David's Photo Gallery
The Fairford Branch (or some of whats left of it)
2nd July 2006

The Fairford Branch was built and opened in 2 stages, by 2 companies, the Yarnton junction to Witney section of 8 miles 220 yards in length construction of which started on 19th May 1860 , and opened 13th November 1861 .
On the 14th January 1873 , a 14 mile 220 yard extension from a junction just short of Witney's station to Fairford in Gloucestershire was opened, this gave the line a total length of 21¾ miles, the extension was part of a proposed line from Yarnton thorough to Cheltenham & Swindon, but the route beyond Fairford was never finished.
To facilitate the extension with the East Gloucestershire Railway Co., Witney's old passenger station was turned in to Witney's goods station and a new joint passenger station was built.

The line when fully opened had 8 stations:

· Yarnton (junction with the Oxford Worcester & Wolverhampton Railway)
· Eynsham
· South Leigh
· Witney
· Bampton (Later know as Bampton (Oxon) on the 2nd July 1906 and Brize Norton & Bampton (Oxon) 1st May 1940)
· Alvescot
· Lechlade
· Fairford

During the railways life 3 more stations where added:

· Cassington (Halt opened by the Great Western Railway in 1936 between Yarnton and Eynsham)
· Carterton (Station opened in 1944 between Bampton & Alvescot)
· Kelmscott & Langford (Station opened in 1907 between Alvescot and Lechlade)

On the 1st July 1890 the Great Western Railway Company bought out the shareholders of the two railway companies.

The railway passed on to British Railway hands along with the rest of the British railway network on 1st January 1948 .
The railway was closed in two sections the first the East Gloucester section on the 18th June 1962 , and the track removed by railway.
And the Witney section was closed on the 2nd November 1970 .

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Eynsham platform at its new home at The Didcot Railway Centre, with Ex Great Western Railway ‘Modified Hall’ class, 6998 “Burton Agnes Hall. (The Building being erected at the time this photo was taken is a Didcot Railway centre addition)
Eynsham platform at its new home at The Didcot Railway Centre, with Ex Great Western Railway ‘Modified Hall’ class, 6998 “Burton Agnes Hall. (The Building being erected at the time this photo was taken is a Didcot Railway centre addition)
 The site of Eynsham station, looking toward Witney, the only real give away that Eynsham ever had a station is the name of the road running right to left across this picture “Station Road”. 24th July 2006.
The site of Eynsham station, looking toward Witney, the only real give away that Eynsham ever had a station is the name of the road running right to left across this picture “Station Road”. 24th July 2006.
 The Crossing keepers cottage at South Leigh,(much altered) the hump in the road being the site of the old crossing.
The Crossing keepers cottage at South Leigh,(much altered) the hump in the road being the site of the old crossing.
 The Kelmscott & Langford bridge, the corrugated sides are a more recent addition. 13th April 2003
The Kelmscott & Langford bridge, the corrugated sides are a more recent addition. 13th April 2003
The site of Witney Passenger station looking towards Yarnton, from the site of the bridge. September 1990
The site of Witney Passenger station looking towards Yarnton, from the site of the bridge. September 1990
Site of Witney junction looking towards the sites of the goods (right) and passenger (Left) stations
Site of Witney junction looking towards the sites of the goods (right) and passenger (Left) stations
 One of 3 bridges at Witney junction all of which still remain, carried the line over the river Windrush, this one built by the East Gloucestershire Railway. 23rd February 2002.
One of 3 bridges at Witney junction all of which still remain, carried the line over the river Windrush, this one built by the East Gloucestershire Railway. 23rd February 2002.
Site of Fairford station looking towards the end of the line from approximately where the bridge stood. 13th April 2003.
Site of Fairford station looking towards the end of the line from approximately where the bridge stood. 13th April 2003.
The crossing keepers cottage (Much extended) and crossing at Little Faringdon. The track way off to the left through the gateway is the track bed towards Lechlade. 13th April 2003.
The crossing keepers cottage (Much extended) and crossing at Little Faringdon. The track way off to the left through the gateway is the track bed towards Lechlade. 13th April 2003.
 Bridge over the river Evenlode between Cassington & Eynsham. 5th May 2003
Bridge over the river Evenlode between Cassington & Eynsham. 5th May 2003
© 1998-2009 David M Howse - All copyrights rest with the Author
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