Cross – Country journey, 1967..courtesy of to A.G.S .Davies
An appointment in Cambridge gave the writer the chance of a first journey on the Oxford-Cambridge line, one that has been under the closure "glare" but seems to have survived for the time being.
The 0944 two-car dmu on 17th February 1967 was adequately full on leaving Oxford: most of the passengers went through to Cambridge and there was quite a bit of intermediate traffic at Bicester, Bletchley and Bedford. Running was easy to Bicester, with a stop at Islip; some delay at Bicester made us 4 minutes late away and the driver used full power wherever possible thereafter. 60mph after Marsh Gibbon was followed by a series of permanent way slacks: 15mph, 30mph and 15mph. After recovering to 40 mph at Winslow summit, the descent to Bletchley was taken at full speed, 67 mph being recorded past the Swanbourne yards, which were plentifully occupied, a Hymek, Type 2’s and Brush Type 4’s being noted.
The delay at Bicester meant that we were unable to run into Bletchley station, without delaying the down "Royal Scot", hence a 4 minute signal stop outside, in the shadow of the flyover. Lateness amounted to 7 minutes on leaving Bletchley but good speed was now made, with 65-67 mph through the brickworks country. This swift progress was brought suddenly to a halt by a signal stop just beyond Stewartby (11 miles from Bletchley in 12 minutes start to pass). After standing here for four minutes a final 64 mph under the Midland Main line brought us into Bedford 10 minutes late.
Now on single line, the 1043 Cambridge-Oxford DMU was passed at Willington instead of Blunham and we left here 8 minutes late. After dropping the tablet at Sandy – nothing due on the ECML we were able to make good progress. Curvature tended to restrict the climb up to the high ground at Potton but after cresting the summit at 36 mph we had a 60 through Gamlingay.
On the long straight stretch to the final summit above the Old North Road, speed gradually fell away to 54mph, then 68-69 mph all the way down to Cambridge, reached 6 minutes late. The approach to Platform 1 was made with more exuberance than caution, everybody helped each other up with the greatest good humour.
All in all, a pleasant reminder of days gone by where trains were trains and not just mass transportation units; the courtesy of the ticket inspector who boarded the train at Bedford was particularly to be commended……………
Postscript…
Oxford-Bletchley closed to passenger service 010168
Bedford-Cambridge closed to passenger service 010168
Hertfordshire’s "Mothball" with 56046 was the last loco hauled passenger train to work the Claydon-Bletchley section back on 310593..
Despite political noises about reopening, nothing as yet has happened since that last train 16 years ago….