Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway

Chinnor station is the headquarters of the preserved Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway

The run round loop and sidings

Watlington and Princes Risborough Railway
Legend Bicester cut-off to Banbury Princes Risborough to Aylesbury Line Thame Jct. (Wycombe Railway to Oxford ) Princes Risborough Bledlow Bridge Halt Wycombe Railway to High Wycombe Wainhill Crossing Wainhill Crossing Halt Chinnor x20px x20px Chinnor Cement Works Kingston Crossing Halt Kingston Crossing Aston Rowant A40 road x20px M40 motorway Lewknor Bridge Halt Watlington

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.

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. 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. 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.

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

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).

A purpose built Maintenance and Education center at Chinnor station is also planned, 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.

Motive power

Steam locomotives

• GWR 0-6-0PT 1366 Class No. 1369. Visiting until the end of 2015 from the South Devon Railway Trust.
• GWR 0-6-0PT 5700 Class No. 5786/L92. Visiting for 2016 from the South Devon Railway Trust.

Diesel locomotives

• BR 0-6-0 Class 08 No. D3018 'Haversham'. BR green. Operational.
• BR 0-6-0 Class 08 No. 08825. BR blue. Under repair.
• BR Bo-Bo Class 17 No. D8568. Operational.
• BR A1A-A1A Class 31 No. D5581. Under repair.
• Ruston & Hornsby 0-6-0DH 459515 'IRIS'. Operational.

Diesel multiple units

• BR Class 121 'bubble car' No. W55023. Operational and mainly used on summer Saturdays.
• BR Class 121 'bubble car' No. W55024. Under repair.

Electric multiple units

• BR Class 411 '3CEP' No. 1198. 'Linda the Lymington Flyer' BR Blue. Built in 1961. In Operation (Hauled by 08825 and will be hauled by 31163 once repaired)

External links

• The Railway website