Local Railways - GW&GC Joint Line resurgent
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Local Railways - GW&GC Joint Line resurgent
This is a gallery of pictures showing the variety of trains that can now be seen on the former GW&GCJR line through High Wycombe in addition to the regular service of regular Chiltern class 165 and 168 DMUs. After years in the doldrums this line has seen modernisation following reinstatement of the double track north of Princes Risborough, notably with resignalling and extra platforms at Marylebone to increase capacity.
The introduction of the Wrexham services in 2008 saw a return to regular loco-hauled passenger train services. It was a great shame when these ceased in January 2011, but by that time Chiltern had introduced class 67 haulage on some of its Birmingham Moor Street services, using the reinstated terminal platforms there. The regular 'binliner' rubbish trains to and from Calvert have been supplemented in recent years by spoil trains first from the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and later from the Olympic site. There have also been diversions of service from the WCML and from the GW main line, bringing a variety of trains unheard of in the recent past. The line is now resurgent and we hope you enjoy this gallery of pictures. More will be added as they become available - contributions are welcome, especially of unusual workings. Copyright remains with the photographers.
For another aspect of the joint line scene, take a look at the Steam Specials page, and don't miss the pictures of the Marlow branch and its associated lines, plus the Metropolitan & Great Central Joint Line page.
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Last up WSM train at High Wycombe, 28 January 2011 In gloom appropriate to the occasion the 13.28 from Wrexham, the last up WSM train, comes round the curve into High Wycombe behind 67013 complete with headboard. Photo by Tim Edmonds |
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Penultimate down WSM train at High Wycombe, 28 January 2011 As the light fades the 16.30 from Marylebone to Wrexham, the penultimate down WSM train, heads out from High Wycombe behind 67012. Photo by Tim Edmonds |
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Penultimate up WSM train near Seer Green, 28 January 2011 Following the shock announcement on Wednesday 26 January 2011 of the sad news that Wrexham & Shropshire was ceasing operations, the last trains ran on Friday 28 January. The 07.23 from Wrexham is seen at the foot crossing near Seer Green & Jordans in charge of 67014. Photo by Chris Waite |
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WSM set passing High Wycombe with MDRS guest in the DVT, 19 February 2010 The MDRS speaker at our meeting on 18 February 2010, Don Woodward, was the guest of WSM the next day. Here he is in the second man's seat of DVT 82305 as it passes High Wycombe with the 11.20 Marylebone - Wrexham service. 67014 is providing the power at the rear of the four-coach set. Photo by Tim Edmonds |
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WSM set passing High Wycombe, 13 February 2010 By the beginning of 2010 the refurbishment of WSM's own coaching stock had advanced so that complete four-coach sets with loco and DVT in WSM livery became a regular occurrence. Here an unidentified DVT leads, with 67014 bringing up the rear, as the 12.25 Marylebone - Wrexham passes High Wycombe on a gloomy day when grey seems to be the norm. Photo by Tim Edmonds |
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Down train approaching Princes Risborough, 25 November 2008 The WSM Driving Van Trailers started operation in the autumn of 2008. Here the 10.17 Marylebone - Wrexham slows on the approach to Princes Risborough with DVT 82301 (formerly 82117) leading. 67013 is providing the power at the back end. Photo by Tim Edmonds |
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Up train crossing Hughenden Road viaduct at High Wycombe, 19 November 2008 Here the 07.25 Wrexham - Marylebone is seen crossing the viaduct over Hughenden Road, on the approach to High Wycombe, and unusually the DVT is at the London end. Note the lookout posted on the viaduct - some engineering activity was presumably in progress locally. Photo by Tim Edmonds |
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The inaugural down train at High Wycombe, 28 April 2008 Bang on time, the 06.45 Wrexham & Shropshire service from Marylebone to Wrexham approaches High Wycombe station with 67014 on the front and 67012 bringing up the rear. Photo by Tim Edmonds |
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The inaugural down train at High Wycombe, 28 April 2008 The same train heads down the line, this time showing 67012 at the rear in a patch of morning sunlight. Photo by Tim Edmonds |
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The inaugural up train at Gerrards Cross, 28 April 2008 Alas the sun did not shine metaphorically on the 05.42 from Wrexham to Marylebone, which was beset with problems. Leading loco 67025 suffered from brake problems and was declared a failure at Wellington, where 67026 was moved from the back to lead the ensemble. Due to arrive in London at 09.54, the inaugural up service is seen approaching Gerrards Cross at 10.03 with 67026 double-heading 67025. Further delays occorred at Marylebone where a fresh engine was awaited. Photo by Tim Edmonds |
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Fourth down train at High Wycombe, 28 April 2008 Things had improved somewhat by the afternoon, when 67014 and 67012 were back with their second and WSM's fourth down train of the day - seen here passing High Wycombe station. Photo by Mike Walker |
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Hastings DEMU passes High Wycombe, 14 May 2011 Preserved Hastings Diesel Electric Multiple Unit 1001 transverses the recently reinstated through line at High Wycombe on 14th May 2011 whilist on a railtour from Hastings to Quainton Road. Photo by Mike Walker |
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Vience Simplon Orient Express Passes High Wycombe, 12 May 2011 The Venice Simplon Orient Express' rake of Pullman Cars made a rare visit to the line on 12 May 2011 and is seen heading through High Wycombe behind 67019. Photo by Mike Walker |
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HST on FGW diversion at High Wycombe, 1 January 2011 The 07.30 Bristol Temple Meads - Paddington appproaches High Wycombe on its diversion via Oxford and Banbury. Photo by Tim Edmonds |
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43160 on FGW diversion at High Wycombe, 27 December 2010 The closure of the GW main line through Reading over the Christmas/New Year holiday in 2010 brought HSTs from Swansea and Bristol to Paddington travelling via Oxford, Banbury and High Wycombe. Here a down train passes High Wycombe station in the aftermath of the pre-Christmas snow. Photo by Mike Walker |
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47773 passing Ludgershall, 1 July 2010 47773 passes Ludgershall following the "Chiltern Centurion" steam charter for which it was acting as standby loco. Photo by Tim Edmonds |
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Class 37s with a Serco test train at Saunderton, 16 April 2009 37609 and 37069 head through Saunderton station with a Serco test train. This was 1Z12, the 12.21 Banbury - Old Oak Common - Banbury - Derby and was running about 30 minutes late. Photo by Mike Walker |
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Class 57s top-and-tail a Birmingham - Wolverhampton service at High Wycombe, 31 August 2008 Work on the West Coast main line has brought some interesting visitors to the Joint Line in the summer of 2008, in the form of both passenger and freight workings. From the motive power point of view one of the most interesting workings was the 11.00 Euston - Wolverhampton service on Sunday 31 August. This was formed of a Virgin loco-hauled set with 57313 on the front and 57309 on the back, seen here in the wet at High Wycombe. The same consist formed the 18.48 return working from Wolverhampton. Photo by Mike Walker |
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Diverted Trafford Park - Wembley intermodal passing High Wycombe, 23 August 2008 Some more interesting visitors were seen on freight workings. One such was 4A03 from Trafford Park to Wembley, seen here at 10.00 at High Wycombe station behind 66115. Photo by Tim Edmonds |
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Virgin Voyager Birmingham - Euston service passing High Wycombe, 28 June 2008 First diversions had been Voyager passenger trains, with the provision of a non-stop Euston - Birmingham service over the route. On the first day of the service, Super Voyager set 221143 leads Voyager set 221103 through Wycombe, where the train arrived early and was held as the 16.04 High Wycombe - Marylebone made its sedate progress towards the capital. Photo by Mike Walker |
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47094 passing High Wycombe with LT stock, 30 April 1988 Two London Transport battery-electric locomotives, L45 and L44, at High Wycombe station behind 47094. These locos are from a batch built by BREL at Doncaster in 1973/4 and normally used for engineering work when the power is off on a section of track. Presumably they were on the way to an overhaul. Photo by Mike Walker |
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Deltic 50155 at High Wycombe, 10 June 1986 On 10 June 1986 there was a small display of rolling stock at High Wycombe which included preserved Deltic 55015 which is seen buffered up to an A4 (presumably 4498 Sir Nigel Gresley). If anyone has any information of what other locomotives and stock were present, please let us know. Photo by Alan Costello |
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Class 122s pass at High Wycombe, 29 June 1986 Also in 1986, Hertfordshire Railtours ran shuttles between High Wycombe and Thame on 29 June using two Class 122 units, which are seen passing each other at Wycombe. Photo by Alan Costello |
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Mixed liveried 115 unit in High Wycombe Bay Platform, C.1980 51890 sits at the head of a 4-car Class 115 set in the bay at High Wycombe circa 1980. The unit is unusual becasuse of its livery. 4 cars, 4 livery variations! All blue on 51890, blue and grey on both trailers but with a disagreement as to how deep the grey should be, and the short-lived "refurbished" white and blue on the far DMBS. Photo by Mike Walker |
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Measurement Train passes High Wycombe, 26 May 2011 Network Rail's track recording HST passes through High Wycombe on 26th May 2011 enroute from Paddington to Banbury with power car 43014 leading and 43014 trailing. Earlier in the day this train had worked from Derby to Paddington via Reading and on arrival at Banbury reversed and ran to Marylebone. Photo by Mike Walker |
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Rail Head Treatment train at Princes Risborough, 15 November 2008 The Network Rail Rail Head Treatment train visited the joint line in November 2008. Here 3J44 is seen arriving at Princes Risborough from Aylesbury with filthy DRS locos 66423 and 66422 top-and-tail. Photo by Mike Walker |
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Bubblecar at Saunderton, 8 August 2008 Departmental bubblecar 960014 (formerly 55022) is seen here at Saunderton station late on a Friday morning. This was most likely a route-learning working for Virgin West Coast crews involved in diversionary workings over the joint line (see Unusual workings). Photo by Brian Hopkinson |
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Network Rail 950001 passing High Wycombe, 16 April 2008 The Network Rail Measurement Train, a converted two-car class 150 DMU, made a rapid visit to the joint line in April. It is seen here in the cutting west of High Wycombe station. Photo by Tim Edmonds |
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'The Wedding Belle' charter at High Wycombe, 23 June 1984 This remarkable one-off was a charter by Tony Parkins, Chairman of the Rail Tour Operators Association at the time, to carry him and his bride from High Wycombe to Shrewsbury after their wedding. Comprising 31117 and inspection saloon KDW 150266, the train was operated by RTOA member Western Tours. Thanks to Mike for looking this one out, which was prompted by mention of the train in the '25 years ago' feature in the June 2009 edition of The Marlow Donkey. Photo by Mike Walker |
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45077 approaching High Wycombe with a binliner empty from Calvert, 2nd March 1985 45077 enters High Wycombe from the north on 2nd March 1985 passing under former GWR sempahores removed during the route modernisation of the early 1990s. Photo by Mike Walker |
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47140 passing High Wycombe, 13 December 1986 47140 passes High Wycombe with a Northolt-bound binliner working on 13 December 1986. Photo by Mike Walker |
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47331 passing High Wycombe station with a Calvert-bound binliner, 4th June 1997 Class 47 47331 heads through High Wycombe with a Binliner for Calvert on 4th June 1997. Photo by Brian Hopkinson |
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60040 passing High Wycombe, 16 August 1996 The binliner heads through High Wycombe on 16 August 1996 in the charge of EWS 60040. Photo by Mike Walker |
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GBRf 66708 heads the 6M80 Dagenham Dock - Calvert binliner through High Wycombe, 24th October 2006 Class 66 GBRf 66708 is seen leading the 6M80 Dagenham Dock - Calvert binliner through High Wycombe, passing a 165 unit, on 24th October 2006 Photo by Brian Hopkinson |
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600670 with empties for Northolt passing Princes Risborough, 25 November 2008 Class 60 power is still seen on some binliner workings. Here 60060 'James Watt' heads for Northolt with train 6A58 from Calvert and is seen after joining the main line from the Aylesbury branch at Princes Risborough. Photo by Tim Edmonds |
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Olympics site spoil train approaching High Wycombe, 14 May 2008 The landfill site at Calvert brings occasional short-term 'as required, workings. One such is the movement of spoil from the Olympics site in East London, which produced a daytime train 6Z47 from Willesden. Here the train approaches High Wycombe station behind 59204 'Vale of Glamorgan'. Photo by Tim Edmonds |
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Olympics site spoil train passing High Wycombe, 13 May 2008 On the previous day the same train was captured the other side of High Wycombe station in the hands of 66044. Photo by Mike Walker |
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Calvert 'binliner' approaching High Wycombe station, 29 March 2007 One of the regular rubbish trains to Calvert that can be seen during the daylight hours is 6M22 from Cricklewood. Regular motive power is a Freightliner class 66, here exemplified by 66514 with a matching rake of wagons. Photo by Tim Edmonds |
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Loco-hauled at Marylebone, 10 April 2008 Here are 67014 (front) and 67013 (back) arriving at Marylebone sporting their new livery, but still with an interesting selection of stock. Photo by Dave Theobald |
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67014 shows the WSM colours, 8 April 2008 The early test runs had been with locos in EWS livery, but this picture shows 67014 in what was believed to be the first outing of class 67s in the new WSM livery. Photo by Mike Walker |
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67013 also shows the WSM livery, 8 April 2008 At the other end of this test train was 67013, also turned out smartly in the new WSM livery. Photo by Mike Walker |
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The inaugural training run to London, 22 February 2008 The first crew training run over the line from Banbury into Marylebone took place on the afternoon of 22 February. The return working made a training call at High Wycombe in the gathering gloom, but as far as the man on the platform was concerned two class 67s was no more worthy of his attention than the usual fare of class 165 and class 168 units. 67017 was at the front and 67016 bringing up the rear. Photo by Tim Edmonds |
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From Oxford to Banbury, 21 February 2008 The start of running test trains between Banbury and Marylebone was held up for a couple of days. In the interim some trains did run between Banbury and Oxford - 67017 is seen here at Banbury station after returning from Oxford. Photo by Dave Theobald |
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