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The excellent Ian Allan
"Western Sunset" railtour of 22nd September 1962 has been referred to on an earlier page
(No Banker at Yetminster). The final section of the tour, from
Cheltenham Spa St James to Kingham, Oxford, High Wycombe, and Paddington
was in the hands of 2-6-0 no 7336, which had been assisted up to
Notgrove by 2-6-2T no 5154. I had made arrangements to be picked up at
Oxford, and so intended to alight there. |
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And so, shortly after 7pm, we approached Oxford, where
we stopped. There was just one problem. We were on the centre road.
Presumably the signalman was not aware that we were due to set down. |
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Some hasty consultation took place, and it was decided not to shunt the
train into the platform road, but to disembark the passengers on to the
ballast, over the platform road, and to assist them, ie let them climb,
ladies included, up on to the platform. |
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So, having made my way on to the platform, I continued to the station car park, where my girlfriend Janet
was waiting for me in my limo, actually my Mini Van 4874 FD. She had
dropped me off at Paddington at 8.30am, in good time for the 8.50am
booked departure, and had driven to, and spent the day at, Chelmsford
with friends. |
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The Western Sunset was one of the most enjoyable rail tours that I have
ever been on, and the contretemps at Oxford added to it's enjoyment.
What a pity that it is no longer possible to travel over the Somerset &
Dorset and Cheltenham to Kingham lines.
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