Banbury yards and freight
This topic will break into several parts as I develop it:
1 - Banbury Junction 2 - Banbury North and marshalling yards 3 - Banbury South and goods shed 4 - Approaching and leaving - Claydon - Cropredy - Twyford Bridge - Kings's Sutton - Shipton-on-Cherwell
After some scene-setting pictures in each case, additions will be in chronological order.
New additions placed here temporarily.
In geographical order, from north to south.
Looking down from the overbridge on the north side of the village of Cropredy, once a beautiful location and now a tunnel of trees, ex-GWR 2-8-0 No 2820 is climbing the bank between Banbury and Fenny Compton (it's 1:179 here) with a northbound ironstone train.
Note the long siding on the Up side, a refuge towards the yards at Banbury. In the distance, it's just possible to see Cropredy station - the signal box, goods shed, and if you squint, the platforms. There is no date for this picture and all I can say is that the station was closed in 1956 and the loco was at Didcot and Reading in 1954 and Ebbw Jc from October 1956 (wdn in 1958). The best I can suggest, then, is c.1956. Photo: Author's collection.
Click on the image for an enlargement
Looking into the sun on a fine evening in May 1961, 4925 Eynsham Hall of 81A Oak Oak Common is passing Banbury South on the Up main line with a Code H unclassed through freight. Note that over half of the coal trucks visible here were still wooden. Photo: S.V. Blencowe Collection.
Click on the image for an enlargement
It's June 1961 and 2-8-0 No 2894 (Ebbw Jc) is approaching Banbury South with a Down manually braked Code F express freight. Leading are two fish vans. Note how high the small tender has been piled with coal. Photo: Author's collection.
Click on the image for an enlargement
I close with three views at Adderbury, which was the first station beyond King's Sutton on the Banbury-Cheltenham Direct line. Many pictures were taken of the passenger services but few of the rather less frequent pick-up goods traffic.
The first was taken off the Banbury-Oxford road, looking west, as Banbury's 2251 Class No 2259 emerges from the mist on 31st December 1955 with the Kingham-Banbury pick-up.
It had been a wet season and the line is partly flooded. In the background is St. Mary's church. Photo: F.A. Blencowe.
Click on the image for an enlargement
A charming undated view of Adderbury station, looking west towards the bridge carrying the Oxford Road. This is the point where the double track from King's Sutton ended, single from here towards Cheltenham. The offset signal is the starter towards King's Sutton.
The passenger service was withdrawn in 1951 (line closure was not until 1969) and the onset of weeds on the platform suggests a date in the early 1950s. Photo: R.K. Blencowe Negative Archive.
Click on the image for an enlargement
Three years before closure (this view was taken in February 1966) sees what was probably one of Banbury's 9Fs shunting a pick-up goods from Banbury. The yard looks quite busy with vans on both sidings. The train is on the Down line towards Banbury. I am not sure how far along the line 9Fs were allowed!
The track to the right, comprising a fairly long siding with a run-round loop and cross-over to the goods yard, had been built to serve ironstone quarries in the high ground to the south of the station, the track in the foreground curving off towards them. The workings became intermittent after the Great War and ceased altogether before WW2 but the track seen here was retained and occasionally used to store covered vans. Photo: R.S. Carpenter.
Click on the image for an enlargement
1 - Banbury Junction
Banbury Junction signal box as seen from a passing train. 13th August 1977. Photo: Gulliver Colletion.
A view from the signal cabin in October 1948 shows the ex-GCR "Banbury Branch" and its holding sidings. The ex-GWR marshalling yard was to the right. On the Birmingham-Banbury line, a Hall is approaching with a Parcels/ECS train. Photo: Patrick Whitehouse, Millbrook House.
Another view from the signal box, the same day. A Class C goods is coming off the Banbury Branch headed by a WD 2-8-0, No 77318. Photo: Patrick Whitehouse, Millbrook House.
It's 20th July 1946 looking off what used to be called the "waterworks road" bridge which crossed the middle of the north yards and had to be extended when the yards were expanded during WWII.
A pair of 2-8-0s is drifting by, led by LMS No 8423 with a GWR ex-ROD loco behind, No 3076. A year after WWII, both are pretty scruffy. Photo: H.C. Casserley
Click on the image for an enlargement
The same location as above on 22nd August 1959 with ex-GWR 2-8-0 No 2844 reversing along the Up goods loop. The bridge remains today, along with the Up loop by the running lines, but everything else has gone, a housing estate stands where the yards used to be, and a bypass has been built across the scene, spoiling what had for long remained a fine sight. Isn't there a Latin phrase for these things - sic transit gloria (mundi) - "thus passes the glory (of the world)"? S.V.Blencowe collection.
Revised caption Seen at the same location, Reading's "Castle" No 4074 Caldicot Castle is heading north with a fully fitted freight. 29th June 1961. Photo: S.V.Blencowe collection.
2 - Banbury North and the marshalling yards
Banbury North Signal Box on 13th August 1977, from a passing train. Photo: Gulliver Collection.
Banbury North Signal Box looking south on 27th March 1976. Photo: M. Green collection.
Part of the marshalling yards and the out-buildings at Banbury North. 34077 603 Squadron is passing light engine prior to setting back towards the loco sheds. April 1966. Photo: R.K. Blencowe Negative Archive.
A ground-level view at Banbury north with the former stables looking very smart. 6934 Beachamwell Hall (Shrewsbury) is passing with a fully fitted vans/parcels train. 8th August 1964. Photo: F.A. Blencowe.
WD 2-8-0 90069 (88A Cardiff Canton) runs past Banbury North with a track train on 29th June 1962. My apologies for the blurry right hand side; this was taken by a Halina camera. Photo: D. Battersby.
Reading's Modified Hall 7926 Willey Hall leaves the yards via the up loop on 16th May 1964. Photo: believed to be by Les Hanson.
The steam era has ended but most of the buildings remained in use, such as these opposite Banbury North signal box. 11th July 1977. Photo: Gulliver collection.
3 - Banbury South
Banbury South Signal Box seen in relatively modern times (1997). The box is little changed but grass is rampant between the rails leading to the "Cattle Market sidings", as they became known. Photo: R.K. Blencowe.
Looking north out of the signal box with the goods shed well filled with wagons. This building was to last until the early 1980s. A Black Five, No 45132 is in the South Bay Platform. 27th August 1966. Photo F.A. Blencowe.
A scene round the back of the goods shed in trhe late 1970s. For details of the Lowmac see topic about BR period rolling stock. Photo: author.
Click on the image for an enlargement
A rare picture from the South Signal Box on 23rd January 1965 showing the Up Main Line signal "off" for a through train while 8F No 48351 is turned out of the Up Goods Loop with a mixed freight onto the long loop that ran as far as Astrop, where it will eventually be allowed onto the Up Main Line. Photo: F.A. Blencowe.
Looking south from Banbury South signal box on 3rd September 1966 as the last Bournemouth-York approaches. This was the last day of services on a large part of the GCR's London Extension that closed this day. Ex-SR "West Country" 34034 Honiton was in charge.
The three-post junction signals on the left controlled the turn-off into the Up Goods Loop as far as Astrop; the Up Main Line; and to the engine shed, visible in the distance.
The home and distant signals seen from behind are for the down, main platform, and the bay platform where the train is heading, next stop. The enlargement shows train spotters all over the place, but also from left to right : the loco repair shed, the running shed, and the coaling stage. Photo: S.V.Blencowe collection.
Click on the image for an enlargement
In the sidings south of the station and goods yard, with the loco shed visible in the background, stand the empties of a Homing Pigeon Special, getting ready for the return working behind a Sheffield B1, No 61109. It was a Saturday and it looks like some young trainspotters were not being welcomed! On the right, Brian Clark is leaving on his moped. 1st May 1963. Photo: F.A. Blencowe.
Click on the image for an enlargement
Having set the scene, general views follow, in chronological sequence.
Ex-ROD 3031 approaches Banbury from the south with coal empties. 29th October 1950. Photo: R.J. Buckley.
It's 15th June 1952 as the Dorrington milk passes the goods shed on its approach to Banbury from the south behind a Woodford B1, No 61083, presumably re-routed via Bicester. In the background stands 2920 Saint David with an SLS Tour, the "Saint David Tour". More on this later when I add a section about passenger traffic. Photo: R.J. Buckley.
Click on the image for an enlargement
A "Pom-pom" J11 from Woodford Halse, No 64388, waits in the Down Goods Loop with a Class F unfitted goods train. Behind, Banbury's coaling stage looms in the mist. 23rd August 1955. Photo: F.A. Blencowe.
Click on the image for an enlargement
92009 heads south on the Up Main Line with a through freight. In the background, the old gasometer is being dismantled. 20th August 1959. Photo: R.K. Blencowe.
"Grange" No 6868 Penrhos Grange runs through the station on an evening, past Banbury South signal box with a Class H partly-fitted freight, seven vans with AVB behind the tender. 4th June 1960. Photo: S.V. Blencowe Collection.
Click on the image for an enlargement
A fine sight on Christmas Eve in 1960, as 9F 92163 leaves a filthy exhaust on its way past Banbury South Signal Box. My guess is that the crew was keen to get home! Photo: R.K. Blencowe.
6803 Bucklebury Grange (84E Tyseley) at Banbury South with a fully fitted, Down freight, 5th May 1962. Photo F.A. Blencowe.
A train of ballast hopper wagons heads south behind 28xx 2-8-0 No 2873, at the time allocated to Aberdare. 7th July 1962. Photo: F.A. Blencowe.
Click on the image for an enlargement
Didcot's 2-8-0 No 2836 passes through the station on a murky 24th November in 1962 with a Class 6 goods (20% AVB). Most of the train has been made up with vans but open wagons are still to be seen. Photo: Mick Green collection.
A grand memory of the long cold winter of 1963 as 9F No 92224, one of Banbury's allocation, moves an unfitted through freight out of the station goods yard. 2nd February 1963. Photo: F.A. Blencowe.
Click on the image for an enlargement
A murky day at Banbury South in April 1963 sees WD 2-8-0 No 90443 on a down partly fitted, Class 7 Express Freight which looks to me like coal empties at the head of which 4 vans have been placed. The loco was allocated to 40B Immingham and may have been heading for the Banbury Branch and the GC London Extension. Photo: P.J.Suter, J. Suter collection.
Click on the image for an enlargement
Didcot's 6909 Frewin Hall at Banbury South, being allowed out of the Up Goods Loop onto the Main Line with a southbound coal train. 15th June 1963. Photo: F.A. Blencowe.
It's late September in 1963 and 9F No 92122 (15A Leicester) is attacking the gradient through Banbury with what may be fish empties, with other stuff on the rear because it's a Code 5 part-fitted express freight with at least 50% AVB. 27th September 1963. Photo: F.A. Blencowe.
Click on the image for an enlargement
It's hard to tell how much of this wild exhaust is for real and how much has been added for effect by the darkroom printer but, either way, 9F 92116 looks like it has just set off with a Class 8 non-AVB through freight and is passing Banbury South signal box. 14th April 1964.
Click on the image for an enlargement
Pictures with the shunters in the scene are rare and with one standing by with his pole, I can't tell if Didcot's 6937 Conymgham Hall has just uncoupled from a Class 8 non-AVB through goods and is going to run into the engine shed, or is about to take over. 14th July 1964. Photo: S.V. Blencowe collection.
Click on the image for an enlargement
An 8F from Woodford Halse, No 48010, makes its way past Banbury South with a Class 6 express frieght, partly fitted with AVB (at least 20% of the vehicles) and allowed up to 45mph. 14th September 1965.
Click on the image for an enlargement
Another working on the same day as WD 2-8-0 runs northwards past the signal box with an unidentified freight. The shed plate on No 90699 looks like 55A Holbeck but it may have been 55E Normanton, between Wakefield and Leeds, where the former Midland Railway had built exchange sidings. 14th September 1965.
Click on the image for an enlargement
One of Banbury's "Halls", No 6904 Charfield Hall approaches from the south with a Class 6 freight, commonly called a "pick up goods". A steel open and a van are at the head. Photo: Peter Groom.
With its safety valves blowing off, WD No 90136 emerges from the Up Goods Loop onto the Up Main Line with a southbound coal train on 2nd January 1965. This was a Canklow loco and it was probably hauling coal from the South Yorkshire or Nottinghamshire coalfield, having crossed over to the WR via the Banbury Branch. Photo: S.V. Blencowe collection.
This appears to be a crew or loco change on the Down main line by the engine shed with a Didcot "Hall", No 4962 Ragley Hall, at the head of a Class F unfitted freight. Most of the train comprises empty steel mineral wagons, to which five sheeted opens have been added. 30th March 1965. Photo: Gordon Coltas.
Click on the image for an enlargement
Modified Hall No 6963 Throwley Hall of Didcot, in its last few months of service, stands by Banbury Loco on Wednesday, 12th May 1965. It would be withdrawn in July and is already missing its nameplates, smokebox number and even its shedplate. It is standing at the head of a train of coal empties, but the Class 0 headlamp code suggests a change of loco. Photo S.V.Blencowe collection, G250.
Click on the image for an enlargement
Judging by the lights, this looks like a change of loco on a parcels train with a Banbury "Black Five" at the head of a parcels train. 29th April 1966. Photo: G.W. Sharpe.
Click on the image for an enlargement
A final view from Banbury South signal box with the goods and coal yard visible in the distance. Riddles 9F No 92247 is drifting by from the Up goods loop. This was Banbury steam shed's last month. 3rd September 1966. Photo: F.A.Blencowe.
4 - Approaching & leaving
I don't propose to stray too far but some good pictures were taken of regional freight workings leaving or approaching the yards at Banbury and they can help broaden the picture. The sequence is from north to south.
North of Banbury
In 1964 "Prairie" tanks from Leamington Spa were still working trips to Banbury and this is No 4171 near Claydon on the descent from Fenny Compton, passing under the SMJ, with a Class 8 through freight (not fitted with AVB and limited to 35mph). Many of the vans would have been equipped with AVB, including a long wheelbase SR PMV, but at the head is a delivery of coal in manually-braked steel mineral wagons being shuttled to Banbury. Photo: Les Hanson.
Click on the image for an enlargement
This location has changed enormously. It's just north of Cropredy and where there was once a well-maintained grassy cutting , today is a tunnel of mature trees. Ex-LMS Black 5 No 44839, from Burton (16F) is descending the last few miles to Banbury with another Code 7 unfitted express freight. 16th May 1964. Photo believed to be by Les Hanson.
Click on the image for an enlargement
South of Banbury
A location familiar to modern eyes, the view from Twyford Bridge with King's Sutton on the hill in the distance. One of Tyseley's 9Fs No 92212 is heading north with Code 7 (unfitted express) coal empties. 8-11-60. Photo: F.A. Blencowe.
Click on the image for an enlargement
A fine sunny day at a well-known location (Twyford Bridge) at the same time of the year as at the moment, early May, with the hawthorns in bloom, sees Reading's recently shopped No 5986 Arbury Hall passing with a down short fitted freight. No date but my estimate would be the early 1960s. Colour-Rail BRW 890.
Click on the image for an enlargement
Shipton-on-Cherwell
Bereft of shed and nameplates, Oxford's "Hall" No 6910 Gossington Hall is not the prettiest of sights as, on a Down parcels train with a clear road, it passes the cement works near Shipton-on-Cherwell. 29th July 1965. Photo: R.K. Blencowe.
Click on the image for an enlargement
A scene at Shipton-in-Cherwell cement works on 29th July 1965 as Reading's No 6924 Grantley Hall drifts down the gradient with a Class 8 Express Freight with the lowest amount of fitted wagons. The ex-GWR signals are off in the opposite direction. Photo: R. Brough, R.K.Blencowe Archive.
Click on the image for an enlargement
Another view at Shipton-on-Cherwell on the same day looking in the other direction as 56xx 0-6-2T No 6697 leaves the sidings and heads towards Banbury with a Class 7 Express Freight that is not fully fitted. Which is an understatement seeing as the train is mostly coal empties! 29-7-65. Photo: R. Brough, R.K.Blencowe Archive.
Click on the image for an enlargement
To be continued....
Banbury station pictures are here.
Banbury express passenger pictures are here.
Banbury loco shed pictures are here.
Banbury light engines are here.
Banbury signal box pictures are here.
