C&PRRA Celebrates the
50th Anniversary of closure of the Princes Risborough
to Watlington Branch to passenger services

Skip to pictures of the day
 

The Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway commemorated the 50th Anniversary of the closure of the Princes Risborough to Watlington branch to passenger services by British Railways on 29th June 1957. We ran passenger trains on the remaining section of the line between Chinnor and Thame Junction on Friday 29th June, Saturday 30th June and Sunday 1st July 2007.

Ex-GWR Pannier tank No 4650 ran the last day of services in 1957.

 

The timetable for Friday 29th, Saturday 30th June and Sunday 1st July was:-
Depart Chinnor station at - 10.33, 11.45, 12.51, 13.30 3.20 and 4.45pm  with specially invited local dignitaries on the 13.30 on Friday 29th.
Throughout the weekend the trains used a mixture of  Autotrailer and three coaches.

Volunteers turned out in uniform and period costume where possible.

Pictures of the event below are kindly supplied by Rich Evans.

Click the thumbnail to enlarge
 
4650 ready to depart with the first train of the last day.jpg (145005 bytes) A slight pause while the guard locks the gates at Horsenden crossing.jpg (104191 bytes) A tranquil station scene - it could be 1957.jpg (144797 bytes)
4650 ready to depart
Slight pause at the gates
Tranquil station
Approaching Horsenden crossing on the way back to Chinnor.jpg (146456 bytes) Auto coach driving compartment perfectly postioned with the Station name board!.jpg (161990 bytes) Closure Notice.jpg (59836 bytes)
Approaching Horsenden crossing
Autocoach
Closure Notice
Coasting into Chinnor with the first return from Thame junction.jpg (165672 bytes) Crossing Horsenden lane.jpg (118530 bytes) Driver enjoys a quick cuppa while waiting for the gates at Horsenden Crossing.jpg (111688 bytes)
Coasting in
Crossing Horsenden
Waiting at the gates
Driver enjoys a quick cuppa while wating for the guard to open the gates at Horsenden lane.jpg (98798 bytes) Leaving Horsenden Lane for Chinnor.jpg (101998 bytes) Passing Bledlow cricket pitch under leaden skies.jpg (100119 bytes)
Enjoying a cuppa?
Leaving Horsenden
Passing Bledlow CC Club
Preparing to service 4650 before the next departure.jpg (140527 bytes) Shunting the autocoach prior to the next departure.jpg (95774 bytes) Sushine and stormy skies at Horsenden lane.jpg (95259 bytes)
Preparation
Shunting
Horsenden lane
Taking on water.jpg (72889 bytes) Train crew and Station Master reflect on a most successful day!.jpg (65127 bytes) Wainhill Halt.jpg (119784 bytes)
Taking on water
Reflections on a successful day
Wainhill Halt
Some more photos taken by Jon Potter
50 anni 001sc.JPG (84335 bytes) 50 anni 002c.JPG (266520 bytes) 50 anni 008c.JPG (173141 bytes)
4650 from the hill
At Thame Junction
4650 from the hill
50 anni 011cs.JPG (141742 bytes) 50 anni 013c.JPG (121625 bytes) 50 anni 014c.JPG (226583 bytes)
4650 on the main line
On the run round loop
  50 anni 015c.JPG (178700 bytes)  
 
The key to travel
  
Some further photos taken by Phil Neale
4650_leaving_Thame_Junction.jpg (119202 bytes) 4650_at_Bledlow_Bridge_Halt.jpg (159941 bytes) 4650_at_BledlowCC.JPG (69453 bytes)
4650 leaving Thame Junction 4650 arriving at Bledlow Bridge Halt 4650 passing Bledlow Bridge Cricket Club
4650_at_wainhill_b&w.JPG (106239 bytes) 4650_in_station.jpg (137903 bytes)
4650 at  Wainhill Crossing (B&W) 4650 arriving back at the station
6430-1.jpg (162678 bytes) 6430-2.JPG (95250 bytes)
4650 arriving in the station 4650 at a crossing
Click here for some more pictures from Matt Allen Photography
Note you will have to scroll down for the C&PRRA pictures

Videos of 4650 on Friday 29th June
Courtesy of Town Video
4650_Movie.jpg (25081 bytes) 4650_Movie_2.jpg (21390 bytes)
4650 approaching donkey lane 4650 approaching Thame Junction
Broadband File (3.2MB) Broadband File (1.4MB)
Dial Up File (278KB) Dial Up File (137KB)

Both files are Windows Media Video (WMV) format