18. 5A68 & Bicester Village-16.04.16

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2016 > 18. 5A68 & Bicester Village-16.04.16

Despite it being the middle of April what a miserable day! As I walked to photograph the unusual 5A68 move it was snowing! Later in the day it was still cold and grey so we went to Bicester Village in order for my wife and son to spend lots of our hard-eared cash! Whilst they were doing this, I made my first visit to the station that had reopened less than a year earlier.

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68015, 57307 & 37405, 07.23 Crewe Coal Sidings-Willesden (5A68), site of Roade station
In absolutely foul and cold weather a convoy composed of 68015, 57307 'Lady Penelope', 37405 and a Mk.II DRS coach pass the site of Roade station as the 07.23 Crewe Coal Sidings to Willesden 5A68 move. I never actually discovered what this eclectic set of locomotives were making the move for? Either way, I was mightily pleased to get home and warm up!
Keywords: 68015 57307 37405 07.23 Crewe Coal Sidings-Willesden 5A68 site of Roade station

168003, 14.17 Oxford Parkway-London Marylebone (1Y35), Bicester Village station
The 1Y35 Chiltern 14.17 Oxford to Marylebone arrives at Bicester Village station formed of 168003. This was my first visit to the newly completed station at Bicester. Quite a transformation from the tiny single platform affair with just a waiting shelter that it replaced as part of the multi-million pound rebuilding of the line between Oxford and the Chiltern mainline. This is supposed to be the first phase of the reinstatement of the entire Varsity Line linking Oxford with Cambridge.....I won't hold my breath!
Keywords: 168003 14.17 Oxford Parkway-London Marylebone 1Y35 Bicester Village station

168218, 13.30 London Marylebone-Oxford Parkway (1T35), Bicester Village station
168218 leaves Bicester Village station with the 13.30 Marylebone to Oxford Parkway service. It is passing under the huge footbridge that has been installed to carry the huge numbers of visitors to the adjacent Bicester Village retail outlet. This is very popular with foreign visitors who can now travel rapidly from London arriving in less than an hour.
Keywords: 168218 13.30 London Marylebone-Oxford Parkway 1T35 Bicester Village station

Frontage, Bicester Village station
The striking frontage of Bicester Village station that was reopened on 25th October last year (2015). Without local consultation, it was announced that it would be named Bicester Village in deference to the adjacent outlet village of the same name. It is likely that the numbers using the station will shoot through the roof now it has direct links to London and Oxford.
Keywords: Bicester Village station

Looking SW from Bicester level crossing
Still looking very sanitised having only been opened six months Bicester Village station is seen from the level crossing where London Road crosses the line. Ironically, Bicester London Road was the name given to the station between 1954 and closure in 1968. There has been a station on the site from when the Buckinghamshire Railway opened the first one in 1850.
Keywords: Looking SW from Bicester level crossing

Images 1-5 of 5 displayed.