16. The UAM Explorer Farewell-13.09.80

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-1980 > 16. The UAM Explorer Farewell-13.09.80

A roadtour (as opposed to a railtour) around the Chilterns in UAM the orange Mini complete with a large headboard attached to the radiator grill! This event, that did grab the attention of some 'normals' as they went about their business, was to commemorate the last trip in UAM 736J before its retirement. Graham and I undertook a survey of signalling and stations on the former GW route around Aylesbury, Princes Risborough and High Wycombe.

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Images 1-17 of 17 displayed.

UAM 736J, prior to departure, outside Sunrise
Outside our family house in Winsley, UAM 736J looks good having had a celebratory clean and polish prior to its final trip out before retirement. Graham produced a superb headboard, seen attached to the front of the radiator grill, that will have done nothing for the airflow through the engine but luckily it was a relatively cool day! My late father's love of gardening can be seen in this photograph with his show-stopping dahlias and geraniums appearing to be blooming well into September.
Keywords: UAM 736J Mini outside Sunrise Winsley

UAM 736J, outside White Pond Farm between Pishill & Stonor
UAM 736J stands outside White Pond Farm located between Pishill and Stonor deep in the Chiltern countryside. Despite appearances, UAM the ten-year-old Mini, was rusty in all the usual places, namely the lower valance, wing tops and B posts, rear arches and subframe mounts with Graham taking regular remedial action to keep the worst of the rot at bay. However, after his father had gifted him a beige Austin 1100 (UVJ 129J) the Mini had to be retired. Coincidentally, this particular location and a remarkably similar view features on the Wikipedia page for the village of Stonor, .....https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonor#/media/File:Whitepond_Farm,_Stonor_-_geograph.org.uk_-_39067.jpg Also, this spot featured in the James Bond The Living Daylights with the farmhouse entrance marking the spot where the lethal hitman Necros, played by Andreas Wisniewski, attacks the regular milkman before taking on his identity to then cause havoc and snatch back KGB General Georgi Koskov.
Keywords: UAM 736J White Pond Farm between Pishill & Stonor

Headboard, UAM 736J, outside White Pond Farm between Pishill & Stonor
I was very impressed with Graham's skills at producing the impressive headboard carried by UAM throughout the day; I never knew that he had it in him! Unlike on railtours, there was no charity auction for the headboard on the way home but I believe that Graham still has it to this day! This image was taken during a photo stop outside White Pond farm between Pishill and Stonar deep in the Chilterns. These villages neighbour Turville and incredibly unspoilt and picture-perfect village that has been used in many productions including such classics as The Day Of The Triffids, Killing Eve, Little Britain and Goodnight Mr. Tom.
Keywords: Headboard UAM 736J outside White Pond Farm between Pishill & Stonor Mini

High Wycombe station
In this view at High Wycombe station, it wreaks of the GWR both in terms of the station canopy design, the array of lower quadrant signals and the large Type 11 signal box dating from 1905. However, six years before this photograph was taken BR transferred the Marylebone to Birmingham route through the Chilterns from the Western Region to the Midland. The station had offset platforms due to the railways rather confined route through the town hugging to the side of a hill. In this view, the through fast lines are still in place but they were removed in the next two years as part of BR's covert plans to deliberately run down the line in an attempt to make a case for its closure including Marylebone.
Keywords: High Wycombe station GWR

Signalling, High Wycombe station
Some of the superb GWR signalling to the east of High Wycombe station. Of particular interest is the lovely gantry of starter signals that is part supported by the railway's retaining wall. Of the original five dolls, three remain and they are all fitted with wooden centre-pivot arms in an effort to save space. Also, notice the rather grand down inner home bracket that supports three dolls all at different heights indicating their relative importance. The highest one to the left (in this view) will be for the down fast line. Notice The Belle Vue pub in the background with its distinctive Watneys sign hanging from the front. Amazingly, this pub is still there on Gordon Road but is now marketed as The BV but with not a hint of Watneys' beer in sight!
Keywords: Signalling High Wycombe station

Running in board, Saunderton station
Looking as though it has a had a recent coat of paint but looking a little down on its luck is the rather grand running in board on Saunderton station. This was a common design to the GWR with examples found all over with some actually still in use today but I am not absolutely sure of the providence of the example at Torre, see.. https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/24745327604/running-boards-bench-torre-station
Keywords: Running in board Saunderton station GWR

UAM 736J, GGV & me, taking lunch, Saundertton station
Graham (right) and yours truly (sitting on the wall) often used to get odd looks when we set up and had a brew! I suspect that we frequently were breaking some by-law or other by doing this, especially when firing up the primus stove as is the case here witnessed by the steam emanating from the rather beaten pan. UAM the Mini proudly wears its headboard but it appears that the car needs a visit to Graham's local garage to have its hydrolastic suspension system pumping judging by the way it is sinking at the rear. Saunderton station car park is totally different from this now with the building behind demolished and a new housing estate built
Keywords: UAM 736J Saundertton station

Princes Risborough station
Princes Risborough station looks very run down in this photograph but is dripping with GWR character! The bay platform in the foreground now serves the shuttle service that operated between here and Aylesbury but judging by the rusty railhead I am not sure that this was the case back in 1980. The down bracket signal stands to the right controlled by the nearby signal box that still stands today now being in the care of the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway. BR had rationalised and altered the track layout over the previous few years at the same time taking the former down platform out of use, notice it is taken over by greenery in the background. The track layout was a chaotic and inefficient one being part of BR's stealth plan to close the whole line that luckily did not come to pass.
Keywords: Princes Risborough station

Frontage, Princes Risborough station
The classically styled Princes Risborough station is a superb basis for the modeller retaining many of its GWR characteristics. Notice the period advertisements, close examination reveals that they are affixed to a number of British Railways (W) enamelled headed boards; I wonder where these went when they were removed? Thankfully, the station looks very similar to this today if in rather better condition. The only real change is that the classically styled footbridge in front of UAM has been replaced by a ghastly modern modular structure. In addition, when this photograph was taken the station and the line from Marylebone was in a parlous state with BR deliberately running it down thus making a case for its closure. Now, it is once again one of the primary trunk routes out from London with double track throughout and new and modern express trains. UAM the orange Mini is joined by a Mk. II Ford Cortina Super in the station car park.
Keywords: Frontage Princes Risborough station

Monks Risborough & Whiteleaf halt
Monks Risborough and Whiteleaf halt was opened by the GWR 01.11.29 and is seen here pretty much as it had always been. I absolutely love the waiting shelter precariously mounted on the platform ramp and turned through ninety degrees. The station is still in use today on the Princes Risborough to Aylesbury line, now named just Monks Risborough. It has been extended with facilities now a little better than is seen here. Sadly, the GWR wooden running-in board is no longer present.
Keywords: Monks Risborough & Whiteleaf halt

Running in board, Little Kimble station
The rather tatty looking running-in board at, erhhhhh, Little Kimble! This one is constructed of some sort of metal with the letters painted on rather than being of timber construction like a lot of the other GWR signs. The posts appear, however, to be of wood. Little Kimble is another small station on the short section of line between Aylesbury and Princes Risborough.
Keywords: Running in board, Little Kimble station

Wendover signal box (Met, 1889)
The Metropolitan Railway (or Met. for short) has a fascinating history that books have been written about. More normally associated with the more traditional underground lines the company also expanded deep into Buckinghamshire with its northern extension terminating in the village of Brill just south of Bicester. Their signal boxes were of a very distinctive design being almost square, with this one at Wendover being their standard size at approximately seventeen by twelve feet. They usually came with the three window bays on the ends and front and came with the differently orrientated timber strip work to the panels that mirrored the windows. They certainly are a delightful design and very different to some of the austere designs that emerged over the years, for example at Kettering Junction, see.... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/29663552604/kettering-junction-signal-box Wendover box opened in 1889 and closed in 1984 with control moving to the newly constructed Marylebone control box. It's a shame in this photograph that the high tension wire pylons in the immediate background spoil the scene somewhat. These particular monstrosities start their march through the Chilterns at Uxbridge (West London) and end up at a large substation deep in the countryside south-west of Winslow.
Keywords: Wendover signal box Metropolitan Railway

Class 115 DMU, stabled, Aylesbury station
After a largely dull day by the time we were about to head for home the sun came out! Graham and I reached Aylesbury station to find it eerily quiet on a Saturday afternoon. Looking south-east from the platform end reveals some lovely mechanical signalling controlled by the 1908 Great Central box. The thirty-eight miles route south of here to London was jointly operated by the Great Central and Metropolitan railways giving rise to an interesting and eclectic mix of infrastructure.
Keywords: Class 115 DMU Aylesbury station

Class 115 DMU, 16.40 Aylesbury-London Marylebone, Aylesbury station
A Class 115 DMU stands in Aylesbury station. The unit will soon leave with the 16.40 to Marylebone with one of the smart blue and grey recently refurbished DMBS cars leading an unrefurbished TCL in all-over blue. The staff at Aylesbury station obviously made an effort to keep the station as smart as possible witnessed by the flower beds on the platforms with some lovely roses appearing to be thriving. The station seen here dates from 1926 and was constructed then by an interesting joint committee who operated the line composed of the GWR & GCR Joint, the Metropolitan and GCR Joint and, incredibly the LNER as they largely had taken over the GCR's operations by this time.
Keywords: Class 115 DMU 16.40 Aylesbury-London Marylebone Aylesbury station

Class 115 DMU, & Graham, stabled, Aylesbury station
There remains a footbridge to this date that spans the lines just north of Aylesbury station with this view looking south-east almost unchanged. However, the scene differs in a number of ways, the Class 115 DMU has been replaced by second-generation Turbo units. Interestingly, this was the last place that first-generation DMUS were in use of the national network, see... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/24657774604/x121034-ecs-aylesbury-station In addition to the change of motive power, the mechanical signalling has all been wiped away and more recently the lovely glazed but semi-open footbridge has been replaced by an access legislation compliant version that has done nothing for the aesthetics of the station. Notice Graham walking along platform four taking in the atmosphere.
Keywords: Class 115 DMU Aylesbury station

Platform 2, Aylesbury station
The view looking roughly south along Aylsebury's platform two is characterised by its absence of travellers. I am sure that on a weekday morning this would be a little different with many commuters packed on the narrow platform heading for London by one of two routes, either directly to Marylebone or via the Metropolitan Line that they would pick up at Amersham. Notice the platform placed down starter signal that looks as if it could make contact with the head of a tall passenger innocently standing underneath it when it was pulled off!
Keywords: Platform 2 Aylesbury station

UAM 736J, after arrival home, by Winsley war memorial
Unfortunately, a little out of focus UAM the Mini is seen after arriving home from its final day still wearing its UAM Explorer Farewell headboard. Graham dropped me outside my parents' house in Winsley and headed off into the September night for the final time with the Mini being taken off the road. I am not absolutely sure what Graham did with the car and whether it lived on, unfortunately, no DVLA records exist.

2022 update....Graham informs me that the Mini was bought in 1976 for the princely sum of £340 (when it was then six years old) and he sold it just after this trip to the Chilterns for £250. He last saw it locally on the road to him in 1981.
Keywords: UAM 736J Mini after arrival home Winsley war memorial

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