The Missing Link - 17 March 2018

[50039]

Curious about this one - organised by UK Railtours, includes the Bletchley Flyover down to Swanbourne - but I didn’t realise the line was still there.

Later it is going up to Claydon Junction via Quainton, presumably because Claydon to Swanbourne no longer exists, but why was Swanbourne to Bletchley retained and when did anything last use it?

 

[Chester1]

Curious about this one - organised by UK Railtours, includes the Bletchley Flyover down to Swanbourne - but I didn’t realise the line was still there.

Later it is going up to Claydon Junction via Quainton, presumably because Claydon to Swanbourne no longer exists, but why was Swanbourne to Bletchley retained and when did anything last use it?

The line between Bletchley and Newton Longville landfill was relaid in 2006. The line is unusable from there to Calvert but Swanbourne sounds better on a brochure than a landfill yard!

 

[50039]

The line between Bletchley and Newton Longville landfill was relaid in 2006. The line is unusable from there to Calvert but Swanbourne sounds better on a brochure than a landfill yard!

Thanks for that - had no idea. So does the flyover see regular use? If so, what goes over? Thanks

 

[TrainloadCoal]

Thanks for that - had no idea. So does the flyover see regular use? If so, what goes over? Thanks

Tri-monthly test train and is also used as a siding when the WCML is closed from Bletchley Drayton Road Jn for spoil trains.

The length of the line is almost a mile long and runs along peoples’ back gardens.

 

[duffield]

There's a fairly recent cab video (in 3 parts) of a train going over the viaduct and up to the stop block at Swanbourne, just search for Bletchley flyover on Youtube.

 

[DarloRich]

Curious about this one - organised by UK Railtours, includes the Bletchley Flyover down to Swanbourne - but I didn’t realise the line was still there.

Later it is going up to Claydon Junction via Quainton, presumably because Claydon to Swanbourne no longer exists, but why was Swanbourne to Bletchley retained and when did anything last use it?

Nothing uses it on a scheduled basis other than NR test trains form time to time. It is used as long siding/reversal point for engineering trains as required. I might book on that ( not that i do spotter tours you understand ) because I need the track ( not that i record track or anything) via an official train.

Any ideas on stock or likely traction - i assume a pair of 66's

 

[Cowley]

I might book on that ( not that i do spotter tours you understand ) because I need the track ( not that i record track or anything) via an official train.

Any ideas on stock or likely traction - i assume a pair of 66's

Not that it matters .

 

[50039]

I assumed 67s?

 

[Kite159]

I assumed 67s?

Normally UKR would say the traction if it is something other than 66s, so I would put 10p on the train being formed of mostly Riviera Mk1 coaches with DBC 66 top & tailing