Despite angry protests from local residents, the largely moribund Hinksey Yard was converted into a 'virtual quarry' ballast dump in the late 1990s. Preliminary work in replacing the Second World War track is in evidence here on 18 August 1998, as 47283 passes the site with the 4O29 14:14 Trafford Park to Southampton freightliner. Obviously the present day residents of the area are less tolerant than those of fifty years ago, who would have to put up with steam locomotives shunting loose coupled freights all through the night!