Couple of times my old morning train to work sailed through it's first calling point from the siding (Bicester North). Think it then started as normal from Haddenham & Thame!
Another occasion, the same train overshot Haddenham by about 1 1/2 carriages, but that was due to some pretty dense mist/fog that morning. Couldn't reverse back into the platform so onto High Wycombe it was.
Back in 1987, when Haddenham & Thame Parkway first opened, the intention was to use the 06 53 Banbury-Paddington loco-hauled commuter express to perform the opening ceremony and the local MP, the mayor of Thame, various senior railway managers and other local dignitaries and the local brass band duly assembled on the platform shortly before the appointed time, while a ceremonial ribbon was strung across the (then) single track. At this time there was no train crew depot at Banbury and the evening and morning expresses were worked by Old Oak drivers and Paddington guards; the evening train being shut down and stabled in the yard with the crew travelling passenger back to London, while the morning crew came out to Banbury by taxi from London to work the train back. At the time, Old Oak, in common
)) with many London area depots, was experiencing a severe driver shortage and was unable to cover the Banbury job on this particular morning. Luckily there was a 47 on the job that morning, instead of the booked 50, so Control arranged for the early turn Aylesbury cover driver to go to Banbury by taxi and work the train to PAD. Unfortunately, the special instructions for the ceremony had been sent to Old Oak and neither the Aylesbury supervisor or driver had any knowledge of what was happening.....so with a loud blast on the horn, the 47 swept through the station at the then maximum line speed of 70 mph, sending the mayor's hat and ceremonial ribbon flying!
After I moved from Aylesbury to Skipton in 1991, I was told by a Leeds traction inspector that the same thing had happened with the ceremonial re-opening of Bentley station when, due to a last minute driver swap at Leeds, the 321 went flying through because the replacement driver hadn't been advised. BR often seemed to be unlucky with these events, which obviously didn't do their reputation much good in the eyes of the dignitaries involved.