Lineside at Aynho Junction in the 80s

Spending the late afternoon lineside in the Aynho Junction area in early 1989 proved to be a very productive day for filming. A sample of some of the regular traffic is shown here at this interesting little spot in Oxfordshire.

[@gbtrains]

Such a shame we didn't have digital video back then but the sound on those 50's is great - up there with the growl of a '37' or Deltic in my opinion.

[@1258-Eckhart]

The delights of a proper railway with proper trains on it.

[@railnut9133]

The next box north was Aynho, and on Saturday afternoons, the kind signalman used to let me into his box and ‘assist’ him in the passage of trains. The line was very busy then as the WCML electrication was in progress. The Kings hauled out of retirement …. heady days!, very few diesels. I was 15

[@TheDaf95xf]

Fantastic junction with assorted semaphore signals and BR traction 👍🏻

[@Grid56]

That 47 was flying. Great start by the 50 too. I think the old dmus still look smart and you could see the NSE pride with nice clean coaches!

[@Gregg-eo2le]

Great stuff 👍

[@foretrak]

Thanks 👍

[@johnkeepin7527]

Interesting to see an MGR from Didcot A power station to the Nottinghamshire coalfield. Not long after that they switched to imported coal via Avonmouth to Didcot. At the time of that visit, it wasn’t long before Aynho signal box was replaced; I was working on the brand new Marylebone IECC project in those days, the first bit of which came into service on August bank holiday 1989 around 05:00.

[@foretrak]

I was on the relief based at Marylebone as a signalman covering the old manual boxes as far as Gerrards Cross in 84/85. Happy days!

[@EM-yk1dw]

Excellent once again ❤

[@foretrak]

Thanks again!

[@landhopper4296]

A train with a BG behind the engine! I’d forgotten all about those!

[@rickyreed8354]

i so wish we could go back to these days

[@joginns778]

Am I right in saying this was the only GWR signal box in Northamptonshire, I have the closure notification say this box was closed because it didn't have water water or a flushing toilet,

[@andrewbullivant8936]

The line that went off to Bicester was interesting as it was worked by acceptance lever block

[@steveblanchard7293]

Doors lot of doors, and diesel lovely

[@atomiswave1971]

Can you access that bridge these days? It looks part of a farm

[@duncancurtis5108]

I last saw the sad wreck of Aynho box early in 1997.

[@delticnapierdccsound4236]

MEINE LORDZ 🔥

[@andrewchaston503]

Miss Marple GW Drop.

[@BenDover-ln6ns]

Is that Vac waiting in the distance coming off the Marylebone branch?

[@foretrak]

It is indeed

[@BenDover-ln6ns]

@@foretrak They weren’t that regular on Marylebone turns. Any details?

[@devotedh]

@@BenDover-ln6ns The old 1812 Pad-Banbury M-F turn via West Ruislip, Wycombe. There was a morning turn in the opposite direction but the time escapes me.

[@Almex228]

Strange to see both upper and lower quadrant signals at the same box. Was that common?

[@foretrak]

Certain places did have the mix. It was one of those areas that flipped between Western Region and LMR at least twice during BR days hence the mix I think. Fenny Compton and Banbury similar too.

[@DrFod]

I believe at least one of the boxes around Shrewsbury still has a mix of upper and lower quadrants.

[@oliver206]

Yeovil Pen Mill now (2024) has both upper and lower quadrant semaphores. Used to just be GWR lower.