Unfortunately I never managed to get a decent picture of the coal trains that worked down the truncated remains of the Watlington Branch to Chinnor Cement Works. However, I did get this picture of the returning empties heading along the Great Western Mainline at Compton Beauchamp. In the last few years of this traffic coal for the works came from the Midlands, and then Halling in Kent, and finally in the last year of operation, from Newport. On 19 May 1989, 47063 heads westwards with the Chinnor to Alexandra Dock Junction empties. The reason for the cessation of the traffic can be seen here. The vintage vacuum braked HTV hoppers were life expired, and there was no money for replacements. |