi there! Please can you tell me why they are calling class 121 a bubble car?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Hi why are they calling class 121 a bubble car?

Just a nickname because a 121 is a very small train in the same way a bubble car is a very small car.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Have recieved the C&PRR magazine last week. The October events are being hailed as a big success. Unfortunately membership fees are to rise next year. They are now allowed back into the north signal box on occasion but it needs a lot of work doing. I wonder how long before a permanent platform four will be in operation at Prisbo.

I have noticed a lot more activity around the signal box in recent weeks. One noticeable thing that has changed is the installation of steel ties to hold the structure together (it was subsiding at the north end). Good to see the decay being halted.