Verney Junction diversion
 

Had an email from a Geoff Cole about a Verney Junction diversion in the 70s.
Perhaps someone knows the date of this and could help (him) out?

Cheers (posted to uk.railway & uk.transport.london)
--------

Many years ago (in the early 1970s - I do wish I had noted the date) the
overhead catenary wires came down around Hemel Hempstead early one morning
and services through Hemel were cancelled.

Amongst the normal fast and slow EMU trains, there used to be a fast train
from Bletchley to Euston, non-stop I think, around 8 am.

Someone had a great idea and had a diesel loco fitted in lieu of the
electric one off the train went, over the Bletchley Oxford branch which was
then still used for freight and then down the Great Central into Marylebone.

It only happened once and by evening trains were working the slow or fast (I
forget which) only through Hemel but it was quite fascinating.

I guess the train used Verney junction. I remember turning south on to
disused tracks (I think only single track) with weeds all between the rails
and at very slow speed. Then on to proper used tracks and down through
Aylesbury, Amersham, Harrow etc.

I dont know whether it was ever properly recorded but some enthusiast will
know and I would love to know when it was.

Regards
Geoff Cole

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------

Verney Junction diversion
 

Verney Junction diversion
"subterraneo" wrote in message
. uk...
Had an email from a Geoff Cole about a Verney Junction diversion in the
70s. Perhaps someone knows the date of this and could help (him) out?

Verney Junction was long gone by then. I suspect that you mean Claydon L&NE
Junction (where the Aylesbury line diverges from the Oxford line). I do
recall reading about this myself so I'll try and ferret out some
information, if I can find it!

Verney Junction diversion
 

"Jack Taylor" wrote in message
...
Verney Junction diversion
"subterraneo" wrote in
message
. uk...
Had an email from a Geoff Cole about a Verney Junction diversion in the
70s. Perhaps someone knows the date of this and could help (him) out?

Verney Junction was long gone by then. I suspect that you mean Claydon
L&NE
Junction (where the Aylesbury line diverges from the Oxford line). I do
recall reading about this myself so I'll try and ferret out some
information, if I can find it!

At that time the line between Bletchley and Claydon LNE Junction was in use
for freight, and the line from Claydon to Aylesbury still is (see the
current thread on uk.r entitled Aylesbury Parkway North). I last travelled
the Bletchley - Claydon (- Bicester - Oxford) line on a special train on a
Network Day around 1990. By then it was not possible for a train going that
way to call at Bletchley, as the only access was via the flyover. The line
is curtrently unusable, but AIUI still owned by Network Rail and could be
reinstated if required. One proposal that is not entirely dead is to use it
as part of a new East - West rail route (e.g. Felixstowe - Bristol).

Peter

Verney Junction diversion
 

Peter Masson wrote:


At that time the line between Bletchley and Claydon LNE Junction was in use
for freight

Also, Bletchley depot had an Aylesbury - Bletchley parcels job.

Verney Junction diversion
 

"Jack Taylor" wrote in message
...
Verney Junction diversion
"subterraneo" wrote in
message
. uk...
Had an email from a Geoff Cole about a Verney Junction diversion in the
70s. Perhaps someone knows the date of this and could help (him) out?

Verney Junction was long gone by then. I suspect that you mean Claydon
L&NE
Junction (where the Aylesbury line diverges from the Oxford line). I do
recall reading about this myself so I'll try and ferret out some
information, if I can find it!


Verney Junction station itself was totally closed by 1966 and demolished
since but the rails still run through the old station site, if rather
overgrown. It is not impossible that a service did run through the site and
round to Aylesbury via Claydon Junction.

Nick

Verney Junction diversion (Actually a Claydon LNE / Calvert diversion!)
 

Verney Junction diversion
"subterraneo" wrote in message
. uk...
Had an email from a Geoff Cole about a Verney Junction diversion in the
70s. Perhaps someone knows the date of this and could help (him) out?

Cheers (posted to uk.railway & uk.transport.london)
--------

Many years ago (in the early 1970s - I do wish I had noted the date) the
overhead catenary wires came down around Hemel Hempstead early one morning
and services through Hemel were cancelled.

Someone had a great idea and had a diesel loco fitted in lieu of the
electric one off the train went, over the Bletchley Oxford branch which was
then still used for freight and then down the Great Central into
Marylebone.

I guess the train used Verney junction. I remember turning south on to
disused tracks (I think only single track) with weeds all between the rails
and at very slow speed. Then on to proper used tracks and down through
Aylesbury, Amersham, Harrow etc.

It would not have been via Verney Junction, as not only had the line from
Verney Junction to Quainton Road been long since lifted by then, to have
done this trip even before closure would have required a reversal.

The route this must have taken was the more "main line" way of through
Verney Junction and on to Claydon LNE Junction. From here, the train would
have turned south onto what was once a double track spur from the
Bletchley-Oxford line onto the Great Central main line, joining the latter
at Calvert Junction. Obviously, by the time of this trip, the GC was no
more, Calvert Junction being the northern most point that the GC still
existed out from Marylebone*, and had been singled throughout from Aylesbury
to Calvert. Calvert was the southern most GC-built station on the London
Extension excepting Marylebone, the line forming a junction with the
Metropolitan main line at Quainton Road.

A map showing the approximate layout of the region before rationalization:
http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/calvertmap.jpg
(Note for pedants, whilst lines are colour coded by original builders, the
spur between Claydon LNE and Calvert Junctions was a WWII innovation, and
not built by any of the original companies!)

These photos, taken on May 14th 2005, show the area of Calvert as it is in
recent times:
http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/calvert1.jpg
http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/calvert2.jpg
http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/calvert3.jpg

In calvert1.jpg, the main running line on the right (formerly the "up" GC
line) is shown heading away north-west from Calvert station's over-bridge
(ie, towards Sheffield in old money). You'll note that in the far distance,
it suddenly veers to the right, snaking out of sight. This was the site of
Calvert Junction, the GC line previously carrying straight on to cross the
Bletchley-Oxford line. The ground-frame in the mid-ground allows the
bin-liner trains to crossover to what remains of the former "down" line,
which is now basically the refuse depot.

Calvert2.jpg shows the remaining platform at Calvert, and the overbridge
from which passenger access was gained. The track show is the "up" line.

Calvert3.jpg is another view from the bridge, looking south-east towards
London, with the remains of the station platform in the foreground. The
refuse depot can clearly be seen, and there is a train in at the time. Note
how a second track on the "down" side has appeared, forming a rather long
run-round loop.

I know none of this really answers the question of precisely when this train
was diverted or why and what the train was formed of, but there's been some
mild discussion of this area recently (including in another active thread),
so I thought I may as well post the pictures and map for information
purposes.

*Until the line was severed between Bletchley and Claydon LNE Junction in
recent years, you could still (via a circuitous route) reach Ruddington
station, all the way up in South Nottinghamshire, from London Marylebone.
This was by taking the route Marylebone, Calvert, Claydon, Bletchley,
Bedford, Loughborough, East Leake, Ruddington. Ruddington station no longer
has any track, the current GCR(N) bufferstops being about 440yds short of
the platform. This makes my very own Rushcliffe Halt the only open station
on the whole GC London extension that is theoretically still accessible from
London Marylebone (minus a few hundred yards in the home counties)... I'll
organise a special :P

--
Ronnie
(Caution - this post written whilst suffering from extreme sleep
deprivation... Please handle with care)
--
Have a great day...
....Have a Great Central day.
www.greatcentralrailway.com

Verney Junction diversion
 

Chippy wrote:
Peter Masson wrote:


At that time the line between Bletchley and Claydon LNE Junction was in use
for freight

Also, Bletchley depot had an Aylesbury - Bletchley parcels job.

Plus a Northampton - Didcot parcels and the DMUs from Aylesbury to
Bletchley TMD for servicing and exams.

Verney Junction diversion (Actually a Claydon LNE / Calvertdiversion!)
 

On 21/1/06 16:02, "Ronnie Clark" wrote:

A map showing the approximate layout of the region before rationalization:
http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/calvertmap.jpg
(Note for pedants, whilst lines are colour coded by original builders, the
spur between Claydon LNE and Calvert Junctions was a WWII innovation, and
not built by any of the original companies!)

These photos, taken on May 14th 2005, show the area of Calvert as it is in
recent times:
http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/calvert1.jpg
http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/calvert2.jpg
http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/calvert3.jpg

Nice one!! For the first time, the modern layout at Calvert makes sense to
me. Thanks ;-)

Verney Junction diversion
 

In reply to news post, which Jack Taylor wrote on
Sat, 21 Jan 2006 -
Verney Junction diversion
"subterraneo" wrote in message
.uk...
Had an email from a Geoff Cole about a Verney Junction diversion in the
70s. Perhaps someone knows the date of this and could help (him) out?

Verney Junction was long gone by then. I suspect that you mean Claydon L&NE
Junction (where the Aylesbury line diverges from the Oxford line). I do
recall reading about this myself so I'll try and ferret out some
information, if I can find it!


I remember my brother telling me that owing to a blockage on the WCML
owing to over head line problems in the Tring area, that services were
diverted into Marylebone via Aylesbury / Amersham. He was not a railway
expert, but saw an "inter city" train go through Amersham one morning.
This would have been in the early 1970s. I don't know if this is the
same incident.

--
Matthew P Jones - www.amersham.org.uk
My view of the Metropolitan Line www.metroland.org.uk - actually I like it
Don't reply to it will not be read
You can reply to knap AT Nildram dot co dot uk

Verney Junction diversion (Actually a Claydon LNE / Calvert diversion!)
 

Stimpy wrote:
On 21/1/06 16:02, "Ronnie Clark" wrote:

A map showing the approximate layout of the region before rationalization:
http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/calvertmap.jpg
(Note for pedants, whilst lines are colour coded by original builders, the
spur between Claydon LNE and Calvert Junctions was a WWII innovation, and
not built by any of the original companies!)

These photos, taken on May 14th 2005, show the area of Calvert as it is in
recent times:
http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/calvert1.jpg
http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/calvert2.jpg
http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/calvert3.jpg

Nice one!! For the first time, the modern layout at Calvert makes sense to
me. Thanks ;-)

AOL!

I'd always wondered where the Calvert refuse depot was on the GCML -
and now I do!

I presume then that the spur to Claydon LN&E Junction is nominally
intact to allow the refuse trains to be propelled into the down siding
and thence to the pits, correct? I had heard that some of the rails on
the mothballed line between Bicester and Bletchley had been stolen.

Verney Junction diversion (Actually a Claydon LNE / Calvert diversion!)
 

"TheOneKEA" wrote

I presume then that the spur to Claydon LN&E Junction is nominally
intact to allow the refuse trains to be propelled into the down siding
and thence to the pits, correct? I had heard that some of the rails on
the mothballed line between Bicester and Bletchley had been stolen.

The line from Oxford is open for passenger trains as far as Bicester Town,
and for freight as far as Claydon LNE junction. The Avon binliner normally
comes this way, and reverses down the spur to Calvert. The line from Claydon
to Bletchley isn't currently in a fit state for trains, and ISTR that I had
heard the suggestion that some rails had been stolen.

Peter

Verney Junction diversion (Actually a Claydon LNE / Calvert diversion!)
 

In article . com,
TheOneKEA wrote:
I presume then that the spur to Claydon LN&E Junction is nominally
intact to allow the refuse trains to be propelled into the down siding
and thence to the pits, correct? I had heard that some of the rails on
the mothballed line between Bicester and Bletchley had been stolen.

The line which is closed is that from Claydon to Bletchley; as far as I
know the line from Bicester to Claydon is still usable.

--
David Wild using RISC OS on broadband

Verney Junction diversion (Actually a Claydon LNE / Calvert diversion!)
 

"Peter Masson" wrote:

The line from Claydon
to Bletchley isn't currently in a fit state for trains, and ISTR that I had
heard the suggestion that some rails had been stolen.


Unfortunately, that is true.

Verney Junction diversion (Actually a Claydon LNE / Calvert diversion!)
 

TheOneKEA wrote:

I presume then that the spur to Claydon LN&E Junction is nominally
intact to allow the refuse trains to be propelled into the down siding
and thence to the pits, correct?

The containers are removed by way of an overhead gantry crane (and the
empties replaced) which spans one of the reception roads. I'm not sure how
the Freightliner trains (the Cricklewood and the Dagenham Dock) are
processed but in the days when I used to go up there on the Northolt trains
the procedure was firstly to deposit the shunter, who would sling the points
to give access to the terminal, the train would then pull forward onto the
reception siding, the previous day's train empties would be stabled ahead of
it on the headshunt. The loco would uncouple from the arriving train, pull
forward over the crossover into the headshunt and couple to the empties. The
empties would then be taken out past the delivered train and back out onto
the 'main' line, leaving the shunter on site. The shunter would then reset
the road to bypass the terminal. The empty train would then propel back, to
collect the shunter from alongside the points, then proceeding forwards to
Aylesbury and Northolt.

Verney Junction diversion (Actually a Claydon LNE / Calvert diversion!)
 

"RPM" wrote in message
...

"Ronnie Clark"
rve.co.uk
wrote in message ...
snip
Calvert was the southern most GC-built station on the London
Extension excepting Marylebone,

Not so. It was the southern most GC station of the standard island
platform
design, but there were another 6 GC designed stations south of Calvert
(excepting Marylebone).

snippage

I guess it comes down to whether or not one counts the Neasden-Northolt
line
as part of the London Extension!

I call that the GC/GW joint line! I always understand the London extension
as specifically referring to the line built from Annesley Junction to
Quainton Road... Other connections, such as Banbury to Culworth Junction and
the GC/GW joint don't cut it with me! :)


--
Ronnie
--
Have a great day...
....Have a Great Central day.
www.greatcentralrailway.com

Verney Junction diversion (Actually a Claydon LNE / Calvert diversion!)
 

"TheOneKEA" wrote in message
ups.com...
Stimpy wrote:
On 21/1/06 16:02, "Ronnie Clark" wrote:

A map showing the approximate layout of the region before
rationalization:
http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/calvertmap.jpg

These photos, taken on May 14th 2005:
http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/calvert1.jpg
http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/calvert2.jpg
http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/calvert3.jpg

Nice one!! For the first time, the modern layout at Calvert makes sense
to
me. Thanks ;-)

I presume then that the spur to Claydon LN&E Junction is nominally
intact to allow the refuse trains to be propelled into the down siding
and thence to the pits, correct? I had heard that some of the rails on
the mothballed line between Bicester and Bletchley had been stolen.

Theoretically, Bicester to Bletchley is "open" (in the same way that
Loughborough to Ruddington was "open". The fact that in the Bletchley area
some lengths of rail were stolen, and then another section was relayed to a
different alignment (both actions therefore rendering the line
discontinuous) is neither here nor there :)

Certainly Bicester to Claydon is open in a more proper sense as trains still
pass that way to and from Calvert.

I just posted these links elsewhere, but what the hell, I'm feeling
dangerous... I got very bored and went "Google Earth"ing. I probably
shouldn't post this and if GE complain I'll take them down:

http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/grn-ash.jpg (120k)
http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/calvertarea.jpg (600k)


The first is Grendon Underwood to Ashendon Junctions, the second is more
generally the area around Calvert / Quainton Road / Verney Junction,
including the Ashendon line as far as Akeman Street.


--
Ronnie
--
Have a great day...
....Have a Great Central day.
www.greatcentralrailway.com

Verney Junction diversion (Actually a Claydon LNE / Calvert diversion!)
 

In article ,
Ronnie Clark rve.co.uk wrote:

I just posted these links elsewhere, but what the hell, I'm feeling
dangerous... I got very bored and went "Google Earth"ing. I probably
shouldn't post this and if GE complain I'll take them down:

http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/grn-ash.jpg (120k)
http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/calvertarea.jpg (600k)


The first is Grendon Underwood to Ashendon Junctions, the second is more
generally the area around Calvert / Quainton Road / Verney Junction,
including the Ashendon line as far as Akeman Street.

What a great set of pictures Ronnie, thanks very much for taking that
time! This is a powerful new tool to find the course of long closed
railways :-)

Nick
--
So when is Tony Blair going to start treating *us* with respect ?

Verney Junction diversion
 

"Peter Masson" wrote in message
...

"Jack Taylor" wrote in message
...
Verney Junction diversion
"subterraneo" wrote in
message
. uk...
Had an email from a Geoff Cole about a Verney Junction diversion in the
70s. Perhaps someone knows the date of this and could help (him) out?

Verney Junction was long gone by then. I suspect that you mean Claydon
L&NE
Junction (where the Aylesbury line diverges from the Oxford line). I do
recall reading about this myself so I'll try and ferret out some
information, if I can find it!

At that time the line between Bletchley and Claydon LNE Junction was in
use
for freight, and the line from Claydon to Aylesbury still is (see the
current thread on uk.r entitled Aylesbury Parkway North). I last travelled
the Bletchley - Claydon (- Bicester - Oxford) line on a special train on a
Network Day around 1990. By then it was not possible for a train going
that
way to call at Bletchley, as the only access was via the flyover.

About 8 years ago there were Christmas Shopping services from Aylesbury to
Milton Keynes, IIRC.

Nick

Verney Junction diversion
 

Nick Pedley wrote:

About 8 years ago there were Christmas Shopping services from
Aylesbury to Milton Keynes, IIRC.

A lot longer ago than that, I'm afraid. The last ones that I remember were
December 1989 or 1990.

Verney Junction diversion (Actually a Claydon LNE / Calvert diversion!)
 

On Sat, 21 Jan 2006 16:02:21 -0000, "Ronnie Clark"
rve.co.uk wrote:


A map showing the approximate layout of the region before rationalization:
http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/calvertmap.jpg
(Note for pedants, whilst lines are colour coded by original builders, the
spur between Claydon LNE and Calvert Junctions was a WWII innovation, and
not built by any of the original companies!)

What an invitation for pedantry! The stretch from Verney Jct to
Aylesbury was not 'originally' Metropolitan but was the Aylesbury and
Buckingham Railway (worked by the GWR). Stayed that way from 1868
until 1892 when the Met reached Aylesbury and took over the A&B.

Nice pictures, BTW - if I can find some slides I took at Calvert quite
recently of the detail of a binliner being discharged, I will scan and
put them on the web..

These photos, taken on May 14th 2005, show the area of Calvert as it is in
recent times:
http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/calvert1.jpg
http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/calvert2.jpg
http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/calvert3.jpg

In calvert1.jpg, the main running line on the right (formerly the "up" GC
line) is shown heading away north-west from Calvert station's over-bridge
(ie, towards Sheffield in old money). You'll note that in the far distance,
it suddenly veers to the right, snaking out of sight. This was the site of
Calvert Junction, the GC line previously carrying straight on to cross the
Bletchley-Oxford line. The ground-frame in the mid-ground allows the
bin-liner trains to crossover to what remains of the former "down" line,
which is now basically the refuse depot.


Guy Gorton

Verney Junction diversion (Actually a Claydon LNE / Calvert diversion!)
 

"Guy Gorton" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 21 Jan 2006 16:02:21 -0000, "Ronnie Clark"
rve.co.uk wrote:


A map showing the approximate layout of the region before
rationalization:
http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/calvertmap.jpg
(Note for pedants, whilst lines are colour coded by original builders,
the
spur between Claydon LNE and Calvert Junctions was a WWII innovation, and
not built by any of the original companies!)

What an invitation for pedantry! The stretch from Verney Jct to
Aylesbury was not 'originally' Metropolitan but was the Aylesbury and
Buckingham Railway (worked by the GWR). Stayed that way from 1868
until 1892 when the Met reached Aylesbury and took over the A&B.

So much for a 2 minute sketch :) I think I knew what I meant, and it does at
least work for illustration purposes, if not being entirely accurate :)

Nice pictures, BTW - if I can find some slides I took at Calvert quite
recently of the detail of a binliner being discharged, I will scan and
put them on the web..

Yours are good too - nice to see that the theoretically open line from
Claydon to Bletchley is at least as overgrown as the section of GC that is
now the GCR(N) was when it was still "open". I've heard at least one story
that a man doing a GCR(N) trackwalk in the early 90s was trudging through
the undergrowth and spotted a wagon to one side. As he made his way over to
it he was rather surprised to bump into Rushcliffe Halt's platform edge!

If I have time, I'll find the a couple of photos I took in and around
Quainton Road. I feel a small webpage is in order (having photographed most
of the GC from Quainton Road (Bucks) to Annesley (Notts) in the last couple
of years, I should probably do a whole site sometime...


--
Ronnie
--
Have a great day...
....Have a Great Central day.
www.greatcentralrailway.com

Verney Junction diversion (Actually a Claydon LNE / Calvert diversion!)
 

Peter Masson wrote in
:

"TheOneKEA" wrote

I presume then that the spur to Claydon LN&E Junction is nominally
intact to allow the refuse trains to be propelled into the down
siding and thence to the pits, correct? I had heard that some of the
rails on the mothballed line between Bicester and Bletchley had been
stolen.

The line from Oxford is open for passenger trains as far as Bicester
Town, and for freight as far as Claydon LNE junction. The Avon
binliner normally comes this way, and reverses down the spur to
Calvert. The line from Claydon to Bletchley isn't currently in a fit
state for trains, and ISTR that I had heard the suggestion that some
rails had been stolen.

It's always intrigued me that the Avon binliner dumps its rubbish at Calvert
rather than at the landfill site near Appleford just north of Didcot, given
the Avon trains would go past it on the way to Calvert. Not that I'm
complaining since I live near the Appleford landfill site and there's a big
enough problem already in summer with the smell and the flies.

Verney Junction diversion (Actually a Claydon LNE / Calvert diversion!)
 

On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 15:50:08 -0000, "Ronnie Clark"
rve.co.uk wrote:


Nice pictures, BTW - if I can find some slides I took at Calvert quite
recently of the detail of a binliner being discharged, I will scan and
put them on the web..

Yours are good too - nice to see that the theoretically open line from
Claydon to Bletchley is at least as overgrown as the section of GC that is
now the GCR(N) was when it was still "open". I've heard at least one story
that a man doing a GCR(N) trackwalk in the early 90s was trudging through
the undergrowth and spotted a wagon to one side. As he made his way over to
it he was rather surprised to bump into Rushcliffe Halt's platform edge!

Both LNWR platforms are still in place at Verney - if you can finsd
them! Also a nice sign at the footcrossing 'Look and listen....'.
Patience needed, I think.

If I have time, I'll find the a couple of photos I took in and around
Quainton Road. I feel a small webpage is in order (having photographed most
of the GC from Quainton Road (Bucks) to Annesley (Notts) in the last couple
of years, I should probably do a whole site sometime...

That would be interesting. I was out and about the GCR this summer to
get some pictures of various stretches to include in a slide show I
put together entitled "Watkin to Prescott" which sketched the history
of the MSLR and the GCR but focussed on the Joint Line from Grendon
Underwood as far as Gerrards Cross, Tesco and all that.
At Quainton I tried to find the exact point where the GCR joined the
Met (formerly A&B) just west of Quainton Road but failed. Lots of
other bits of the A&B to be found but that interesting spot seems to
have been thoroughly obliterated - or have you found it?


Guy Gorton

Verney Junction diversion
 

On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 12:56:43 GMT, "Jack Taylor"
wrote:

Nick Pedley wrote:

About 8 years ago there were Christmas Shopping services from
Aylesbury to Milton Keynes, IIRC.

A lot longer ago than that, I'm afraid. The last ones that I remember were
December 1989 or 1990.

Great trips with driver's blinds up on the 115s. Lots of NSE
top-brass on board. Started from Marylebone via the Joint Line and
plcked us up at Gerrards Cross. Not a fast journey, though!
Can't remember what the shops were like.

Guy Gorton

Verney Junction diversion
 

On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 18:43:24 +0000, Guy Gorton
wrote:

On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 12:56:43 GMT, "Jack Taylor"
wrote:

Nick Pedley wrote:

About 8 years ago there were Christmas Shopping services from
Aylesbury to Milton Keynes, IIRC.

A lot longer ago than that, I'm afraid. The last ones that I remember were
December 1989 or 1990.

Great trips with driver's blinds up on the 115s. Lots of NSE
top-brass on board. Started from Marylebone via the Joint Line and
plcked us up at Gerrards Cross. Not a fast journey, though!
Can't remember what the shops were like.

Guy Gorton

I did that trip sometime back in the 80's but I got on at Quainton
Road, didn't bother with the shops though as someone collected us in a
car. These days I work in MK..................

G

Verney Junction diversion (Actually a Claydon LNE / Calvertdiversion!)
 

That would be interesting. I was out and about the GCR this summer to get
some pictures of various stretches to include in a slide show I put together
entitled "Watkin to Prescott" which sketched the history of the MSLR and the
GCR but focussed on the Joint Line from Grendon Underwood as far as Gerrards
Cross, Tesco and all that. At Quainton I tried to find the exact point where
the GCR joined the Met (formerly A&B) just west of Quainton Road but failed.
Lots of other bits of the A&B to be found but that interesting spot seems to
have been thoroughly obliterated - or have you found it?


Guy Gorton



The location still exists:

http://tinyurl.com/9b6hx

http://www.pendar.pwp.blueyonder.co....ine_1.html#GCR


The bridge there still goes over the GCR (obviously) but has been filled in
where the Met line ran beneath it. Interestingly, there is a road sign on
the approach to the bridge that warns of a 'failed road'. Perhaps the road
collapsed into the Met line space rather than it being deliberately filled
in (or the filling in left something to be desired).

Many thanks to everyone who replied to this post.

Verney Junction diversion (Actually a Claydon LNE / Calvert diversion!)
 

Ronnie Clark wrote:


These photos, taken on May 14th 2005, show the area of Calvert as it is in
recent times:
http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/calvert1.jpg
http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/calvert2.jpg
http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/calvert3.jpg


Four photos of the same location from the time of the line's
construction. That site isn't well represented in search engines and the
image size is rather more stingy than those you've provided ...
apologies if none of the following turn out to be links ...

Another image from the site is a handbill for an excursion from
Leicester to Calvert. What's the visitor attraction at Calvert ??

http://www.transportarchive.org.uk/g...tv=L1 &pnum=1
http://www.transportarchive.org.uk/g...tv=L2 &pnum=1
http://www.transportarchive.org.uk/g...&mtv=L1&pnum=1
http://www.transportarchive.org.uk/g...&mtv=L3&pnum=1

Verney Junction diversion (Actually a Claydon LNE / Calvert diversion!)
 

"Mark Annand" wrote

Another image from the site is a handbill for an excursion from
Leicester to Calvert. What's the visitor attraction at Calvert ??

Goodness knows. It's a tip. ;-)

Peter

Verney Junction diversion (Actually a Claydon LNE / Calvert diversion!)
 

Mark Annand wrote:

Another image from the site is a handbill for an excursion from
Leicester to Calvert. What's the visitor attraction at Calvert ??


There used to be a very large brickworks, and some housing for the
workers, but that's about it.

Verney Junction diversion
 

On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 20:48:37 +0000, Gavin Hamilton
wrote:


These days I work in MK..................

G

Voluntarily?

Guy Gorton

Verney Junction diversion
 

On Mon, 23 Jan 2006 09:41:11 +0000, Guy Gorton
wrote:

On Sun, 22 Jan 2006 20:48:37 +0000, Gavin Hamilton
wrote:


These days I work in MK..................

G

Voluntarily?

Guy Gorton

It pays the mortgage but I've no desire to live there......

G

Verney Junction diversion (Actually a Claydon LNE / Calvert diversion!)
 

Ronnie Clark k wrote:
"TheOneKEA" wrote...
Stimpy wrote:
On 21/1/06 16:02, "Ronnie Clark" wrote:

map showing the approximate layout of the region before rationalization:
http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/calvertmap.jpg

These photos, taken on May 14th 2005:
http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/calvert1.jpg
http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/calvert2.jpg
http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/calvert3.jpg

Nice one!! For the first time, the modern layout at Calvert makes sense
to me. Thanks ;-)

I presume then that the spur to Claydon LN&E Junction is nominally
intact to allow the refuse trains to be propelled into the down siding
and thence to the pits, correct? I had heard that some of the rails on
the mothballed line between Bicester and Bletchley had been stolen.

Theoretically, Bicester to Bletchley is "open" (in the same way that
Loughborough to Ruddington was "open". The fact that in the Bletchley area
some lengths of rail were stolen, and then another section was relayed to a
different alignment (both actions therefore rendering the line
discontinuous) is neither here nor there :)

Certainly Bicester to Claydon is open in a more proper sense as trains still
pass that way to and from Calvert.

I just posted these links elsewhere, but what the hell, I'm feeling
dangerous... I got very bored and went "Google Earth"ing. I probably
shouldn't post this and if GE complain I'll take them down:

http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/grn-ash.jpg (120k)
http://www.blugman.freeserve.co.uk/calvertarea.jpg (600k)


The first is Grendon Underwood to Ashendon Junctions, the second is more
generally the area around Calvert / Quainton Road / Verney Junction,
including the Ashendon line as far as Akeman Street.

It looks as if Calvert Junction may have originally had a N-E curve. Did
it? If so, why?

Also (thinking ahead to where both lines could become important freight
routes) is there any great techincal obstacle to adding curves from the
Oxford direction to the Great Central?

--
Aidan Stanger
http://www.bettercrossrail.co.uk

Verney Junction diversion (Actually a Claydon LNE / Calvert diversion!)
 

"Aidan Stanger" wrote

It looks as if Calvert Junction may have originally had a N-E curve. Did
it? If so, why?

Also (thinking ahead to where both lines could become important freight
routes) is there any great techincal obstacle to adding curves from the
Oxford direction to the Great Central?

AFAIK there was never a N-E spur. The S-E spur was only put in in WW2. The
obvious route from Oxford to the GC (to the north) is Banbury - Woodford
Halse, while from the south, Chiltern Railways suggested spur at Bicester
seems a better option.

Peter