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

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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!

"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

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.

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.

"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

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.

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

"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

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