165130 Culham 25 February 2018

165130 approaches Culham in superb late afternoon light on 25 February 2018 with the 2L61 15:30 Oxford to Didcot Parkway GWR service. The flat area in the foreground is the site of Culham's small goods yard, while dominating the background are a couple of hangars from the former Culham Airfield. The airfield was built in 1944, and opened as an aircraft receipt and dispatch unit for the Royal Navy, consequently it was bizarrely known as HMS Hornbill. The airfield closed in 1953, and after being used for storage for a number of years, was converted for use by the Atomic Energy Authority in 1960. It is now a world leading fusion energy research centre.