58. Trip back from Didcot-23.08.19

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2019 > 58. Trip back from Didcot-23.08.19

After selling my mum's old car (following the installation of a replacement engine) I drove it to exchange the car at Didcot. After the deal was done, I caught the train back to Bicester Parkway where I was then forced to take an X5 bus to Milton Keynes and an X6 back to home in Roade. I enjoyed the rail travel but the busses were tiresome and proportionally a lot more expensive. This journey perfectly illustrates the need for the prompt re-opening of the East-West rail link beyond Bicester.

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Images 1-7 of 7 displayed.

802101, GW 12.00 Oxford-London Paddington (1P26, RT) & 66150, 09.47 Southampton Western Docks-Birch Coppice (4M71), Didcot Parkway station
Despite Didcot's recent transformation and the virtually complete change in trains that pass through, it remains a mecca for spotters. I counted at least half a dozen on the station, most were of the older generation it has to be said! In this image, two of them observe 802101 passing on the avoider line with the 12.00 Oxford to Paddington whilst 66150 heads north on the down line leading the 4M71 09.47 Southampton Western Docks to Birch Coppice Freightliner. This picture also illustrates the ruinous effect of the installation of the wiring and all its paraphernalia for the railway photographer.
Keywords: 802101 12.00 Oxford-London Paddington 1P26 66150 09.47 Southampton Western Docks-Birch Coppice Didcot Parkway station

800316, GW 11.36 London Paddington-Cheltenham (1G29, 1E), Didcot Parkway station
Taken the wrong side of the sun but Photoshop did a reasonable job to produce a decent image. 800316 drifts into Didcot station forming the 11.36 Paddington to Cheltenham Spa. When it had come to halt, it lowered its pantographs and the engines fired up. I presume that it then ran all the way to its destination on diesel power.
Keywords: 800316 11.36 London Paddington-Cheltenham 1G29 Didcot Parkway station

165133, GW 12.30 Didcot Parkway-Oxford (2L34, 2L), Didcot Parkway station
My train from Didcot to Oxford waits to leave Didcot parkway station formed by 165133. The 12.30 is just one of many shuttles that run between the two stations throughout the day, their departures and arrivals connecting with a stopper from Paddington formed of a class 377 electric; gone are the days of through stoppers with the wiring finishing at Didcot. The interior re-fresh of the Turbos is commendable with them being clean, comfortable and roomy.
Keywords: 165133 12.30 Didcot Parkway-Oxford 2L34 Didcot Parkway station

66009, 10.34 Southampton Eastern Docks-Halewood (6M48), Oxford station
66009 is a photographic 'cop' so I was pleased to see it waiting in the centre road at Oxford station even if I was the wrong side for the sun! It is waiting for the road north with the 10.34 Southampton Eastern Docks to Halewood empty cartics. It seems a bit of a waste hauling a train of fresh air all that distance but I suppose there is not a lot else can be done considering that it has earned its keep doing the journey south fully loaded with cars for export. Despite all the improvements at Oxford, it remains chronically overcrowded and is a major pinch-point on the network for control to try and manage.
Keywords: 66009 10.34 Southampton Eastern Docks-Halewood Oxford station

168106, CH 13.39 Oxford-London Marylebone (1Y45, 1L), Oxford station
After breaking my journey and nipping into the city centre I returned to catch the next leg of my somewhat contorted journey home. 168108 stands in the bay platform five that I would take as far as Bicester Village as the 13.39 to London Marylebone. It was as shame that on such a hot day most of the carriages did not have their air conditioning working, and with no windows to open this made for quite an unpleasant environment.
Keywords: 168106 13.39 Oxford-London Marylebone 1Y45 Oxford station

66009, 10.34 Southampton Eastern Docks-Halewood & 800001, GW 11.57 Worcester Foregate Street-London Paddington (1P29, 1E), Oxford station
As soon as 800001 has come to a halt at Oxford station working the 1P29 11.57 Worcester Foregate Street to Paddington, 66009 will get underway with the 10.34 Southampton Eastern Docks to Halewood empty cartics working.
Keywords: 66009 10.34 Southampton Eastern Docks-Halewood 800001 11.57 Worcester Foregate Street-London Paddington 1P29 Oxford station

Ticket, Didcot Parkway-Bicester Village
My walk-on off-peak single ticket from Didcot to Bicester Village was a very reasonable £8.60. Good value when one considers the environment in which I was travelling and the speed. The two bus journies onwards from Bicester to Milton Keynes and thence to Roade cost a total £16 and took an absolute earth. In addition, they were chronically late taking over two hours to do the journey with the second bus being extremely hot and unpleasant. Off course, there was no representative from Stagecoach handing out delay-repay forms when I arrived at my destination!
Keywords: Ticket,Didcot Parkway-Bicester Village

Images 1-7 of 7 displayed.